Workplace safety has a tangible impact on worker morale, crew productivity and regulatory compliance. Many construction companies, however, are still using manual, time-consuming and error-prone processes to manage their safety programs.
It’s time for change. Digital safety programs can help contractors build and maintain a safer workplace. Here’s how:
1. Improved Safety Protocol Adherence
With traditional safety programs, it’s often difficult to identify safety protocols. Binders and bulletin boards aren’t always accessible. Without easy-access resources, workers may not have—or retain—key safety information when they need it. Safety management software can keep safety protocols top of mind:
- Mobile safety resources (e.g., digitized safety data sheets) enable easy protocol access.
- Digitally powered toolbox talks can engage workers day-to-day.
- Purpose-built safety training can be tailored to the role of every employee, contractor or jobsite.
2. Accident Prevention
Accidents negatively impact both workers and companies. Beyond the obvious cost of worker injury or worse, accidents can tank crews’ morale. Companies also lose productivity—about 12 days per injured worker). And companies pay an average of $42,008 for each workers’ compensation claim. Safety management software helps prevent accidents:
- Mobile-based observation and near-miss reporting allow workers to report near misses from their smartphones so supervisors can proactively address hazards.
- Real-time equipment tracking helps companies identify equipment in need of repair before it causes an incident.
- Training status dashboards keep tabs on workers’ training status to ensure everyone gets essential safety education.
3. More Proactive Compliance
With paper-based systems, it’s easy to lose track of safety data in a filing cabinet. But that puts your company’s regulatory compliance at risk. Noncompliant companies can face high fines, which limit the resources available to invest in workers and growth. Safety management software can help your company stay compliant:
- Customizable dashboards make it easy to locate safety data.
- Mobile forms automatically sync safety data with your system for immediate access.
- Companies can set up notifications about upcoming compliance deadlines.
When your company uses safety management tech, you can centralize safety data and achieve better workplace safety protocol access and retention, which improves overall protocol adherence. The result: a culture of safety that protects workers, boosts productivity and preserves your bottom line.
