Construction firms embracing online training, safety data
Nearly 20% of contractors say making better use of the data they currently collect is the top way to improve their safety program.
Spurred on by the pandemic, construction contractors have adopted online training tools, started using more health and wellness measures and are making better use of data to improve job-site safety, according to Dodge Data & Analytics.
During the past 12 months, 35% of contractors increased access to online training and nearly two-thirds of contractors currently use it, according to Dodge’s Safety Management in the Construction Industry 2021. Of those using online training, 75% said COVID-19 was the major reason why.
“Despite the new requirements and challenges brought about by having to deal with COVID-19, the study findings demonstrate contractor commitments to their top safety practices,” Steve Jones, senior director of industry insights at Dodge Data & Analytics, said in a release. “They still see that making these investments has positive implications not only for their workers but for their projects and their businesses.”
Additionally, nearly 20% of contractors said making better use of the data they currently collect is the top way they can improve their safety programs, according to the study. Even more believe using job-site imagery and predictive analytics are essential to world-class safety programs.
On top of this, contractors are indicating they are likely to adopt more data-driven approaches to solve worker safety challenges. These include embracing technology such as wearable sensors and leveraging visual monitoring with artificial intelligence.
Further tech evolution ahead
Although there is interest in these tools, the industry has been slow to adopt them as just 10% leverage wearable sensors and 5% use visual monitoring. Further, less than half of small employers in this space are using data in their safety programs, while most (96%) of larger companies do.
Overall, the number of construction firms that anticipate implementing these tools in the coming three years is more than double those that are currently using them, Dodge Data & Analytics reported.
“COVID-19 has emphasized that worker safety and health are crucial to successful construction,” Chris Trahan Cain, CPWR’s executive director. “This report shows that contractors of all sizes must continue addressing persistent concerns like falls and ergonomics at the same time they respond to COVID-19 through planning, training, and advances in technology.”
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