Most of our conversations around technology in construction center on productivity and cost control. Grade, payload and compaction technologies all help you get more work done more accurately, requiring less time, burning less fuel and resulting in less rework.
But there’s another area where technology can make a huge difference on your jobsites — safety. And you don’t have to invest a lot of money to see real improvements fast. Here are two safety technologies you can quickly and easily retrofit on your equipment.
Seat belt reminders
Most construction equipment doesn’t move fast, and a lot of machines come equipped with rollover protection structures (ROPS). That can trick some operators into thinking that wearing a seat belt isn’t necessary. The data proves them wrong. A U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) study reviewed more than 50 rollover accidents and found zero fatalities ONLY when operators wore seat belts in ROPS-protected cabs.
You can’t climb into the cab with every operator, so how do you make sure they’re buckling up? Add a reminder. Systems like the Cat® Seat Belt Reminder (which is easy to install in any machine of any brand) trigger an alarm in the cab — both audible and visual — if an operator disengages the parking brake before fastening the seat belt. The Cat system comes with an option to add an external beacon to alert site supervisors, and you can monitor infractions through your telematics system.
Safer operation isn’t the only benefit. In some situations, failure to wear a seat belt may violate regulations, and a single infraction could shut down a site and result in penalties or fines. With a seat belt reminder system, you can prevent that from happening.
Camera systems
Once your operators are buckled up and on the move, are you confident they can see all the potential hazards around them? Blind spots are just as common in heavy equipment as they are in passenger vehicles. And poor visibility is one of the leading causes of accidents on-site.
Camera systems are another simple safety technology you can add to your existing machines to keep people and equipment safe. There are multiple options available, most combine rugged external cameras with an in-cab display monitor. You can point cameras to the rear, front, or sides of the machine. There are even “smart cameras” — like those in the Cat Detect technology kit — that can identify when a person, machine or object enters the proximity of a machine equipped with a smart camera system and alert the operator.
The obvious advantage of camera systems is a safer jobsite with less risk, equipment damage and downtime. The hidden benefit? Operators who work more confidently, efficiently and productively.
Looking for more tips on simple ways to make your jobsite safer? This podcast takes you through the benefits of various aftermarket safety solutions — and this free webinar shows the link between improved safety and increased productivity.
