Keeping the employees safe at all times is one of the primary tasks for HR teams, but in some fields this can be more challenging. The construction industry in particular has a high frequency of incidents that can be quite serious and sometimes even life-threatening. While UK construction sites must conform to safety regulations, companies can apply for additional measures to decrease the chances of an incident. HR software is a tool that can be utilised to this end, contributing to better overall control of the site and workforce education on several levels.

This guide points out some smart uses of HR software that can ultimately lead to lowered rate of safety risks at all sites where those measures are consistently applied.

Better safety training

Training is the most effective safety measure for construction workers and must be conducted very thoroughly. HR software allows for precise tracking of training status for each employee, eliminating the possibility that some workers fail to receive proper instruction about recommended behaviour. Any missed training sessions are identified quickly, so they can be repeated for those who didn’t attend originally. New employees can be trained faster with this system, while experienced workers can be quickly notified about any changes in the security protocols. Finally, digital channels can be used to collect feedback from the employees regarding potential improvements in the training process or gaps that aren’t covered by the training program.

Controlling who has access to unsecured parts the site

Access control can help construction site managers keep the guests away from danger zones and decrease the chance of having untrained individuals around moving machinery or within range of falling bricks. Authorised visitors can be registered and issued security equipment, including hard hats, gloves and protective masks. It’s also possible to track which workers are present in a certain area and activate the appropriate security mechanisms when critical conditions are met. In other words, software-assisted control of the site is far more comprehensive and requires less labour from your team, allowing for a security improvement without a major investment. However, access control procedures must be executed consistently even in absence of any risk signs, forcing even site owners to go through the regular drill every time they want to enter the high-risk zone.

Faster emergency reaction

In case there is a substantial hazard (i.e. fire, structural failure of a building…), the first thing to do in crises management is to ascertain how many people are exposed to danger. software will return an immediate and accurate list of personnel that could be in harm’s way. That allows managers to mount an effective relief effort quickly and reach every endangered person within the shortest time frame possible. Considering that first minutes after an accident can be quite chaotic, this measure of accuracy can have a huge impact on the eventual outcome of the rescue operation. On the other hand, a few minutes can be life-saving when medical help needs to be administered, so getting to every potentially injured worker is an absolute priority.

Find your own ideal set of safety tools

As we said, HR software tools of the latest generation can be deployed by construction companies in creative ways to reduce risks to workers and visitors at construction sites. Mitrefinch has a great package of software products that include a biometric Time and Attendance solution as well as HR software and payroll software.

For more information on our time and attendance software or workforce management solutions, contact Mitrefinch today.