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The Rise of Technology to Enhance Workplace Safety in Construction

• Jun 03, 2024

Construction consistently ranks as one of the most dangerous industries for workers. Over time, the threats that individuals in the industry face have held constant with slips, trips and falls accounting for a majority of workplace accidents. In the United States alone, this line of work sees the highest number of fatal and non-fatal workplace-related traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) out of any other industry. Today, promising technologies are being introduced with the intent of bolstering construction worker safety, ranging from wearable technology to helmet-based safety measures.

Currently, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires construction workers to wear personal protective equipment (PPE), and workers at risk of head injury from impact, falling or flying objects, or electrical shock and burns must be equipped with protective helmets.

Novel technologies build upon existing safety mandates and are informed by the real-world experiences and dangers that workers face on the job. While OSHA does have measures in place to ensure workers are wearing appropriate PPE — including a recent transition for their own employees from hard hats to safety helmets — there aren’t currently regulations around incorporating new technologies into protective gear. 

This tasks employers and safety managers with keeping informed on the latest technologies, and how they can enhance safety on their job sites. Many in the construction industry recognize and embrace the value of using technology for risk management. A culture of safety and a culture of quality go hand in hand: When builders apply the same proactive and concentrated efforts on both quality and safety, it raises the level of performance for both. 

Wearable Technology

While a mainstay for many consumers, wearable technology has yet to see widespread adoption in the workplace. For those who face the risk of injuries throughout the work day, wearable technology can sound the alarm if workers are injured or, better yet, before an accident occurs. For example, safety vests can be equipped with sensors that monitor workers’ physiological conditions including blood pressure, body temperature or pulse rate, all of which can indicate health issues. Additionally, GPS technology in so-called “smart vests” can actively monitor a worker’s location and alert them if they enter a danger zone on a job site. 

Wearable technology can also extend to safety helmets: For example, sensor bands can be installed in helmets to detect workers’ health factors, including falling asleep or fatigue, as well as if objects are too close to the worker.

Rotational Motion Mitigation

Another important helmet upgrade is a rotational motion mitigation system. Rotational motion can occur when a person’s head experiences an oblique impact and consists of a combination of angular acceleration (forces) and angular velocity (energy). The transfer of this rotation to the brain can result in shearing and damage to the brain’s axons, the cable transmitters of the neuron. The brain is typically more sensitive to rotational motion than linear motion caused by any impact scenario. Rotational motion can cause concussions or other more severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). The construction industry experiences the highest number of fatal and non-fatal workplace-related TBIs, representing a whopping 24 percent of all workplace-related TBI fatalities across industries.

Research indicates that when most people fall to the ground or are struck by a falling object, it typically occurs at an angle. However, safety systems are in place that are designed to reduce the harmful forces of rotational motion that might otherwise be transferred to the user’s head.

Given the proliferation of digital innovations, the number of advancements in safety technology will only continue to grow. It is up to employers and safety managers to remain up-to-speed on the latest improvements to provide a safe environment for workers. The risks that workers face have changed very little over the years, but the tools and technology coming to the fore can reduce the danger they pose to workers. Ultimately, the firms that can leverage technology will be the ones best positioned to safely keep up with the pace and complexity of today’s built environment.