Having spent years in the construction industry, I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the downright risky. These job sites can be brutal, but they don’t have to be. Safety has always been a hot topic, and with the rise of new technology like drones, we’re taking it to a whole new level. But first, we need to review recent construction accidents statistics to put in perspective the importance of implementing a holistic safety protocol..

The Stats Speak For Themselves:

Fatal Injuries:

• 2022: The construction industry experienced 1,069 worker fatalities, equating to a rate of 9.6 deaths per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers.
• 2021: There were 1,034 fatal work injuries in construction, marking an 11% increase from the previous year.
• 2020: The industry reported 1,034 fatalities, a decrease from 1,102 in 2019.

Nonfatal Injuries:

• 2020: Private construction recorded 174,100 total recordable cases of nonfatal injuries and illnesses, with an incidence rate of 2.5 per 100 FTE workers.

Trends and Analysis:

The data reveals a concerning upward trend in construction fatalities:

• From 2020 to 2021, fatalities increased by 11%.
• In 2022, the number of deaths remained high, with construction leading all industries in worker fatalities.

This escalation suggests that construction accidents have become more frequent in recent years. Factors contributing to this trend may include:

• Falls, Slips, and Trips: These incidents accounted for over one-third of construction deaths in 2021, with a 5.9% increase from the previous year.
• Demographic Vulnerabilities: Middle-aged workers (45-64 years) experienced the most fatal injuries between 2016 and 2019. However, workers aged 65 and older had the highest fatal injury rates, at 22 deaths per 100,000 FTEs, more than double the rate for workers under 55.
• Training and Safety Protocols: Despite efforts to improve safety training, the persistence of high fatality rates indicates potential gaps in safety protocols and their enforcement.

What’s Being Done?

Let me walk you through how companies are stepping up their game—and why I believe drones are one of the coolest tools to hit the scene. Here are six key ways companies are addressing construction safety—and how drones are making an impact at every step.

Comprehensive Safety Training

Accidents often happen because workers aren’t aware of the risks or haven’t been trained on how to handle them. Regular safety training helps employees understand how to identify hazards, operate machinery safely, and follow protocols.

Drone Solution: Incorporating drone footage into training sessions offers workers a bird’s-eye view of the construction site. For example, drones can map out hazardous zones or show real-time visuals of complex structures to help employees understand the risks. Case in point: A study by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) showed that using drones for hazard analysis in training reduced fall-related injuries by 15%.

Effective Fall Protection Systems

Falls remain the leading cause of fatal injuries in construction. Guardrails, safety nets, and personal fall arrest systems are critical, but they require regular inspections to stay effective.

Drone Solution: Drones equipped with high-resolution cameras can inspect safety equipment like guardrails and scaffolding, even in hard-to-reach places, ensuring they’re secure without putting workers in harm’s way. For example, the Minnesota Department of Transport (MnDOT) Bridge Office recently conducted a multiphase, multiyear drone research project. The goal of their study was to determine whether using drones could cut the cost of inspecting bridges and improve safety. In addition, they also looked into the impact it would have on efficiency and accuracy if drones could automatically download data into survey and inspection reports.  MnDOT hopes to use their findings to develop “best practice” guidelines that will provide information on how to use drones to inspect bridges across the state and beyond. 

Regular Equipment Maintenance

Malfunctioning equipment is a major safety risk. Companies rely on strict maintenance schedules, but traditional methods often require workers to access dangerous or confined spaces.

Drone Solution: Drones simplify maintenance by inspecting heavy equipment, cranes, and inaccessible areas. They can capture real-time data and identify signs of wear or damage. For instance, at a project in Singapore, drones reduced equipment downtime by 30% by enabling quick, non-invasive inspections.

Ergonomic Practices

Repetitive strain injuries and physical overexertion are common on construction sites. Ergonomics involves redesigning tools, tasks, and workstations to reduce physical strain on workers.

Drone Solution: Drones reduce the need for workers to perform repetitive or physically demanding tasks, such as climbing scaffolding or measuring large distances manually. For example, during a construction project in Melbourne, drones completed surveying tasks in hours instead of days, reducing worker fatigue.

Enforcing Proper Use of PPE

Personal protective equipment (PPE) includes helmets, gloves, safety goggles, and high-visibility clothing that protect workers from injuries. Proper usage and compliance are critical.

Drone Solution: Drones can monitor PPE compliance from above, capturing real-time visuals of workers on-site. Supervisors can use this footage to ensure every worker is wearing the required gear. During a major infrastructure project in the UK, drones helped enforce PPE compliance, reducing non-compliance incidents by 25%.

Drones as Safety Innovators

Drones have become a cornerstone of modern construction safety. Beyond inspecting equipment or monitoring PPE, they provide unparalleled access to hazardous areas without risking worker safety.

For example, during the construction of Allianz Field in Minnesota, drones helped assess structural integrity and site safety, ensuring the project stayed on schedule while minimizing worker exposure to danger.

Drones also excel in emergency scenarios. If a collapse or fire occurs, drones can quickly assess the area, locate hazards, and provide data for an efficient rescue operation.

Conclusion

Construction safety is evolving, and drones are leading the charge. By combining traditional measures like fall protection and PPE with cutting-edge drone technology, we’re creating safer work environments. These tools not only save lives but also improve efficiency, proving that technology and safety go hand in hand. Drones and Construction might be a small part of the bigger picture, but their impact is undeniably transformative.

From The Editor:

Do you need to hire a professional drone service provider for your project?  To speak to an aerial data specialist, fill out a form, email us or for even faster response times, give us a call at (833) FLY-4YOU or (833) 359-4968.  Check out our transparent pricing at https://www.aerialdecisions.com/drone-photography-pricing/ and watch this space as we expand on the above topics and more over the coming weeks and months.  

If you like this post, feel free to click the share button at the bottom of the page.  We appreciate you helping us by spreading the content we share on our blog.

Showcase Your Company on the Drones and Construction Podcast! If you’d like to be a featured guest on our podcast, send us an email: info@aerialdecisions.com and one of our crew will get right back to you to share the details.

About Aerial Decisions

Aerial Decisions is a Los Angeles-based Drone Services Provider (DSP).  We specialize in providing cutting-edge drone data collection combined with industry leading software solutions tailored for the commercial construction industry. Our mission is to optimize the way enterprise construction projects are managed by offering precise aerial photography, detailed data analysis, and innovative software tools through a network of FAA-certified and insured drone pilots.  Aerial Decisions is not just a drone service provider; we are your strategic partner in commercial construction. Our hands-on approach to understanding your unique requirements and our dedication to excellence ensures that every flight and every data point is optimized for your success. Trust us to be the eyes in the sky that elevate your construction projects to new heights.

• Author
• Recent Posts

Jim Gibson

Founder | CEO at Aerial Decisions

Jim is the founder of Aerial Decisions and is an FAA Part 107 Certified Commercial Drone Pilot.He has spent the last 10 years building and leading world class sales teams for an industry leading digital marketing agency.Jim is widely recognized amongst his peers as a consummate full funnel digital marketing expert and a respected industry leader.

Equally adept as an entrepreneur, Jim has led start up organizations in a multitude of industries ranging from telecommunications to web based software services.In this latest adventure, Jim is leveraging his profound love of flying drones into a dynamic new start-up that he hopes one day becomes the standard bearer for drone flying advocacy across the globe.

Jim originally hails from Clearwater, Florida and currently lives in Glendale, California with his wife Diana and his lovable pup, Gunnar.

When Jim’s not flying drones: “You’ll catch me on the ice (or asphalt) playing beer league hockey or training for my next triathlon.Whether it’s on ice asphalt or in the water you’ll always find me on the move and rarely sitting still.

Latest posts by Jim Gibson (see all)

• 6 Safety Innovations Transforming Construction Sites - December 10, 2024
• Outsourcing vs. Building Your Own Construction Drone Team - December 1, 2024
• 4 Hidden Culprits Behind Commercial Construction Inefficiencies - November 28, 2024