When considering QR codes, it’s necessary to recognize that they have a wide range of purposes and applications. This is true not just in construction but also in other fields like advertising, databases, and marketing.
A recent proliferation of QR code use has pervaded the construction industry and is helping professionals to create access to their projects or businesses. When it comes to construction, quality and employee safety are the top two priorities of all the stakeholders involved.
If you’re an investor or a business owner, then incorporating new technology such as a construction management software, will empower you with online data security. It will provide a unique QR code that acts as a beacon for both your client and field workers.
Businesses of all kinds now use QR codes with different applications, one of which is to increase employee safety at their workplace. In addition to your toolbox talks, a QR code app will be a great addition for safety. According to the reports, from $916 million in 2020, the global QR Code Labels market is projected to reach $1268 million by 2026.
Likewise, in the construction industry, where safety matters, there is no better solution than using QR codes for tracking and monitoring employees on site. When it comes to the safety of construction workers, safety measures are being implemented at every stage in the process. A shortcut to ensure high-tech solutions are made available in a very simple fashion is by using QR codes. This can further be enhanced by using a construction project management software.
This code is essentially a particular type of barcode that can be scanned with a smartphone or mobile device outfitted with a QR code reader app. When scanned, field workers will get access to the safety measure or maybe information for them to do their jobs.
Thus the use of QR codes in construction is a great way of exchanging information, enhancing field worker safety and staying labor law compliant. This technology enables companies to communicate their safety and security standards to the on-site employees who could be just about anywhere.
If you’re eager to learn more about how QR code building can benefit the construction industry, read the post below.
5 Ways QR codes can be used in Construction Industry
Construction companies are often faced with hazards like electrical wires hanging off of scaffolding poles, or harmful chemicals in voids that could cause serious injuries. Here we’ll discuss ways through which QR Code building for construction management can be used for personnel management and to prevent undesired accidents during construction.
Clock in clock out at the construction site
One of the major problems from the personnel management point of view is making attendance and activity records at construction sites. When you are tasked with keeping track of when people on your team are arriving and leaving, it can be a pain in the neck.
You will have to fill out the worksheets yourself and mail them to the contractors so they can keep track of who’s in and out during each shift. There is also the time spent writing down numbers that could be done by simply scanning or by using a QR code instead which will save you hours. And even when this is accomplished, it’s often inefficient and prone to error.
Using QR codes to track attendance is a great solution for this purpose. By scanning a QR code at the job site, workers can record their time and attendance and you can bring information about attendance, access plans, and even the location of workers within seconds.
Time and attendance software with a QR code will allow your field workers to upload pictures, fill in work order forms, and even enter comments for every task that is completed. This allows the construction team including subordinates, and clients to stay updated with the daily progress of ongoing projects.
Fieldworker training review
Construction workers are required to have extensive training, but often have to rely on self-assessment or outdated resources. This means that there is a high possibility of errors being made and unseen accidents.
Thus, workers must be trained before working on any construction site. This training proves to be a key factor in ensuring that workers have the skill level to perform jobs well.
For instance, the material or tools that field workers are required to use during the project should have a “how to use them” guide along with how to handle breakdowns.
As per the study by AFL-CIO Safety and health department, nearly 7-10.5 million workers experienced work-related injuries or illnesses.
QR Codes can help rectify this problem by providing accurate information about training at construction sites. You can place QR Codes on employees’ tags that link to a page that showcases all the training records for each individual. It also makes verifying authorization with certain equipment or processes.
Real-time Monitoring
Construction work involves a lot of professionals and processes. It involves a huge range of information to manage, from creating blueprints and building materials to making sure everything is done according to schedule.
One thing that can help would be real-time monitoring software which allows us to view things like project timelines, what areas have been addressed or ignored, as well as any issues or concerns that have surfaced.
QR Codes are one of the most common ways to transfer content and information through different channels. They are often used to track the construction project’s progress and gather information about issues that need attention. The QR codes are mainly installed along the way where workers have performed jobs, or at the site level.
Define Operational Procedures
Operational Safety Plans (OPS Plans) are essential documents for both workers and contractors in the construction industry. Generally, the documents shared with field workers are difficult to comprehend, thus not suitable for the construction sites.
As these documents define the work process, they must be easily understood by workers. This way, they can rapidly apply the procedures on worksites, increasing safety and construction workers’ productivity.
Construction companies can integrate QR codes on concrete pillars or construction material which will be linked with a document describing processes and procedures. For field workers, scanning the QR code will take a few seconds and provide them with an overview of construction processes.
Instruction manuals
There are several types of construction work and each type requires its own set of equipment for reasons such as erecting, scaffolding, and installation. Most pieces of equipment do not come with detailed instructions on how to use them.
It is difficult to know exactly what to use and when to use it, especially if you are inclined to engage in the numerous works of construction. This is where the manuals come in. They provide information such as safety procedures and instructions on how to use the equipment efficiently.
Manuals and instructions on construction equipment are a common sight for those who work in this field. QR codes are a great way to provide instructions about how to use a product.
A team of people involved in the installation process can read the QR Code on the product packaging and get an idea of what needs to be done next. This can help streamline the installation process, making it more efficient and less time-consuming.
Bonus: Here are 3 more ways in which you can leverage QR codes for construction management.
Material Verification
Construction sites are complex environments that require a lot of safety precautions. Low-quality construction materials are dangerous for everyone involved in the building project.
In some cases, the misuse of poor-quality tools can result in injury or death for the construction workers, as well as damage to property and structure. Therefore, verifying that the materials being used are up to standard is crucial for all construction teams.
Building construction companies may find it difficult to verify the quality of their construction materials. This is because they will be monitored and managed manually, which takes time and is prone to errors.
However, there are ways in which you can make this process simpler so that no one is going to risk their lives while working on a construction site. In the construction industry, quality is the most important element that has to be ensured.
A good way to do this is to use QR Codes on heavy-duty construction materials as well as non-heavy-duty construction materials. By including these codes, someone can easily check if a building material used on a particular project is in accordance with special rules for that type of product or not.
Moreover, you just need a QR code from your official building material vendor and put it on the specific material you’re looking for. This will send you automatically to your contractor’s official website where you can learn more about that specific material and its specifications as well as confirm its quality through a simple test — enabling you to ensure safety at the construction site.
QR Codes on engineering drawings
Design changes are a part of any construction project. Whether it is a change in the scope of work, the materials required, or scope changes caused by weather or unforeseen circumstances, design changes need to be considered and updated during the design phase.
With every update, sharing and sending e-mails to everyone on staff in a specific format and document size each time they make changes. This results in the loss of valuable time that should be invested into improving efficiency.
QR Codes are changing the way we both receive and share information all over the globe. You probably know that QR Codes can be scanned with a smartphone or tablet to access a web page with information, but did you know you can also use them for construction design?
As the QR code is fast and quick to access, it can be used on engineering drawings to quickly transfer updated layouts and schematic drawings. Thus, it will help the construction team avoid mistakes and increase efficiency.
Track Assets
In a study conducted by National Equipment Register and the National Insurance Crime Bureau, it was found that thefts at construction sites can cost up to $1 billion.
Construction sites need a series of equipment to bring up a project from tractors, excavators, loaders, and materials. The construction industry stands out for the fact that its equipment doesn’t have specific identification tags.
Improperly identifying equipment can lead to asset theft as well as physical damage, costs for non-returned goods, delays in orders, and even loss of production.
This leads to the security of construction materials being at risk of theft. To prevent such losses, several organizations have adopted various technologies that can help safeguard assets from theft or loss.
One solution is to implement QR Code tracking on construction assets to track their usage and status. For security reasons, it is encouraged to have information about each piece of equipment in a database where the user can pull any data at any time simply by scanning their QR Code. By using QR code tracking wisely, companies can improve their safety rating in the industry and protect their assets from theft or vandalism.
Conclusion
With proper preparation and planning, companies are finding smart ways to leverage QR codes for construction management. These 8 ways to use QR codes in construction demonstrate that many of these innovative uses have a real and lasting value on the job site.
Construction QR codes are an excellent way to monitor tasks being performed in the field. They help to communicate key information to the employees on-site to ensure their safety and efficiency. They can also be used for time tracking, and to provide information to anyone who might need it.
Thus, they are an innovative solution that allows you to control the flow of information while keeping your workers safe and preventing them from being off-task. When used in tandem with a construction project management software, QR codes can be a game changer for your business. This investment is the need of the hour for your business. It can further automate a lot of repetitive tasks, thereby saving costs and effort.