Best Use of Technology: Health, Safety & Wellbeing

Fit for Work

Fit for Work combines technology and mental health services to improve the total safety of those working in hazardous environments.

There are plenty of emerging digital health and safety tools but, until Fit for Work, none which bridge the gap between health and safety compliance and the mental health of the worker.

Our facial recognition and geolocation services provide the confidence that the right worker has the right competencies for their job when they step onto site. In addition to this, the regular wellbeing provision can also be delivered instantly and at scale ensuring every worker has access to resources whenever they need them.

Our contribution to improving Social Value with this all-in-one workforce engagement solution sets our clients apart and the data-led insights demonstrate the impact this provision has on the individuals and the wider business and their supply chain.

Fortel Group

Leaf H&S

Fortel Group, a leader in construction and infrastructure, excels through its commitment to quality and innovation. With subsidiaries like Sky Blue for specialised recruitment and Nexus Security for top-tier security services, Fortel ensures exceptional outcomes. The group's in-house CRM system, Leaf, has revolutionised health, safety, and wellbeing management.

Leaf’s advanced features include Toolbox Talks, RAMS, and Drug and Alcohol Tests, which have improved safety briefings, protocol access, and workforce fitness, respectively. Additionally, real-time Incident Reports and Threat Assessments, alongside Fatigue Management tools, have significantly reduced accidents.

By digitising safety procedures, Leaf enhances communication, planning, and productivity. Developed through extensive research and collaboration, Leaf addresses on-site challenges with reliability and usability. Its modular design allows scalability across diverse projects. Fortel aims to extend Leaf industry-wide, promoting safer, more efficient practices. Leaf's innovative approach sets a new industry benchmark, embodying Fortel's dedication to safety and excellence.

Geospatial Commission and AtkinsRéalis

The national underground asset register

There are an estimated 4 million kilometres of underground pipes and cables across the UK, and a hole dug every 7 seconds to install, fix and maintain them. There are around 60,000 accidental strikes on these assets every year - putting workers’ safety at risk; disrupting the public and businesses; and costing the UK economy £2.4bn annually. The 600+ owners of these assets are legally required to share data to support ‘safe digging’, but with no standardised approach, multiple organisations must be contacted for every dig. That’s why the Geospatial Commission and AtkinsRéalis are building an interactive digital map of underground pipes and cables. The National Underground Asset Register (NUAR) gives planners and excavators standardised, secure, instant access to the data needed to carry out work effectively and safely; reducing the time it takes to gather this from 6.1 days to 60 seconds, providing estimated economic benefits over £400m annually.

Laing O'Rourke

Method statements are crucial health and safety documents in construction, ensuring activities are completed safely. Regular assessment of these documents is necessary to account for changing site conditions. Traditionally, capturing who has been briefed on method statements involved cumbersome paper records and occasionally non-searchable digital methods, making it time-consuming to track briefings. In digitising this process, we've increased engagement, enhanced reliability and traceability in addition to significantly cutting the time and effort involved.

Mott MacDonald

The SafetIbase platform

The SafetIbase platform represents a significant leap forward in construction risk management. Its robust technology has enhanced the health, safety, and wellbeing of the HS2 workforce by providing a clear, 3D-coordinated system for hazard identification and mitigation.

With substantial daily engagement from contractors, SafetIbase has streamlined risk management processes, increased transparency, and empowered informed decision-making. Our innovative approach has not only improved safety practices but has also fostered a cultural shift within the industry.

This makes our Mott MacDonald development team a prime candidate for the TechFest Award, as we continue to set new benchmarks for safety in construction.

Radius Group

Skyline Cockpit

Radius Group in partnership with The Skyline Cockpit has introduced transformative safety and well-being advantages for tower crane operators. By bringing the tower crane cabin to the ground, we are enhancing working conditions, supporting physical health but also fostering inclusivity in the construction industry, making it more accessible for older, infirm, and disabled individuals. Operator welfare has seen a substantial improvement through the reduction of isolation and the creation of a more sociable work environment, also incorporating welfare facilities. This positive atmosphere contributes to a more efficient and faster workflow on site. Importantly, the technology minimises the need for operators to climb the crane daily, significantly reducing the risk of accidents. Operators can now safely control the crane from a ground-level position on-site.

Ramtech

Linear heat detection system

Ramtech, in partnership with Thermocable, has developed the highly advanced ‘linear fire detection system’, tailored specifically for increasing safety on scaffolding structures.

In response to the pressing need for enhanced fire safety measures during cladding remediation projects post-Grenfell Tower, our innovative solution revolutionises safety protocols in construction. Our cutting-edge fire detection system for scaffolding addresses the inherent risks associated with facade replacement, providing early detection of potential fire hazards.

By leveraging Thermocable’s linear heat detection technology and Ramtech’s WES3 and REACT systems, we can offer unparalleled fire detection capabilities, ensuring early identification and prompt response to potential fire incidents.

Harry Buck, commercial manager at Thermocable, said: “In open aired environments, typical fire detectors can be prone to false activations. Linear heat cable is designed for these challenging conditions, while still providing early detection at the point of risk. This technology allows site managers to react more quickly and confidently."

Safetytech Accelerator

To leverage innovative technologies for a safer workplace, collaboration between tech developers, industry users, and regulators is crucial. STA and HSE’s Discovering Safety created the Industrial Safetytech Regulatory Sandbox (ISRS) to address this need. ISRS focuses on integrating technologies like AI, visual analytics, AR, wearables, and robotics into construction safety management, despite adoption barriers such as development environments, business cases, and regulatory uncertainties.

The sandbox explored more effective assessment and compliance activities, accelerating the adoption of proven safetytech products, and mitigating barriers. It focused on high-risk areas like falls, vehicle collisions, crane operations, and manual handling. Six companies collaborated with HSE and major construction firms, resulting in 10 recommendations for technology adoption, health and safety guideline changes, a digital training program, simplified robotic certification, government incentives, and new industry safety standards.

A communication campaign from January to March 2023 reached 49.4 million people, highlighting the sandbox's success and positive reception.

Suction Excavation

This innovative solution has significantly enhanced safety across SEUK’s UK operations, particularly on the A21 supporting MJ Church with vacuum excavation support .

The SEUKFHOSSFIELD system employs real-time human form recognition, ensuring continuous monitoring and preventing unauthorised access to hazardous areas. Implemented from January 2024 to July 2024, the system has shown dramatic improvements in worker safety and operational efficiency.

The exclusion zone offers increased onsite safety, enhanced operational efficiency, serves as an educational tool, improves incident reporting, and is scalable for various excavations . Recognised by National Highways, the system aligns perfectly with the award criteria by using technology to improve health, safety, and wellbeing. SEUK’s leadership and innovative approach make it a strong contender for the award.