Q & A
With USA
GRACE HERRERA , EHS SYSTEMS MANAGER AT DPR CONSTRUCTION
HEIDI SCHNEIDER , ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT AT SHAWMUT DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
What Are Some Of The Benefits You ’ ve Found In Instituting New Safety Programs ?
Improving our culture and setting a new standard for safety . Instead of collecting all this data and putting it on a shelf , we ’ re able to filter through it , share it , and use it to plan holistically for each project and engage everyone in driving our injuries to zero .
What Is The Relationship Between Safety And Insurance Rates ? How Can You Use HammerTech To Capitalize On This ?
When we start having incidents , it becomes an insurance issue . With a great safety program in place where we lead , train , and engage our teams , the risk management piece comes naturally . HammerTech keeps us focused on protecting our workers and preventing injuries that could potentially result in a claim from happening in the first place .
From An Improved Planning Perspective , Do You See An Opportunity To Improve The Planning Stages With This New Technology ?
HammerTech allows planning for tighter deadlines because our safety processes are more efficient . It also helps us identify problem areas so we can implement appropriate control measures and schedule for success . We know overtime can be a precursor to safety events , so we are getting creative with shift design and leveraging different techniques to protect everyone on site .
Do You Have Any Advice For Executing The Best Project Possible Leveraging A Platform Like HammeTech ?
Apply corporate leadership to drive engagement , consistency , and sustainability with each project . Improving safety is a team effort . That ’ s why we encourage everyone to contribute and involve our trade partners planning for every job .
How Has Shawmut ’ s Journey From Paper To Digital Affected Your Company And Subcontractors ?
Instead of searching through our filing cabinet — the “ safety bucket ”— for necessary information and having to make paper copies for everyone , we now have all the safety documents for the pilot projects available in one place . We ’ re also able to monitor stats more closely and don ’ t have to wait on our superintendents and safety team to complete and update paperwork . It empowers our employees and is raising awareness for safety throughout the company .
Though Early In The Process , What Will You Consider A Digitization “ Holy Grail ” When Everything Is Up And Running ?
Everyone at Shawmut taking advantage of HammerTech ’ s importing features like orientation , gathering SDs and certifications , and reporting site hazards .
How Do You Ensure The Collection Of Safety Data Is Not Just A Box-Ticking Exercise But That Your Team Is Actually Using The Data To Improve Workplace Safety ?
Having all the paperwork in a digital platform is helping us eliminate gaps in our safety processes and create more accountability for everyone on our team . We give prizes for recognition and have been providing ongoing training on HammerTech best practices so we can all get the most out of the software .
From A Trade Partner Standpoint , How Have You Found The Move To A Digital Platform ?
At first , our contractors were a little put off . However , once they understood HammerTech works to streamline existing processes and expectations , they have embraced the benefits of using technology to manage and improve safety .
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