When Quality Improves, So Does Safety

Safety and quality are two sides of the same coin—and investing in one solution can solve issues with both.  

Australia’s construction industry may be a world leader in workplace health and safety but construction remains among our three most dangerous industries.

It’s no surprise, then, that safety is high on the long list of priorities for construction industry leaders. In fact, 29 per cent of Australian construction leaders surveyed for Procore’s How We Build Now 2022 report ranked safety among their greatest challenges this year.

At the same time, questions of quality are plaguing the industry and rework is costing billions in lost time each year. How We Build Now found the average Australian project spends 12 per cent of its time budget on rework.

Countless academic papers have noted the similarities between quality and safety-management procedures and practices. Some have proposed that integrating quality and safety-management systems would improve resource allocation, accelerate timelines and boost productivity.

Some projects, such as the $375-million water infrastructure project in Queensland, have real-world evidence that strategies to reduce rework also drive down the number of safety incidents on site.

Pressure on teams

We know mistakes often require multiple rounds of rework, which can cause schedule delays and cost overruns. In response, project managers often try to accelerate progress by compressing schedules or crashing tasks.

This may erode the quality of the finished project and risk the safety of workers on site, placing even more pressure on teams.

The result can be a vicious circle that, once turning, is hard to stop.

So, how do we turn a vicious circle into a virtuous one where instant access to information builds transparency and trust while enhancing quality, reducing rework and improving safety?

Many of the business leaders surveyed for How We Build Now know the answer—which is why 49 per cent said digital technology would transform construction by reducing errors and rework, and 44 per cent said it would increase building quality.

Case study: Utech

Utech is one company that has translated the theory into practice. Utech’s team had been using a messy combination of specialised software, paper hardcopies, local storage solutions, scanning and emails—all of which created inconsistent data silos.

Each project manager used their own system and processes, which made locating and managing business information time-consuming and costly.

Utech turned to Procore in early 2021, implementing the Project Management and Quality and Safety solutions. These are accessed by mobile devices, streamlining decision-making and minimising time off the tools.

Utech now uses Procore for quality assurance documentation, generating information such as drawings, tables and forms from mobile devices.

Clear and professional reports can be submitted in a few clicks.

Certified gains

Since implementing the solution, Utech has attained certification for best practice in quality, safety and environmental management.

This is evidenced in its ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems and ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems certification, and, crucially, in its ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems accreditation.

The accreditations have led to new business streams and built the company's brand. Best of all, Procore has reinforced Utech’s commitment to a safety culture.

Utech has also compressed its construction schedules by around 20 per cent and reduced rework by a mammoth 70 per cent simply by tracking compliance and accountability.

Utech business operations manager Ryan Watson said Procore provided visibility across its operations. “We can see it, report on it and drill down into issues in real-time. We’ve noticed that regular reporting maintains everyone’s engagement with quality-assurance standards.”

Return on investment

Meanwhile, How We Build Now reveals the hard reality; that 24 per cent of Australian companies still use paper-based systems to manage quality, and 25 per cent rely on paper to report on safety.

One coin, two sides. Utech’s Watson said the safety and quality outcomes delivered by Procore’s digital solutions had been worth the investment.

To gain more insights into How We Build Now, check out Procore’s webinar.

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