10 Must-Have Features For Construction Safety Software
According to OSHA, nearly 6.5 million people work at approximately 252,000 construction sites across the U.S. on any given day. The fatal injury rate for the construction industry is higher than the national average in this category for all industries. Therefore, construction project managers have to not only manage their projects and budgets but to follow safety standards and guidelines for every step in the building process. To keep everyone safe on the job site, industry-leading construction companies are now investing in employee safety with construction safety software.
With today’s technology, there is an abundance of software-as-a-service platforms to choose from when it comes to construction safety software. But what are the most important factors when considering all these different applications? Don’t sweat. We’ve come up with a list of the top 10 must-have features for construction safety software to help you navigate through the noise.
The Must-Have Features
Construction project managers have a lot on their plate. From tracking teams on different job sites to managing production costs and documenting necessary paperwork, the key to being a successful project manager is staying organized.
Staying organized through set processes and correct documentation can increase employee and site safety. The best way to keep everything in order includes having a centralized location for all documents hosted by cloud-based construction project management with safety features.
1. Acts as a Project Management Software
Adopting a construction safety software that also acts as a project management software allows you to break down tasks, information, and activities by each project. Additionally, project management software will enable users to enter data, material costs, and labor activities into a fully searchable database. Next time there’s an issue on-site, you’ll be able to find it quickly and address your workers’ needs.
2. Attaches Photos with Markups
On the job site, photo capability is crucial to maintaining site safety. If something is broken or needs replacement, workers need to be able to document safety issues and notify management immediately. Additionally, construction safety software should have the capability to markup photos and let others locate precisely where the problem is.
3. Tracks Injuries
According to construction safety statistics, around half of severe workplace injuries go unreported each year. Construction workers take higher risks than employees in other industries and need to know that their companies place a high emphasis on employee safety. If an injury occurs on the job site, software that can provide real-time notifications is a handy tool to inform a manager immediately.
Fun fact: eSUB has a feature that will ask an employee if they were injured on the job site when they punch out to ensure no incident goes overlooked.
4. Enables Voice-to-Text
When you’re working on a construction site, climbing ladders, and wearing gloves, there’s no time for texting on your mobile device or tablet. Construction safety software that offers voice-to-text technology so you can remain hands-free should be a requirement.
5. Compatible with Desktop & Mobile
Typing notes into a laptop on the job site isn’t always realistic. Mobile workforce management is helping industry-leading construction companies now more than ever. On-the-go technology allows workers to document notes from their mobile devices in the field while management can review from their desktop in the office. Connecting the two more seamlessly than ever before. Mobile functionality will get your employees in the habit of recording work as it’s being done instead of trying to recall what happened at the end of the day or week.
Tip: When considering a construction safety software, make sure to look into their applications and check if they’re available for both Android and iOS.
6. Populates Easy to Use Documents
Whether it’s a safety protocol or a change order, easy-to-access documents are essential to have handy. Safety standards require lots of documentation, and it’s convenient for you to have software that helps generate forms and store them for you in one central location. Review your state and local safety laws to make sure your software is helping you stay compliant.
7. Tracks Employee Labor Hours and Schedule
Keeping track of employee labor hours is critical to staying organized on the job site. For example, if an employee is injured, you’ll be able to tell if your employee was clocked in or out at the time of injury. Then you’ll better know how to address the situation.
Scheduling is a necessary tool as well, knowing where your employees are at all times is part of any safety program. In an emergency, you’ll be able to know which employees are at what job site and how to better aid them.
8. Focuses on Mitigating Risk
One key feature is to make sure your construction safety software is helping you protect your business. Risk mitigation includes due diligence in the documentation and standardization of processes and safety programs. Saas companies that specialize in risk mitigation and claims avoidance will have your company’s best interest in mind.
9. Integrates with Payroll
Finding a platform that integrates with your accounting software will ultimately make your job easier. While you are tracking your employee’s labor hours, you won’t need to worry about manually inputting that information into payroll. In other words, this feature will save you time and a headache come payday!
10. Offers Company Training
You’ll want to choose a construction safety software that provides training with your package. Everyone on your team must know how to use the software to implement it successfully. The more users that can correctly use your safety software, the lower your company injury rate will be.
Conclusion
Selecting software to roll out to your company is a big decision. While there many SaaS companies out there, not every construction safety software will be a fit for your trade. With these ten must-have features, you now have the tools to make an informed decision on what construction safety software you will adopt next.
