IT based system for construction safety management and monitoring: C-RTICS2

•We developed an IT based safety management system with real-time information access.•The developed system has the ability to provide critical safety related information.•The system will help to minimize accidents in the construction industry.•The proposed system can also be used as an on-the-spot safety training system.•The system was pilot tested with construction professionals.

In North America, thousands of construction workers get injured and dozens die, on a yearly basis, due to work related injuries and illnesses. This reality prevailed from year 2000 to 2012 without a significant decrease. It seems that advanced health and safety regulations failed to make a positive impact. However, the use of information and communication technologies to improve safety is limited in the construction industry. This paper describes a system that transmits safety related information of multiple construction projects into a centralized database, where real-time safety indicators are generated. The system provides safety indicators related to an individual project or industry-wide figures. On site managers can use such real-time information for informed decisions in work sites. The system can also be accessed by the general public, research institutions, and regulating bodies, to formulate industry-wide safety standards and policies. The proposed system was pilot tested with positive and encouraging results.