28TH FEBRUARY 2023
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3 MINUTE READ
Proximity Warning Systems (PWS) like SensorZone have become an increasingly popular technology in the construction industry in recent years. They are designed to prevent accidents by alerting workers to the nearby presence of machinery.
The technology has shown potential in improving safety in construction sites, but how effective are they? We’ll use this blog to take a deeper look.
According to a report published by the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR), between 2011 and 2015, 962 workers were killed in construction-related incidents involving vehicles and heavy equipment. This highlights the need for technologies such as proximity warning systems to help prevent such fatalities.
Several studies have been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of PWS on construction sites. In a study published in the Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, researchers evaluated the effectiveness of a PWS installed in a construction site in Singapore. The system consisted of a combination of visual and audible alarms, and it was found to reduce the number of unsafe incidents by 58%. The study also found that workers had a higher perception of safety when the system was used.
A survey conducted by the Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA) found that proximity warning systems can help promote a culture of safety on construction sites. Their research found that 83% of workers felt that PWS had a positive impact on safety culture, and 89% of workers felt that it should be used more widely in the industry.
It has also been found that proximity warning systems can increase workers' situational awareness and provide them with more time to respond to hazards. According to a study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), having a PWS in place increased workers' response time to hazards by 0.5-2.5 seconds, which can be significant in preventing accidents.
As the studies mentioned above have found, Proximity Warning Systems definitely have a part to play in improving safety on construction sites.
