Construction sites are some of the most dangerous work environments, putting employees in danger of experiencing everything from falls to electrocution injuries. Although New York requires all employers to provide workers’ compensation to their employees, this measure isn’t always enough to help workers who sustain serious injuries. To prevent injuries, the industry is relying on technological advancements in construction safety. But what are these options?
At Tucker Lawyers, we help people who’ve sustained losses because of another party’s negligent or wrongful conduct. If you’ve suffered injuries in a construction site, we can help you understand what your rights are.
Learn more about our services by contacting us at (516) 399-2364.
Something that our construction accident lawyers see is that technology is making huge strides in the industry. There are a number of key tools that can make a difference for workers and employers.
Workers are able to don smart helmets, glasses, boots, and vests that have a variety of sensors and can communicate crucial information. These items monitor a worker’s vital signs, offering real-time information to the person wearing them and to supervisors. For example, a smart hat can warn the wearer that their body temperature is too high, prompting them to take a break. Wearable technology can also detect hazardous conditions so that supervisors can take action.
If an accident does occur, wearable technology is already able to alert emergency services. The goal is to perfect the technology enough that it’s able to provide first aid while help arrives.
The Internet of Things can connect lots of equipment and devices to a central network, allowing each part to function in collaboration with everything else. IoT helps to monitor machinery to ensure that each piece is functioning as it needs to and can also check a building’s structural integrity. It also helps monitor environmental factors in real time. By offering all of this data, employers can catch problems early and provide maintenance to machinery as needed.
Having construction drones can help prevent accidents by offering a view of the site from above, making it easier both to monitor work progress and to assess safety from a bird’s eye view. When you use drones and aerial surveys, you can inspect hard-to-reach areas so that workers don’t have to put themselves in danger to do so.
These machines can handle tasks in hazardous conditions and high-risk areas where a human would be in serious danger. Operators can control machines from a safe distance while still getting the job done correctly. Some options available even have artificial intelligence features that allow them to perform autonomous tasks.
Both virtual and augmented reality are used for training workers and simulating dangerous experiences that they need to know how to handle. Workers no longer need to expose themselves to risks while getting the necessary training. Augmented reality can also allow workers to spot safety risks by overlaying digital information onto their surroundings.
Safety regulations are in constant flux because of the new technologies available, and the construction industry in New York is no exception. One of the changing construction safety regulations in the state involves making adjustments to the definition of what a major building is.
Until December of 2024, a major building is 10 stories high or has a footprint of 100,000 square feet or more. A code revision will reduce the height of a major building to seven stories. This means that more projects will require a site safety manager or coordinator.
Another important safety regulation in place involves construction superintendents, who can’t be designated on more than three permits. By 2026, they will be allowed on only one permit. This limit is meant to ensure that all of their focus is on one project.
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Technology and regulations are joining to provide a safer work environment for all construction workers while also ensuring that buildings are efficiently and effectively built. They offer the opportunity to focus on risk mitigation while also helping workers and employers make better decisions.
One of the challenges of implementing new technologies to provide safety that workers can depend on is the expense involved. Not every employer can afford to purchase smart helmets, for example, which can put them at a disadvantage when compared to larger businesses. Regulations will also need to catch up quickly to the advancements that technology brings. One example would be needing to have regulations in place if the adoption of 3D-printed materials becomes widespread in the construction industry.
A growing trend is the use of drones for site surveys and progress monitoring and the implementation of AI-powered management tools for better risk assessment. In the future, the trend to watch for seems likely to be off-site construction. Modular and prefabricated options offer better employee safety because they will work in a controlled environment and not on-site.
Until all of the advancements in technology are available to every worker, the hazards inherent in the construction industry will remain. This means that accidents and injuries continue to be a significant worry for employees and employers alike.
If you’ve suffered a construction site accident that resulted in injuries, you have rights. You can file a workers’ compensation claim to get lost wages and medical benefits, or you can file a third-party lawsuit. No matter what option you decide on, our team can help. At Tucker Lawyers, we offer the representation you need to recover fair compensation.
Schedule a free consultation with one of our construction accident lawyers by calling us at (516) 399-2364.
