Mobile application for the management and control of construction site safety: a comparative study

We investigate whether a mobile application for the management and control of construction sites induces the management of safety. Four construction sites with the application integrated into their operation are compared to four similar sites without the application. A five-day survey was conducted in each site to measure various safety related features and to interview and observe site managers. The results show that except for two variables, the sites with the application exhibit safer behaviours implying that the application improves the management of safety in these sites. We find that users view the application as a safety management tool and not just as a record keeper or as a means for legal protection. However, they will avoid using important built-in safety features if they feel that these take too much time. In these cases, they will continue to use traditional tools despite their limited effectiveness.