A Partnership in Building a Safer Future: ANDRES & Genda

Written by Genda | Oct 19, 2023 4:01:38 PM

Since its establishment in 1991, ANDRES Construction has been continuously seeking ways to enhance on-site safety. Traditional documentation methods left safety managers overwhelmed, leading to inefficiencies in assessing site issues. As a result, safety personnel were more reactive than proactive, leading to increased incidents and claims that negatively impacted the company's profitability.

Discovering Genda

In their journey to streamline field operations, ANDRES Construction was introduced to Genda. Its unique proposition was its ability to integrate with ANDRES’ workflows, removing the need for large-scale and time-consuming changes to their process.

Transformations with Genda

Paperwork Efficiency

Before:

Safety Orientations: Safety managers were inundated with paperwork. Each new worker meant additional documentation, making it cumbersome to track and update.

After:

Safety Orientations: Genda automated the process. Safety managers could instantly verify orientation completions, and updates were effortlessly integrated.

JHA/PTP: Daily toolbox talks required subcontractors to discuss potential hazards. After discussions, every worker needed to sign forms, which then had to be scanned and stored by the safety manager for record-keeping.

JHA/PTP: With Genda, foremen received reminders to submit their forms. These forms were sent digitally to workers for signatures. All records were then automatically uploaded, eliminating the need for manual scans.

Practice Safety Culture

Before: Emergency drills lacked unified communication, making safety confirmation tedious. Previously, it was difficult to ascertain if everyone had evacuated, leading to drills that took approximately three times longer than desired.

After: Using Genda's alert system, emergencies became more manageable. During a recent fire drill, the safety manager sent a unified alert via Genda to all workers, streamlining the evacuation of the 19-story building. Beyond quickness, it confirmed every worker against Genda’s headcount.

Hazard Reporting

Before: Hazard reporting was sporadic, often relying on safety managers or occasional foreman alerts. This reactive approach meant potential dangers lingered longer than they should have.

After: Genda made hazard reporting intuitive and immediate. With real-time reporting by an equipped army of workers that can take photographic evidence and share them, hazards could be addressed swiftly, reducing risks substantially.

Weather Alerts

Before: Workers were largely uninformed about imminent weather-related risks. Without a system, many were caught off-guard by extreme weather events.

After: Genda transformed this by proactively sending out alerts about potential weather threats received by the nearby weather station. From hydration reminders on hot days to storm warnings and safety instructions, workers were always informed and prepared.

Clear Communication Matters

Managing a job site is a big task, and having good communication is key to keeping it safe. Karl Larusson, a regional safety manager, said, “The safety tools on the Genda application, allow us, the GC, to create a safe job site environment.” As the construction field evolves, the significance of modern technology continues to grow in the safety landscape. Karl also added, “When we need to talk about safety, it's important to be clear. With Genda, whether we are sending a public announcement regarding downed equipment or an emergency broadcast, we can be confident that the workers are receiving the information.” Keeping everyone informed is key to a safer and more efficient work environment.

Tangible Returns: From Numbers to Reality

At a project in Frisco, With 172 potential hazards identified and averted, ANDRES Construction skirted significant costs. Considering the industry average of $37,000 per incident, Major safety incidents like falls, electrocution, etc. can result in serious injuries, death, project delays, and lawsuits, 31 reports equated to a potential savings of $1.147 million.

Minor hazards, such as tripping risks, average $500-$1,000 to address. With 49 reports, this translates to a potential cost of $36,750.

The rest of the reports were related to more minor issues and roadblocks like housekeeping, obstructed paths, etc.

Moreover, the hours once lost to paperwork — nearly 400 hours annually — were reclaimed, allowing safety managers and Foremen to focus on proactive measures.

In essence, Genda not only brought financial relief but also carved out time, enabling ANDRES to prioritize safety and efficiency.

View full post