Use Case: How GERTY AI Automate Could Transform EHS Workflows in Construction

This use case explores how GERTY AI Automate could transform EHS workflows for construction companies with multiple active project sites struggling with inefficient safety processes and inconsistent reporting. See how this solution could improve safety performance while saving thousands of labor hours.

The Workflow Challenge

Construction companies manage complex projects with numerous subcontractors, constantly changing work environments, and high-risk activities. Common safety management challenges include:

• Paper-based inspection and incident reporting processes
• Inconsistent safety procedures across different project sites
• Delays in communicating safety issues to responsible parties
• Limited visibility into safety performance metrics
• Time-consuming manual data entry and report generation

"Our safety processes were built for a much smaller company," explains a Director of Safety at a growing construction firm. "As we grew from 5 to 35 active projects in just three years, our manual processes couldn't scale. Our safety team was drowning in paperwork instead of focusing on actual safety improvements."

Pre-Implementation Challenges

Construction companies typically face several critical workflow challenges that GERTY AI Automate could address:

Inefficient Inspection Processes

Safety inspections were conducted using paper forms, creating numerous inefficiencies:

• Inspectors spent 30-45 minutes per day transcribing handwritten notes
• Photos had to be manually uploaded and linked to inspection reports
• Paper forms were occasionally lost or damaged in the field
• Completed inspections took 2-3 days to reach the safety department
• Trend analysis required manual data entry into spreadsheets

Delayed Incident Response

The incident reporting and investigation process was similarly cumbersome:

• Initial incident reports were often incomplete or contained errors
• Investigation assignments were made via email, with inconsistent tracking
• Corrective actions were assigned manually with limited follow-up
• Root cause analysis varied widely in quality and methodology
• Lessons learned were not systematically shared across projects

Limited Visibility and Analytics

Safety performance monitoring was challenging:

• Monthly safety reports required 3-4 days of manual compilation
• Real-time safety metrics were unavailable to project managers
• Subcontractor safety performance was difficult to track consistently
• Leading indicators were underutilized due to data collection challenges
• Executive dashboards were updated only quarterly due to the effort required

Implementation Approach

After evaluating several workflow automation solutions, a construction company might select GERTY AI Automate based on its construction industry expertise and no-code workflow capabilities. The implementation could follow a phased approach:

Phase 1: Core Safety Processes (Weeks 1-6)

The first phase focused on digitizing and automating the most critical safety processes:

• Site safety inspections and hazard reporting
• Incident reporting and investigation
• Safety observations and near-miss reporting
• Corrective action assignment and tracking
• Daily pre-task planning and JHA completion

This phase included mobile app deployment, user training, and initial workflow configuration.

Phase 2: Advanced Workflows (Weeks 7-12)

The second phase implemented more complex workflows:

• Subcontractor safety qualification and monitoring
• Equipment inspection and maintenance tracking
• Safety training management and certification tracking
• Permit-to-work systems for high-risk activities
• Safety committee meeting management and action tracking

This phase also included integration with the company's project management and HR systems.

Phase 3: Analytics and Optimization (Weeks 13-16)

The final phase focused on analytics and process refinement:

• Development of executive and project-level safety dashboards
• Configuration of automated reporting and notifications
• Implementation of predictive analytics for risk identification
• Workflow optimization based on initial usage data
• Knowledge sharing and best practice documentation

The AI Advantage

GERTY AI Automate's artificial intelligence capabilities provided several key advantages over traditional workflow automation tools:

Intelligent Form Processing

The system's AI capabilities transformed data collection in the field:

• Photo analysis automatically identified safety hazards in uploaded images and suggested classifications
• Voice-to-text transcription allowed workers to dictate observations rather than typing
• Handwriting recognition extracted information from legacy paper forms during the transition
• Smart form fields suggested appropriate responses based on context and previous entries

Contextual Workflow Routing

The system intelligently routed work items based on content analysis:

• Hazard severity assessment to determine appropriate escalation paths
• Automatic assignment of incidents to appropriate investigators based on incident type and location
• Priority adjustment based on risk factors identified in reports
• Deadline calculation that considered the nature of findings and regulatory requirements

Predictive Safety Insights

As the system collected data, it began providing valuable predictive capabilities:

• Early warning indicators that identified projects with increasing safety risks
• Pattern recognition across incidents and observations to identify emerging trends
• Effectiveness prediction for proposed corrective actions based on historical results
• Resource forecasting to help allocate safety personnel where they were most needed

Results and Benefits

After six months of using GERTY AI Automate across all projects, a construction company could expect to see significant improvements:

Efficiency Gains

• 89% reduction in paperwork processing time
• 76% decrease in administrative tasks for safety professionals
• 2,800+ hours per year saved across the safety team
• 65% faster completion of safety inspections
• 73% reduction in incident investigation cycle time

Safety Performance Improvements

• 31% increase in hazard reporting
• 54% improvement in corrective action completion rates
• 28% reduction in OSHA recordable incident rate
• 42% increase in near-miss reporting
• 67% faster response time to reported hazards

Quality and Consistency Improvements

• Standardized safety processes across all project sites
• More thorough incident investigations with consistent methodology
• Improved data quality with 93% reduction in form errors and omissions
• Better documentation of safety activities for regulatory compliance
• Enhanced ability to demonstrate due diligence

"GERTY AI Automate could transform how we manage safety," says a safety professional. "Safety teams could spend 80% of their time in the field improving safety, rather than 80% of their time in the office pushing paper. The impact on safety culture could be remarkable."

Challenges and Solutions

The implementation wasn't without challenges:

Field Connectivity

Many construction sites have limited or no internet connectivity. This challenge could be addressed by:

• Leveraging GERTY AI Automate's robust offline capabilities
• Installing WiFi hotspots in site offices for daily synchronization
• Providing mobile hotspots to safety managers
• Establishing clear protocols for data synchronization

User Adoption

Some field supervisors might initially be resistant to new technology. This challenge could be overcome by:

• Involving respected field leaders in the implementation process
• Creating a peer training program with construction-savvy trainers
• Emphasizing the time-saving benefits for field personnel
• Starting with simple workflows and gradually introducing more complex features

Process Standardization

Standardizing processes across diverse project types can present challenges. The solution could involve:

• Creating a core set of standard processes with project-specific variations where necessary
• Developing a governance structure for workflow changes and enhancements
• Establishing a center of excellence to manage the system and support users
• Regular review and refinement of workflows based on user feedback

Return on Investment

A construction company could conduct a formal ROI analysis after six months:

• Direct labor savings: $320,000 annually from reduced administrative time
• Incident reduction value: Approximately $450,000 from the 28% reduction in recordable incidents
• Efficiency improvements: Estimated $280,000 in productivity gains from streamlined processes
• Insurance impact: 7% reduction in workers' compensation premiums, saving approximately $175,000 annually

With an implementation cost of approximately $210,000 (including software, hardware, and internal resources), the system delivered a first-year ROI of over 580%.

Future Plans

Building on initial success, a construction company could:

• Expanding GERTY AI Automate to quality control and environmental compliance processes
• Implementing advanced predictive analytics for project risk assessment
• Developing client-facing safety dashboards for improved transparency
• Creating automated workflows for subcontractor safety management
• Exploring integration with BIM and project scheduling systems

Conclusion

This use case demonstrates how AI-powered workflow automation could transform safety management in the construction industry. By implementing GERTY AI Automate, construction companies could not only improve efficiency and reduce administrative burden but also achieve meaningful improvements in safety performance and culture.

The construction industry has traditionally been slow to adopt new technology. But when companies find a solution that truly understands the unique challenges of construction safety and delivers real value to the field, the impact could be transformative. GERTY AI Automate aims to be that solution.

For more information on how GERTY AI Automate could transform your organization's safety workflows, contact us for a personalized demonstration.