Construction companies may be closer than they think to using jobsite data effectively to improve worker safety — especially when it comes to preventing falls, according to a panel of industry experts who spoke during a May 7 webinar held as part of Construction Safety Week.

Moderated by Construction Dive Editor Zach Phillips, the session brought together leaders from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), major contractor Clayco, and CPWR — The Center for Construction Research and Training. The panelists shared strategies and tools aimed at helping firms launch or enhance data-driven safety initiatives, even with limited resources.

One major focus of the conversation was how to get started collecting and using safety data — an area that many smaller contractors may find daunting. But speakers emphasized that the first step is simply to begin, and that actionable insights can come from even modest data-gathering efforts.

Practical Solutions Rooted in Data

Among the real-world examples presented during the discussion was Clayco’s “Ladders Last” program. The initiative emerged after the firm’s internal data analysis revealed that ladders played a role in roughly 10% of slip, trip, and fall-related incidents — including several near misses.

With that information in hand, Clayco responded by encouraging, and in some cases requiring, the use of safer alternatives such as lifts and scaffolding in place of ladders. The company now sometimes requires permits for ladder use on certain sites.

“We use data every week, and more often as needed, to really evaluate where we’re at, and kind of keep a pulse on what’s happening within the company,” said Todd Friis, Clayco’s senior vice president of risk management. He emphasized that regularly reviewing safety stats has become an essential part of the company's strategy for reducing risk.

Falls, slips, and trips remain a top hazard in construction, accounting for 421 deaths — nearly 40% of the industry’s total fatalities in 2023, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In response to those sobering figures, contractors across the country participated in jobsite stand downs on May 7 to discuss fall protection practices.

A Simple Start

Jessica Bunting, director of research to practice at CPWR, said that many contractors assume they need sophisticated systems to track safety data — but that’s not the case. “The best way to start using data is simply to begin gathering it, even if it needs to be done anonymously at first,” Bunting said.

She also stressed the importance of using collected data constructively. “However,” she added, “don’t use the data in a punitive way — chastising workers for what they get wrong — but instead, focus on making the jobsite safer and reinforcing best practices.”

Bunting pointed to CPWR’s publicly available Data Center as a valuable resource. It includes interactive dashboards and detailed reports on fall injuries, fatalities, and other health and safety issues. Smaller firms in particular can use the platform to understand broader industry trends and set priorities based on real data.

“I think it’s really not that hard to start, and then it really can help you figure out where you want to spend your money, especially as a small contractor with limited resources,” she said.

Industry-Wide Approaches

Large firms are also turning to data in innovative ways. At Fluor, a multinational engineering and construction firm based in Irving, Texas, data analysis helped identify the company’s riskiest jobsite tasks.

By comparing internal incident records with national data, Fluor pinpointed nine high-risk activities that were common across its projects. The company used that knowledge to launch a focused safety campaign.

“Fluor developed the Safer Choices Together program to educate workers about their personal risk tolerance and its impact on decision-making,” said Tricia Thibodeaux, vice president of health, safety and environmental at Fluor. “This initiative underscores the importance of making safer choices and recognizing potential hazards before they become issues.”

The overarching message from the panel: collecting and using safety data isn’t just for the biggest firms or most tech-savvy teams. Even small contractors can take meaningful steps — and potentially save lives — by leveraging simple data collection methods and building a culture that prioritizes prevention.

Originally reported by Matthew Thibault in Construction Dive.