![Ifeanyi Okpala, M.S. is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering at The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa.](https://xplorexit.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/6-Ifeanyi-Okpala-01.jpg)
In the search for more efficient and safe methods of executing construction operations, the last two decades have ushered in an influx of emerging technologies for incorporation in several aspects of construction projects. For instance, building information modeling (BIM), wearable exoskeletons, immersive technologies, internet of things and sensing technologies, smart camera systems, photogrammetry, LiDAR, and unmanned aerial vehicles have gained some traction in the construction industry. Construction practitioners and researchers are highly motivated to explore these novel technologies owing to continuously reported flat or declining productivity and high fatality rates. In 2019, 20% of worker fatalities in the U.S. were recorded in the construction industry, representing the highest deaths recorded amongst all private trades, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In increasing calls for construction innovation, researchers have decried the saturation of current construction safety programs. Despite developmental efforts and marketing, the adoption of technology for occupational safety and health is relatively slow. Interestingly, the current pandemic presents an opportunity to increase the use of technologies for safety and health in the construction industry.
Thanks to Covid-19, construction organizations have to develop innovative processes to deal with disruptions in the labor, equipment, and material supply. Typically, construction workers function in a complex, dynamic, and highly hazardous setting; hence, there is a need to re-define safe work practices to incorporate new Center of Disease Control (CDC) guidelines. This need has led to the adoption of staggered schedules, phased-material deliveries, rigorous housekeeping programs, and a push for supervisors to focus on low-risk activities. Moreover, the CDC recommended the wearing of cloth face coverings as a protective measure in addition to social distancing (i.e., staying at least 6 feet away from others). Recently, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provided a Construction Work guidance to support the safe return to work. This guidance includes implementing Engineering Controls (any changes to decrease the need for N95 respirators, for example) and Administrative Controls (Standard operating procedures that reflect CDC guidelines, Covid-19 training for employees, and screening calls). For example, OSHA recommends that employers erect plastic sheeting barriers when workers need to occupy specific indoor worksite areas where they are in close contact (less than 6 feet) with someone suspected of having or known to have COVID-19. In this interim guidance, OSHA has provided a risk-level exposure template that employers (workers) could utilize in conducting job hazard analysis on work tasks.
![Chukwuma Nnaji, M.B.A., Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering at University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa.](https://xplorexit.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/6-Chukwuma-Nnaji-02.jpg)