Cutting-Edge Technologies Streamline Safety on Commercial Construction Sites

May 8, 2025|Construction, Safety

It’s every leader’s responsibility to evaluate new technologies and determine their value in keeping workers safe.

By Konnor Kamm, Contributor

Ensuring construction worker safety has always been a top priority for the industry. With the guidance of OSHA and the American Society for Safety Professionals, it continues to evolve with new training standards recently announced to eliminate hazards and risks that can cause illness, injuries, or fatalities.[1] Today, technology plays a critical role in streamlining safety through innovations that start far before boots hit the ground on the job site.

Here are six ways that construction leaders are transforming site safety by leveraging tech advancements at every stage of a project.

BIM Enables Safer Planning

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a digital representation of a building’s physical and functional characteristics that helps project managers simulate and assess site safety before construction begins. This three-dimensional modeling identifies design flaws, plans emergency exits, and optimizes workflows to minimize risks.

For example, when preparing for excavations, Riley Construction coordinates site utilities early in order to flag design discrepancies and constructability issues not noted on the initial design. The project team then maintains BIM models through the project lifecycle to ensure that safety measures are clearly defined and followed. This is an ideal way to prevent accidents or injuries during construction because the utilities have been accurately located before the shovel hits the dirt.

Mobile Apps for Safety Compliance and Reporting

Mobile technology is making a major impact in ensuring compliance with safety protocols. Apps such as Safety Reports and Safety Culture’s iAuditor make it easy to provide real-time safety updates and streamline incident reports. Workers can identify potential problems quickly, report them to the project team, and implement solutions.[2] Preplanning and insurance checks are also conducted this way. Mobile apps also allow supervisors to track worker certifications and compliance, ensuring that only qualified personnel handle specific tasks.

Digital Inspections and Training

Today, workers can access training materials, safety guidelines, and on-site orientation videos directly from their smartphones, ensuring they understand job safety protocols and stay up-to-date on best practices. In the past, workers who already have a long list of job tasks have also had to contend with printing, scanning, and emailing numerous forms to document various aspects of job site inspection, tool and equipment safety, and near-miss reporting. Now, with the scan of a QR sticker on hardhats, workers can quickly and efficiently track reporting to ensure work meets project specifications and building codes. By implementing online safety inspections at Riley Construction, the company has noticed a significant increase in form completion.

Thanks to emerging technologies, safety starts far before boots hit the ground on the job site.

Advanced Technology for Worker Safety

Wearable technology, from smart helmets that detect fatigue to watches that monitor vital signs, is revolutionizing worker safety, health, and productivity. Many vests, boots, and hard hats are equipped with sensors that detect potential dangers and provide real-time alerts if a worker enters a high-risk area. GPS tracking locates employees in case of an emergency. Biometric wearables track workers’ heart rates and detect signs of fatigue, reducing the risk of accidents caused by exhaustion. Construction tool balancers also reduce upper body strain with active weight distribution for zero gravity handling during heavy demolition.

Proximity sensors detect objects nearby or within a set radius without physical contact. Devices such as Beacon tracking software are frequently used in healthcare and K-12 education settings, which enables users to monitor patient or student movement without contact while maintaining hygiene.[3] Last year, 42% of workers reported having tested or interacted with location-tracking tech at work.[4]

Additionally, robotics is transforming safety on job sites with equipment such as the MULE (Material Unit Lift Enhancer). This masonry game-changer eliminates heavy lifting and repetitive motion, reducing physical strain and increasing work speed and efficiency.[5]

AI for Predicting and Preventing Accidents

Artificial intelligence is already transforming safety by planning for and preventing accidents before they happen. Using historical data, AI identifies patterns, assesses site conditions, and predicts high-risk behavior. All of this helps teams spot and eliminate potential danger. From smart PPE monitors that can alert to environmental hazards like a gas leak to AI-automated bots that operate equipment in high-risk conditions, the technology is improving daily. While that’s good news, team must ensure that AI systems comply with data privacy regulations and ensure that employees know how to use it effectively.[6]

Drones Hit a High Note in Site Safety

When it comes to site inspections and identifying hazards, drones have become an essential tool for construction safety management. It’s one technology that can improve project timelines and reduce risk without the need for a major capital investment. Today, drones are used on at least 37% of construction sites, and they can significantly reduce the need for workers to climb to high areas for inspections.[7]

These unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) enable swift inspections of hard-to-search areas, providing real-time data to identify risks like unstable structures and equipment failures without exposing anyone to potential danger.

As the industry evolves, technology will continue to provide innovative ways to reduce or eliminate safety risks. It’s every leader’s responsibility to evaluate new solutions and determine their value in keeping workers safe and enhancing project outcomes.