In 2002 Laing Utilities gave handheld computers to its 150 gangs around the UK to make its reporting of safety audits and accidents more efficient.
To do this, Laing had to invest £74,000 on hardwear, £15,600 on software and £54,000 on training. Since then the company reports safety audit scores have improved from 82% to 94% and its accident frequency rate (events per 100,000 hours worked) has dropped from 0.64 to 0.46.

This case study is featured in a guide called How to use Handheld Computers for Safety Audits. It is one of five in the Enabling Technologies series, produced by BSRIA for the IT Construction Best Practice Programme (ITCBP).

Each BSRIA guide contains a case study that details the equipment used, how much it cost, the return on investment and key incidents to watch out for.

The five publications cover:

  1. Ruggedised Laptop Computers
  2. Barcode Asset Management
  3. Wearable Computers for Maintenance
  4. Handheld Computers for Safety Audits
  5. Wearable Computers for Asbestos Surveys

The booklets are free to ITCBP members and membership is free. Call 020 70617828 or email itcbp@davislangdon-uk.com

Source

Construction Manager