Among the many concerns construction project managers must consider when making decisions is how a particular issue may affect the bottom line. According to data from Risk Management Associates in Philadelphia, commercial construction is a high-risk industry with low-profit margins and claim that the average profit margin was between 4% and 6% before taxes. One way to increase opportunities for a better profit margin is improving job site safety and efficiency.
How Construction Cameras Create Safer and More Productive Jobsites
It isn’t a secret that cameras can impact behavior. This is one reason why some mom & pop convenience stores place fake video cameras around their stores to deter crime. Most people behave differently when they know they are being watched. Of course, fake cameras won’t work as well on a construction site when you’re trying to positively impact safe behavior long term. For that, you need a construction camera solution that actively captures job site behavior so you can develop safer practices. As camera technology improves and costs decrease, it makes more sense than ever to leverage the power of construction cameras to improve job site safety and in the process, improve construction efficiency.
Here are five ways construction cameras can improve job site safety and efficiency:
- Cameras can instill a sense of accountability. With real-time capture of workplace activity, a construction camera can be used to foster ownership of actions. Video can not only be used as a training tool showcasing accidents and near misses, but also force employees to consider how their actions may be viewed by management as well as fellow staff. A few cameras on a job site will have a dramatic effect on construction site behavior.
- Construction monitoring can help reduce waste. Contractors are aware how various construction project issues impact the bottom line. Problems like labor shortages, supply chain delays, outdated construction plans, misuse of equipment, jobsite accidents and change orders can negatively impact profitability. Construction cameras can be used to pinpoint wasteful practices and even inventory management to ensure equipment and materials are being used effectively and efficiently.
- Constuction site cameras can promote productivity. Cameras can do something a project manager cannot. They can be everywhere at once. From one central location, or mobile device, a construction manager can view real-time video of each area on a construction site. When decision makers can watch video of construction processes, they can better decide where to allocate workers, and where those resources are being wasted.
- Construction video can ensure best practices. As a collaborative process, construction projects have many hands with different responsibilities and different managers. Video can be used to ensure all parties, including subcontractors, are performing to the standards set by the project manager. If a construction project is monitored using high quality cameras and software solutions, every step of a build can be fully documented by video and photographs. Having evidence can ensure that each portion of a project was done correctly can help in a variety of situations where evidence is needed.
- Real-time construction site data leads to better decision making and resource allocation. Knowing what the conditions are on a job site can not only increase safety for all personnel, but better manage staff schedules. An often-overlooked facet of job site administration is how conditions can impact efficiency and waste. Understanding your site environment, even before your team arrives and after they leave for the day can be a major benefit to any construction project manager. With this real-time data, you can better allocate skilled workers’ time from manual data entry to what they do best — building.
If you’re interested in discovering how SiteKick improves construction processes and efficiency, schedule a demonstration of our construction monitoring solutions. We’re ready to help you increase your bottom line today!
