The construction industry is one of the most vital sectors of every society. While you read this, the roof over your head is there because of the hard labor of construction workers. Some of the most dangerous and accident-prone work that humans can do is construction work. It leads to one in five workplace fatalities. Therefore, in order to make construction sites safer, the concerns of safety professionals need to be heard.

Many of these workplace accidents stem from fixable problems such as the need for effective safety tools and protection equipment. The more safety equipment that construction workers have, the better off they will be. That being said, having the correct safety equipment is not sufficient. In addition, employees need to have up-to-date safety training and risk management programs for the risky work they attempt. Having only one quick instructional course won’t cut it. Ensuring compliance from all laborers is the key to an accident-free environment. Of course, all of these factors can be difficult to manage. This is where a centralized, digital platform can assist in tracking these various safety metrics.

Contributing factors to workplace fatalities are not occasional lapses in judgment, but disturbing trends that can be mitigated with the right protocols. Safety professionals have been warning about complacency in regards to dangerous habits at work. To keep employees from being injured, proper paperwork must be filed. For this reason, preventative measures can fall through the cracks. Shifting the attitudes of industry professionals towards the idea of a safety-first culture is crucial to preventing construction-related deaths. Paperless, digital management platforms are an easy first-step to make your workplace the safest in construction.

Build a Solid Foundation with a Risk Management Program

Natural disasters, payment delays, fluctuating material costs, and design errors are all areas of risk that need consideration. In the construction industry, an efficient risk assessment system is essential. Mitigating waste decreases expenses and waste, as well as the number of workers being hurt on the job. Additionally, it increases profit.

Prior to starting a project is the best time to begin risk assessment. If the construction process includes new methods or tools, risk should also be considered. Keeping the workplace running safely and productively is no easy task for safety professionals. Anything from replacing defunct equipment to sending workers home during an ice storm could be the correct decision. Streamlining workflows to make these decisions quickly helps make construction projects safer and more profitable in the long run.

Using technology to your advantage helps keep everyone in your business safe, productive, and happy. Maintaining the correct balance between safety measures and cutting back on needless paperwork turns the correct safety decisions into the most obvious ones. The decision to digitize safety processes is not only convenient for workers and managers, but also the correct financial choice.

Establish a Safety-First Culture in Construction Sites

The most important resource for the construction industry is people. Even with all the materials money could buy, and all the managers necessary to oversee the project, the projects aren’t going to build themselves. Skilled and healthy workers are required to get the work done in a timely manner. Just as buying the safety equipment alone isn’t enough, construction businesses need a strong safety culture in order to ensure compliance among its laborers.

Safety training needs to be a regular occurrence and requirement for the job. Workers that contribute to the safety-first culture on the jobsite should get incentives. Additionally, as dangerous problems and workplace hazards are identified, the correct action must be taken. Part of effective risk identification is the implementation of consistent and thorough inspection checks of equipment.

Involving workers in the improvement of safety standards is one of the most overlooked methods of creating a safe environment. While they are onsite, they may see protocols being overlooked. Field workers need to feel empowered to speak up. Transmitting these reports up the chain of command to safety officers, managers, and business executives is just as important, so corrective action can be taken.

With 7.5 million construction workers in the US, revamping risk management programs can be an arduous and lengthy process. Meanwhile, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics found that, in 2019, fatal construction injuries increase by 6%, which was the largest yearly increase since 2007. Even a small percentage can be disastrous when talking about millions of workers. Improving risk mitigation systems not only saves costs, but also saves lives.

Digitize Safety Processes and Workflows

If a business owner is considering digitizing certain systems within their firm, the next obvious question is: what are the benefits of such a move? A study from FMI research found that 96% of data collected in the construction industry goes unused. With antiquated paper forms and unreported events, data can get lost. By congregating all data reports through an online platform, the collection and distribution of reports and paperwork is made easier and more efficient for all levels of the company.

With digitized safety processes, information about periodic safety inspections, license renewals, and mandatory OSHA trainings can be monitored and kept up-to-date. For example, if workers must partake in regular trainings, then an online format where exercises can take place will ensure that workers are staying compliant and well-trained. There are many examples of technology being used to innovate safety programs. Construction work is hard work, but when it comes to creating streamlined risk management programs, then the old adage is true: work smarter, not harder.

Why Do Safety Professionals Need Safety Management Software?

Technology can supplement each step of the risk management process to make the jobs of everyone easier. From using digital forms and portals to asset logbooks and maintenance reminders, cutting-edge solutions from Salus can make projects quicker, safer, and more profitable. Companies can gain control over their information by using Salus. To create a secure, open-sourced database, blockchain technology can be used. There are endless digital solutions that can be put in place to assist safety professionals in creating an unmatched level of comfort for your workers. Improving construction workers, managers, and owners’ jobs by streamlining risk management and information systems has never been easier. Book a demo today to see how Salus can help integrate your company with the latest, and smoothest, technological advancements.