Technological Revolution in Building Industry Enhances Safety of Construction Workers

Technological advances have significantly improved our daily lives, providing convenience and enhancing safety in high-risk jobs like construction. By integrating these technologies, the construction industry has become safer and more efficient, protecting workers from potential hazards.

(Photo : Pexels/Kateryna Babaieva )

Fatalities and Accidents in Construction

Performing work in the construction industry is a naturally dangerous job. On an annual basis, thousands of workers suffer injuries that are either life-threatening or fatal. Breaking your back or ribs can result from anything as insignificant as forgetting to wipe up a spill. There is a widespread perception that the construction business is among the most hazardous work environments.

As per the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), construction-related accidents have been responsible for one out of every five deaths that occur in the workplace. Additionally, this kind of job is accountable for thousands of injuries that do not result in fatalities, which cost businesses millions of dollars every year.

Moreover, a report that the Bureau of Labor Statistics released revealed that 1,069 construction professionals passed away while on the job in 2022. This represents a rate of 9.6 deaths for every 100,000 full-time workers. Construction had the third greatest fatality rate, following agriculture, forestry, fishing, and wildlife (18.6 per 100,000) and shipping and storage (14.1 per 100,000).

In 2022, the number of fatalities in the building industry increased from 9.4 to 9.6, and eighty-three more individuals perished at work than in 2021. Since more than a decade ago, the construction industry has maintained a fatality rate of approximately ten deaths per 100,000 workers.

Nevertheless, the construction industry has seen the emergence of new safety technologies as potent tools that may assist in reducing incidents and improving overall safety. When it comes to building projects, innovative technology has the potential to alter the way they are carried out while also enhancing worker safety.

Also Read: 6 Game-Changing Reasons Why Your Company Must Invest in Construction Training

Safety Enhancement of Using Technology in Building Sector

Wearable technology and helmet-based safety measures are only two examples of potential technologies that are entering the market today to enhance the safety of construction workers.

Innovative technologies are driven by actual incidents and hazards that workers encounter on the job and can be built upon existing safety mandates. On the other hand, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration does have procedures in place to guarantee that construction employees are using proper personal protective equipment (PPE), including a recent transition away from hard hats and toward safety helmets for their employees. However, there are currently no laws regarding the incorporation of new technology into protective gear.

Because of this, construction companies and safety managers have been charged with staying current on the most recent technological advancements and figuring out how they may improve safety on their respective job sites. Numerous individuals working in the building sector acknowledge the significance of utilizing technology for risk management. Builders' performance is enhanced when they apply the same purposeful and focused approach to both quality and safety since a culture of quality and safety cannot be separated. 

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