It is crucial for construction workers to be aware of the potential hazards in their workplace
The construction industry is a very dangerous industry to work in due to its demanding nature. In Australia, of 100,000 construction workers, 3.1 didn’t make it home to their families in 2020. The construction industry requires strenuous activities, exposure to toxic gases and chemicals, working in confined spaces, and working at heights. It is crucial for construction workers to be aware of the potential hazards in their workplace and to be continuously monitored whilst working.
Common Challenges
Some of the main challenges faced while working in the construction industry include:
Slips, trips & falls
- The leading cause of construction worker injuries
- Slipping and tripping over equipment, uneven ground, or obstructed walkways
Physical strains
- Heat stress and fatigue due to the demanding work nature
- Injuries from repeated movements, lifting heavy weights, and bending
Fall from heights
- Fall from ladders
- Potential fall from heights due to fatigue/heat stress, or faulty machinery
Confined spaces
- Working in small spaces makes it easier to injure oneself and strain the body
Heavy machinery
- Machinery misuse due to heat stress/fatigue
- Struck-by, caught-in & caught-between machinery
Electrical shock
- Working with open cables and wires
- Water and electricity mix
Toxic gases/airborne materials
- Silica dust particles contain a mix of harmful fine powders and fibres. If inhaled, this can lead to chronic pulmonary disease, asthma, and silicosis.
- Exposure to toxic gases like Carbon Monoxide (CO), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), solvents and Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) vapours from coatings, paint thinners, and adhesives
- Asbestos exposure
Our Solutions
Universal Site Monitoring (USM) design and develop Australian-made advanced connected worker safety monitoring solutions: an integrated system of wearable personal safety monitoring devices, mobile apps, communications hubs, reporting, and management software, plus ancillary products, providing essential safety data accessible from anywhere, at any time.
Our Personal Safety Monitors & Mobile Apps collect live data and feed it into the fully integrated Universal Data Interface smart alert and navigation system. This live data enables proactive decision making, prevention of rising emergencies, and can save lives in case of an emergency.
These are some of the connected worker solution highlights that address the common challenges of the construction industry:
Real-time Data Streaming and Communication
- Live data allows proactive decision making from facility controllers
- Live and automatic emergency call & text messages (cellular)
- Push-to-talk & text messages (mesh)
Real-time Location & Motion Sensing
- Find a worker’s location indoor, outdoor and underground
- Monitor a no motion event, speed over ground of the worker
- Show the vertical geo-location of the worker, i.e. the level within a confined space where the worker is located, to be there as fast as possible in case of an emergency. This is possible thanks to the uni-, bi-, trilateration localisation capabilities of the Universal Site Monitoring’s proprietary Mesh Access Point system.
Slips, Trips & Falls
Monitoring & Alarm Capability
- Reporting G-Force events thanks through an in-built accelerometer in the Personal Safety Monitor PSM Hero 825 & 715
Biometric Monitoring
- Detecting early signs of heat stress/fatigue: heart rate monitoring & alarm capability
- Detecting early signs of infection: body temperature monitoring & alarm capability
- Ambient air temperature & atmospheric data monitoring & alarm capability
Geo-Fencing
- Ability to restrict areas where dangerous machinery is operating, where hazardous chemicals are stored, or high temperature zones
- Example of a check-in entry point geo-fence alert
