Enhanced use of data is crucial for improving construction job site safety

Executives with major construction companies say new digital tools are allowing them to use data more effectively to reduce serious safety incidents and improve job site safety.

A Clark Construction official recently told Construction Dive that his company has seen a reduction of over 60% in Serious Injuries and Fatalities exposures since adopting data analysis that identifies risks proactively rather than relying on incident data reported after the fact to guide prevention efforts. A Skanska USA executive noted that his company has also been collecting and analyzing safety data to prevent accidents.

The technology continues to improve, noted a Shawmut Construction executive, with the ability to “passively analyze and communicate where incidents are likely to occur.” Systems that can pinpoint where dangers are most likely to result in injuries enable supervisors to take mitigating actions before an incident occurs.

It is clear that the construction industry will have to boost safety training as a “mass influx of newer, less experienced workers” will be needed over the next several years to fill a flood of job openings. This cohort will require rapid skills training and systemic approaches such as data analysis that improve safety will reap benefits.

We offer the following recommendations in the hope that they will help step up the pace of high-performance building reconstruction in the U.S. and Canada. We consulted many experts for advice, but these recommendations are solely the responsibility of the editors of Building Design+Construction. We welcome your comments. Please send them to Robert Cassidy, Editorial Director: rcassidy@sgcmail.com.