Developments in biometric technology are helping
construction site managers to keep sites safe, as human
recognition system specialist HRS expains
Human Recognition System such
as HRS's MSite allow
operational staff Developments in biometric technology are helping construction site managers to keep sites safe, as human recognition system specialist HRS expains
Human Recognition System such as HRS's MSite allow operational staff to monitor variables like who's on site and who's not and who has the appropriate accreditations - and who hasn't.
"But the health and safety benefits don't stop there," says Nick Wilkinson who heads up the construction business unit at biometric company HRS.
"Such systems can also prevent workers clocking in on behalf of others and restricts access to those who have not been inducted, have breached pre-defined business rules or aren't qualified enough to be in certain areas. Plus, we can configure the product to support compliance with clients' policy changes and legislative commitment.
"Equally, there are non-trade visitors to the site such as cleaners, contractors and maintenance workers who are also subject to risk and can be better protected by better workforce management technology." So, why biometric technology? Well, the cornerstone of MSite lies in its ability to guarantee the successful identification of workers, especially since the levels of accuracy far outweigh traditional processes used today such as photographic ID.
Using a device such as a hand geometry reader to identify an individual based on the unique size and shape of their hand means that MSite can guarantee only authorised, inducted and accredited personnel can gain access to site. There's no need for a physical check from a security guard and the exposure to human error that comes with it.
Currently, there are now more than 150,000 daily workers gaining access to UK sites using this technology. HRS' largest deployment has handled 10million transactions (i.e. workers entering and leaving site) since going live in August 2009.
"The enrolment process is the modern equivalent of having a passport photo," says Nick. "And it can even let subcontractors pre-register their details through an online portal before they arrive on site, which saves hundreds of hours in data entry time for the client.
Then, each worker can be given relevant site access according to his/her accreditations.
"So, rather than using card-based identification when cards can be lost or swapped, workers can only gain entry or exit using a biological trait, which is unique to them such as the geometry of their hand or the algorithms of an iris." By its very nature, deploying biometric technology means that the method of identification cannot be passed from person to person and can't be lost or forgotten because a biometric device requires the enrolled user to be present.
A transaction is generated each time a worker enters or leaves site. All transactions are stored ready for interrogation through a comprehensive reporting engine, and reports can be generated by individuallynamed site workers, by contractor, sitewide or companywide and include reports on time and attendance, accreditation, incidents, accidents, local labour and travel to site carbon emissions.
However, MSite is not just a stand alone solution that can be deployed on a single construction site. Its true power lies as an enterprise solution that allows clients to run companywide reports at the click of a button, letting headquarters see their workforce operations across the entire estate. If required, HRS can also configure a corporate KPI dashboard, which can be viewed in real-time.
The steps that construction companies must take to manage risk, particularly around limiting access to unauthorised personnel, can be supported by this technology. It's astonishing to think that even in this day and age, for instance, two or three children die after gaining access to building sites every year, and many more are injured each year, too. Biometric solutions can prevent this.
Construction companies who have deployed MSite include BAM, Costain, Mansell, Morgan Sindall, Sir Robert McAlpine, Wates, Lend Lease, Balfour Beatty, and Kier.
Carillion is another. Currently, they have deployed MSite at their high profile Crossrail project - the Whitechapel train station, and their £430m Bristol Southmead super hospital.
As Adrian Davies, Carillion's supply chain director says: "Our framework agreement with HRS us the culmination of a four-year partnership. We have been working closely together to develop MSite, which adds considerable value in workforce management across our sites on an individual level and now, with the introduction of centralised reporting at corporate level."
