When it comes to construction site safety, it is closely linked with the culture of a construction company. Construction site safety refers to protecting employees and property from danger and harm while recognizing the potential hazards that are there.

Here is everything to know about construction site incidents, near misses, and how companies can leverage technology to improve on-site safety.

Incident vs Near Miss – The Difference

To describe an incident in simple words, it refers to a workplace event that causes injury or harms a worker. An incident is something that actually happens, and the worker sustains injury from it.

The incident can revolve around equipment or structures that can get damaged, and this sort of event is categorized as property damage. If an employee gets injured under such circumstances, then it goes back to being an incident.

Near Miss Classification

Mostly, people are confused when they want to decide whether an incident was an incident or a near-miss. Sometimes, near misses can be classified as an unsafe act or an unsafe condition. But – when we look at near misses, these are classified as an event that has not caused harm but had the potential to do so.

For instance, if you are driving a forklift through a warehouse and you are not paying attention to where you are going and as you start to turn a corner – you nearly strike an oncoming forklift heading your direction. As long as you did not hit each other – it is a near miss also.

Technology has improved construction site safety to a great extent, including the aspect that now workers can opt for digital Near Miss Reporting as a way to effectively manage gear misses and incidents from beginning to end.

Technology and Safety – What Can Construction Companies Do?

Today, construction sites can leverage technology to boost their on-site safety and decrease the likelihood of incidents and near misses. Here are some efficient technology trends that construction companies can integrate for site safety:

Real-Time Monitoring

Data analysis and real-time monitoring allow construction companies to take a big step forward to better safety. With the use of sensors, construction site managers and employees can keep track of real-time conditions that can affect the worker’s safety.

Sensors can be set up everywhere, which then can be used to monitor the following:

• Changes in temperature
• Changes in air quality
• Changes in noise levels

Real-time monitoring allows employees and managers to instantly flag dangerous issues and simultaneously reduce the risks through preventive actions.

Integrate Data-Driven Approach

Construction companies – like other businesses – have websites. To increase safety for their employees, construction companies have the option of integrating data-driven website designs to make better and informed decisions as being able to see patterns and trends can make a big difference.

A data-driven approach allows companies to be more time-efficient and responsive and decreases the possibility of errors.

VR and AR Training

Construction sites can rely on augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) for their safety training courses. Through VR and AR, workers can immerse themselves in realistic virtual environments through which they can learn to effectively analyze and respond to potential safety issues.

The integration of VR and AR in construction safety programs enables construction employees to avail of hands-on training without actually getting exposed to the risks.