British construction firm Balfour Beatty has teamed up with tech company MSite to develop a smartphone app to improve the health and safety of employees across 60 of its sites in the UK.
Photo: Balfour Beatty
When downloaded, it provides each worker with a digital identity which enables contactless entry to the site by scanning biometric data, reducing the need to come into contact with surfaces as well as tracking attendance.
Its integration will be integral to maintaining health and safety during the pandemic. The app tracks other users, who will be flagged if they come within two metres of each other, to help them adhere to social distancing guidelines. The app also collects data to identify potential on-site developments.
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The two companies are currently working on how the app can be improved and for more intuitive use, including a patch which uses Bluetooth technology to identify employees when they enter exclusion zones around plant equipment in a bid to reduce accidents and increase safety across their various sites.
The app was first developed in July 2020 and is now seeing use across 60 sites in the UK.
According to the data gathered by MSite, both site security and general productivity have been increased. The data also suggests efficiency has been improved by allowing the app to track hours spent on project leads and allows for effective data collection regarding the management of product plans.
Balfour Beatty plans to have the app rolled out to all UK sites by September 2021.
Chris Johnson, CTO for Balfour Beatty, said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has catapulted us into a new digital era as we have adapted with agility to introduce and embed new ways of working.
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“This application combines Balfour Beatty’s unrivalled knowledge of the construction industry with MSite’s specialist digital insights and the ability to rapidly deploy technology on mass. This application will ultimately contribute to keeping our employees safe and is a paradigm shift in digitising site operations to improve productivity through streamlined processes.”
Neil Norman, CEO of MSite, said: “We are excited to be embarking on this epic workforce digitalisation journey with Balfour Beatty. The Construction sector is at a pivot point in the adoption of digital workforce technology and it is refreshing and encouraging that the UK’s leading infrastructure group is embracing our technology with gusto, further demonstrating Balfour Beatty’s commitment to continuous improvement through innovation.
"The new data insights MSite will provide will no doubt support their desire to maintain their top position in the market.”
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