Safety isn't just about wearing the right gear or following protocols—it's about protecting people, physically and mentally. May is also Mental Health Awareness month, further underscoring that physical safety and mental wellbeing can’t be afterthoughts—they must be embedded into every stage of the job.

Current State of Construction

Through our recent we know that workers are asking for exactly that. Workers want:

  • Better work-life balance (51%)

  • Technology that boosts efficiency and safety (47%)

  • A stronger focus on wellbeing (40%)

  • More effort to attract and retain younger talent (42%)

At the same time, workers also indicate the need for technology to relieve some of the common work-related stresses that contribute to mental health challenges. According to The Future State of Construction report, 35% of workers experience long hours and unpredictable schedules, 24% face wage issues, and 23% cite limited advancement opportunities. Coupled with a looming mass exodus due to retirement and slow recruitment pipelines, workers are caught in the crosshairs of knowledge loss and increasing responsibility.

Reducing the stigma associated with mental health challenges remains a critical topic in our industry. Through Procore and The B1M’s Get Construction Talking campaign, we’ll discuss this topic in an . We’ll be joined by leaders from global companies like Multiplex and the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association, who are tackling mental health challenges head-on and driving real change across Canada and beyond.

Rethinking Safety Through Innovation

Nearly half (47%) of construction leaders say they want to see technology play a bigger role in improving jobsite safety over the next few years. The goal isn’t to ask teams to "do more with less," but to reduce physical strain, eliminate repetitive tasks, and empower workers to focus on the work that matters most.

Todd Wynne, Chief Innovation Officer for Rogers-O’Brien, talked about the importance of automating the “3 D’s” - tasks that are dull, dirty, and dangerous on , “...we’re also trying to lean into automation and augmentation, and leveraging technology. I’m very bullish on robotics and AI. We’re going to have to automate the three Ds.”

At Groundbreak in 2024, Procore announced a partnership with StudsonStudson’s Type II Safety Helmet offers an embedded NFC chip that allows you to store emergency contact information. Procore and Studson are using the embedded NFC chip to develop the Procore Safety Card, which will enable safety supervisors to instantly verify certifications on the jobsite by scanning the helmet.

Looking beyond, Adam Bookwalter, Chief Revenue Office of Studson sees a future in wearables.

“Wearable tech will be a focus for Studson and helmets happen to be one of the best places to start. Monitoring live worker health will be very important. We already see development going that way.We have a lot of requests from the people we work with, specifically about monitoring heat stress, which will probably be one of the first things that we’ll see addressed. Then being able to, in real-time, tell that worker or tell management, ‘Hey, you need to go on break, you need to eat, you need to drink 16 ounces of water immediately and take a break for a half hour.’ This is an area where wearables can be impactful and really help save people out there in the field.”

Between what can be done today with NFC chips, and a future with wearables, we are heading towards a world where many of the dull and dangerous tasks on the job site become a thing of the past.

Safety is Everyone’s Job

Safety shouldn’t be something we recognize one week out of every year, but something that is part of every decision made on the jobsite. That means evolving safety protocols, keeping up with regulations, and embracing new technologies that improve jobsite safety. You can take the first step, or continue your safety journey, by:

  • Prioritizing a culture of safety and brushing up on the latest safety information with self-paced on-demand learning through

  • Learn more about construction’s invisible safety crisis on the

    , or tune into an to watch at your own pace

  • Tune into , where leaders discuss key shifts and changes we’re seeing in construction, technology and safety

  • Download the to better understand the construction industry’s trends and challenges,, and the critical role technology will play in shaping the future

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