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The natural response is to take immediate action to reduce pressure on margins - they rely on these for the profits that keep their business running and staff employed . Quite often these actions include attempts to shorten a project ’ s timeline to reduce time element expenses and / or reach a point where a project can begin generating revenue sooner . We also see contractors utilizing smaller teams comprised of less experienced professionals , and therefore lower paid , to reduce overhead . Lastly , it is common at both the ownership and contractor level to reduce the number of safety and supervisory roles assigned to the project . What often remains is a smaller work force , with less experience , working on a tighter timeline with reduced procedural and safety supervision and the potential breakdown of careful choreography – all alongside an increase in risk .
So , what can the industry do to overcome these challenges ? How do we mitigate risk to projects and their employees while allowing owners and contractors to maintain the healthy bottom lines they need to complete these projects ? There are three potential solutions making an impact :
1 . Jobsite Technology :
Over the last ten years , technology has become a valuable tool across all areas of construction job sites . This tech includes : a . Site safety applications that can be downloaded onto phones and tablets carried by everyone on the site . These apps allow for the reporting of conditions that could lead to injury or damage , report an injury or accident that does occur and collect valuable real time data that can be analyzed to help prevent accidents in the future . b . The use of augmented or virtual reality tech that can simulate unsafe conditions or accident scenarios and aid in site safety training . c . The use of wearable tech that can track the location and vitals of laborers on the site , notify site supervisors of an emergency condition and help in locating the affected individual on the jobsite . d . AI assisted site surveillance that can detect unsafe conditions like fires , settling , and collapse , as well as then notify the appropriate individuals . e . Weather parametrics that can help predict the occurrence of severe weather that can impact the smooth operation of the project .
The pervasive use of this tech allows ownership and site management to ensure the safety of their workers and avoid costly damage to their projects . In turn , salaries can be diverted to the hiring of the additional skilled labor needed to safely meet the condensed project timelines .
2 . Outsourced Training and Supervision Resources :
Technology is an amazing resource when properly employed , but there is no greater method for avoiding risk in construction than the proper training and supervision of those doing the work . Nothing can replace the human element and the experience they bring to the process . Unfortunately , not every contractor has the resources necessary to hire staff that are solely dedicated to supervision and training duties . Very often we see those responsibilities added to the workload of crew supervisors who already have significant responsibilities . However , there are firms dedicated to aiding in this area . They can be utilized by ownership to augment site wide training and supervision with individuals dedicated to a project or by individual contractors in the form of ready to use safety training and educational materials . The result is a cost-effective solution that meets the training and supervision needs of everyone involved .
3 . Leveraging Insurance Provider Relationships :
It is important to rely on all insurance partnerships to ensure the project is running smoothly and safely . Together , they have
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