Meet the Next Equipment Safety Solutions

Our Feb. 28 analyst call (members can watch the full recording here) was the first of seven Tools, Equipment, and Robotics-focused sessions scheduled for 2024, and covered a critical topic within the AEC industry: equipment safety. On the call, BuiltWorlds members learned from three companies leading the charge with innovative equipment safety solutions.

Casey Savlov, EVP Industrial at Vita Industrial, offered valuable insights about Vita Load Navigator. This innovative solution serves as an intelligent lifting system designed to enhance safety and efficiency by stabilizing loads during material movement. Cynthia Brosque, Product Manager at SafeAI, delved into the crucial topic of ensuring safety within construction fleets. She shared how SafeAI’s product retrofits existing vehicles with cutting-edge hardware to allow for autonomous movement and increased safety. Harry Chan, the CEO of BeeInventor, shed light on one of the company’s flagship products. Its virtual fence technology acts as a protective barrier around large equipment, significantly reducing the risk of accidents involving vehicles and workers on construction sites.

Our panel discussion centered around a few main ideas relevant to equipment safety, including the role of data and analytics, and finding the balance between safety training and new technology. 

Key takeaways from the conversation

• There is a lot to learn about safety from equipment data. Each of our presenter companies collects data around equipment safety in different ways. Vita Industrial’s Vita Load Navigator stands out by meticulously gathering thousands of data points from the equipment it interfaces with. BeeInventor, with its strong emphasis on the internet of things (IoT), seamlessly connects all on-site elements, enabling a comprehensive review of safety measures through the compiled data. Meanwhile, SafeAI adopts a platform-centric strategy, collecting data directly from the vehicles it interfaces with. This encompasses crucial vehicle health data, providing operators with proactive alerts regarding maintenance requirements for enhanced safety protocols.
• There needs to be a balance between training and technology. Currently, many companies prioritize safety training and the enhancement of cultural behaviors to elevate on-site safety. However, several on-site processes still heavily depend on human involvement rather than technology, introducing variability and posing challenges in adequately preparing workers for these tasks. Our speakers shared some thoughts around striking a balance between safety training and technology usage, with an emphasis on equipment-specific training measures and enhanced use of autonomous equipment that keeps workers away from potentially dangerous scenarios.
• There are several paths to safer job sites by way of equipment advancements. Large OEMs in the equipment area have been on the forefront of these advancements for many years, but widespread adoption takes time. Some technology companies have partnered with OEMs to make innovative solutions an innate part of traditional equipment. There is also the idea that governments should introduce more regulations on-site that could reduce accidents and deaths.

What’s next?

• BuiltWorlds will be actively covering equipment safety solutions and technologies within our Tools, Equipment and Robotics research track. Stay tuned for a tech specialty report specific to equipment safety set to release in August.
• Are you a contractor using an equipment safety solution on-site? Fill out our Tools, Equipment, and Robotics Survey to share your insights.