Project safety and bottom line growth
Construction contractors are developing a new way of thinking when it comes to their safety programs. Construction safety inspections and field inspection management are no longer “a necessary evil” but are an integral part of doing good business. They have an effect on the bottom line that extends beyond simply improving insurance premiums.
Work-related accidents in construction remain an unfortunate but common occurrence in the field. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), injuries cost the economy over $170 billion in 2019. From maintaining industry standing to worker retention, strong construction safety programs have a positive impact.
The days are gone where construction safety and safety management are understood as a contributor to overhead costs with no apparent return. As the 2021 Dodge report on Safety Management in the Construction Industry stated, “strong safety management is again demonstrated to be a good business investment.” The report highlighted the following benefits of safety management reported by contractors, including:
- Better insurance terms (78%)
- Improvement in their standing in the industry (73%)
- Being better able to bring in new work (66%)
- Improved worker retention (61%)
- Heightened ability to attract new workers, particularly in larger companies (63%)
The positive impact of safety programs at project and business levels is undisputed. But how do those in the field maximize the potential of construction safety management, especially given the increasing complexity of projects and technology?
Data driven safety management — new trends and standards
Many industry experts point to the growing importance of data-driven management in the construction safety process. By using the increasingly available amount of construction safety related data, safety decisions and protocols can be improved and fine-tuned.
As consulting firm Deloitte has reported, an ongoing problem remains how to leverage all available safety data which is dispersed among a range of digital and non-digital sources from hard drives to pieces of paper. This includes enterprise resource planning (ERP) and case management systems and various other secondary sources such as employee rostering schedules. These “safety analytics” must be assembled together, analyzed, and processed.
As the amount of available data increases, so does its utility in serving a predictive function. This kind of predictive modeling involves the use of statistical and mathematical techniques to better understand future outcomes and take into account any problems that may occur. With data, users gain knowledge and insight into the human and financial risks of the construction environment.
Based on a recent study, Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Common Data Environments (CDE) are emerging as new trends and standards in the construction industry. BIM allows for the clear presentation of complex and challenging construction information to a wide range of users. CDE ensures that information between devices and users can communicate to one another and “speak” the same language.
Most importantly, this study shows that these new technologies and standards “provide users with an early opportunity to identify hazards, mitigate risk, and share health and safety information.” We’re on the right path, but there’s still work to be done before we reach the destination.
Many small- and medium-sized contractors have faced challenges improving project safety, delivering business-level impact, and driving ROI using construction safety data. Only now are these contractors beginning to understand that they have an unprecedented opportunity to leverage disparate data sources and analytical tools to support and inform their strategic safety decisions as well as improve their bottom lines.
Enabling contractors with Fulcrum technology
As data-driven safety management emerges in the industry and construction safety management best practices become better implemented, Fulcrum’s Field Inspection Management platform enables contractors to optimize safety and secure assets.
Larger construction companies are jumping on the bandwagon and realizing the benefits of using safety data from a wide range of sources. Now, their smaller counterparts need access to the tools and capabilities that will let them realize similar value.
Fulcrum’s no-code mobile data collection and workflow automation platform helps modernize your field workforce and allows you to leverage data-driven decisions. Regardless of organization size, our technology has a positive impact on safety programs at the project and business levels.
Fulcrum’s Field Inspection Management platform provides an easy and affordable way for construction companies to digitize and access the safety assessment and inspection data which is pivotal to driving effective programs. Our platform also easily exports or integrates with other sources and platforms to empower users with the safety analytics to drive positive business impact to promote success and resilience.
Learn more about how Fulcrum’s Field Inspection Management Platform can contribute to improving business performance and construction safety outcomes.
Datasheet download:
Modernizing mobile construction inspections – Digitize construction quality and safety inspections to maximize field team performance and agility