Page 14 - OHS, February/March 2025

C O N S T R U C T I O N S A F E T Y
Laying a Strong Foundation for Connected Safety on the
Construction Jobsite
A fi ve-step guide for implementing connected safety for construction workers and setting
your organization up for success.
BY SHAWN GREGG
priority number one. But inclement weather, hazardous
Keeping workers safe on the construction jobsite is always
conditions, heavy equipment and more can sometimes
make jobsite safety easier said than done. According to data
from the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics1, construction was ranked
as one of the three deadliest industries in 2022, as worker fatality
rates averaged 9.6 deaths for every 100,000 employees. Th ose are dif-
fi cult statistics to confront and indicate that despite industry-wide
eff orts to develop a culture of safety and compliance, there is much
more work to be done. As such, many organizations are turning to
innovations such as connected safety solutions to eliminate further
risks on the jobsite and keep workers safe.
Connected safety solutions are unique in their proactive ap-
proach. Th ese innovations can identify and prevent potential inci-
dents before they happen. In fact, according to a survey2 released
in December 2024 from the Electrical Safety Foundation Interna-
tional (ESFI) in partnership with Wesco, 95 percent of respondents
who had implemented connected safety solutions noticed a reduc-
tion in workplace injuries.
From wearables supported by sensors to networked devices
such as cameras, connected safety solutions essentially act as a
second set of eyes and ears for the safety manager, pulling in criti-
cal data and providing alerts or putting that information into one
single dashboard. For example, connected safety solutions can
provide real-time alerts around heavy equipment near-misses or
conduct environmental monitoring in high-hazard spaces and is-
sue alerts for air quality concerns.
Th e ability to proactively address issues is critical for safety
managers on the construction site, as they are oft en tasked with
managing an array of safety complexities that range from help-
ing their team avoid electrical shocks to mitigating fall risks and
ensuring proper PPE utilization. But how can organizations get
started with connected safety on the construction site? Here are
fi ve steps to build a connected safety foundation and set your orga-
nization up for success.
Step 1: Conduct a safety audit
Frist, conduct a safety audit to understand your safety culture and
identify potential areas of concern or additional training oppor-
tunities.
Any good safety plan includes risk identifi cation, outlines the
necessary compliance requirements for the jobsite, and highlights
the potential safety gaps. In construction, each site has its own
unique nuances and considerations – some jobs might require a
closer look at lone worker safety, while others might need to focus
on heat exposure or ergonomics. Before work kicks off , be sure to
take the time to conduct a safety audit to help ensure you have vis-
ibility into your overall safety program.
Th is is especially relevant for tasks that are not regularly as-
signed on the construction site. According to fi ndings from ESFI,
between 2011 and 2022, 49 percent of fatalities took place when
an employee was performing a task they did not regularly execute.
Th is is extremely pertinent when it comes to electrical safety. Ad-
ditional research from ESFI noted that 70 percent of electrically
related fatalities happened to non-electrical workers, as they are
oft en unfamiliar with potential risks. Th is highlights a possible gap
in your safety plan and serves as a reminder of the importance of
safety training.
Ideally, this audit will uncover potential safety gaps, or areas for
improvement.
Step 2: Identify, Test, and Plan Potential Solutions
Not every solution will be the right fi t for your organization or
your jobsite. With the audit complete, identify what solutions
would best help solve the safety-related challenges you’re encoun-
tering. From there, work with your partners to test them before
rolling them out on a larger scale. In particular, make sure the test
answers these questions:
Does your jobsite meet the connectivity requirements? When it
comes to connected safety solutions, remember that connectivity
matters. Th ese applications can’t yield any benefi ts if they aren’t
truly “connected” to each other. Make sure your site has the neces-
sary Wi-Fi, cellular or Bluetooth coverage.
Does the solution address the challenge? Th is may seem obvi-
ous, but two key parts of the test phase are defi ning a clear ex-
pected outcome and making sure that the solution can meet your
needs. Specifi cally, does the solution help identify risks or hazards,
and does it make a measurable impact on safety? A trusted part-
ner can help ensure that your connected safety solution is ideally
suited for your unique circumstances.
Will the solution work with other systems you have in place? A
siloed connected safety solution that can’t “talk” to other systems
you have in place across the jobsite may not be as valuable.
Along with the test, it’s important to plan the overall rollout to
ensure it goes smoothly.
Step 3: Create Buy-In
Next, you must forge buy-in internally by engaging with key stake-
holders and educating workers. Th ere are two key audiences to en-
gage when considering a new safety solution: leadership, and the
workers who will end up utilizing the solution.
Justifying the amount of investment needed for any safety pro-
gram can be a challenge, but the data demonstrate a clear ROI.
According to OSHA, a 2021 study found that employers paid more
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