Data has become an extremely important tool to anticipate any risk of injury and fatality at a work site. The usage of data and analytics, however, should be used in the most relevant way. It’s the responsibility of both the large setups as well as small and medium-sized contractors to use the correct tool that compliments the data usage to a more congenial place of work.
Of all the occupations that one gets to see and experience in the modern world, construction continues to be one of the most dangerous places to be. Although there are major inroads that have come to light as far as creating a technologically upgraded ambience is concerned, yet curbing incidents for a better employee safety standards is one thing that needs to be looked into with a lot of effort and seriousness.
Relevance of Data
The data plays a crucial role in identifying trends from potential and actual incidents as far as serious injuries and fatalities are concerned. The recent data shows that across the industry, fatalities are holding steady, which itself pushes the need for a high alert. Determination of serious injuries and fatalities can be made and appropriate actions can be taken to mitigate the risk. One of the primary reasons for serious injuries and fatalities- SIF’s taking place in construction is due to workers coming in frequent contact with equipment.
Analysis plays a very important role in gauging the reason for the troubles taking place. Relevant data ought to be collected which will further stop the SIF’s to a significant extent and protect the employees in a much better way.
Contract & Full Time
There also lies a very tangible difference between the SIF’s in contract employees and full-time workers. This is majorly due to lack of training opportunities that are available for the contract employees. Full-time workers being on the permanent payroll of the company are often exposed to a proper working environment, training and continuous guidance. Furthermore, it is often seen that contract employees are engaged in high-risk jobs at the worksite. One solution which can be looked into is the usage of a digital contractor management system that allows the company to connect with the contractors in a more organized and efficient manner. Visibility of potential risk can be reduced by bridging the gap between contract and full-time employees.
Addressing The Risk
Stakeholders should be made comfortable and it can be only possible when employee health and safety performance is on the top of the agenda. There lies a lot of reputational, legal and financial consequences if health and safety yardstick is not followed at all times. Safety performance benchmarks in accordance with other C-Level executives should be looked into so that the overall work periphery gets enhanced. This also will end-up in pushing up profitability and employee-contractor relations.
Analytical Tools
Regardless of the size of the company, there are different analytical tools that are available to mitigate risk when it comes to SIF’s. Big companies often have sophisticated safety standards in place. Having a tool that analyses performance data and observation is sure going to go a long way in eliminating incidents. Better software has become widely accepted by companies of all sizes. That said, for contract companies, things may be a bit different since they are small to medium-sized with employees ranging between 10-100. These small setups can however access aggregate data of a larger company or industry and can use it for their benefit.
Data holds the key. Clean and timely data can pinpoint specific activities that harm and expose workers to risk. There isn’t any role of a trial and error testing as figures go a long way in cementing probabilities to perfection.
