Technology Matters
An increasing investment in technology is another imperative for firms working in emerging markets. Here, Kulkarni cites the example of scaffolding.

"Our safety-compliance access systems protect the workforce at heights," adds Grant.

Anupam Sharma, CEO of Doka India Pvt. Ltd., notes, "Fully enclosed workspaces, up to three levels, created by our systems can eliminate falls and protect surrounding buildings."

Meanwhile, Manoj Agarwal, national head of sales and marketing for Escorts Construction Equipment, says new-generation crane features improve operator-machine integration, thus increasing efficiency and safety. To apply technology safely, though, trained and licensed operators are needed, cautions Aggarwal. "Cutting corners in employment costs can have disastrous consequences," he says.

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Overall, larger construction companies say they are getting more diligent about their global safety and risk management.

"Many have even started reporting fatal accidents and safety statistics in their balance sheets," says Srivastava.

In the future, consultants may also be required to review safety methods at the bidding stage and monitor processes at the jobsite. In the developed world, some experts have gone so far as to suggest that ">personal safety records should be a precondition of employment.

For construction in India, Aggarwal proposes specifying the applicant's safety index as "the accident rate vis-à-vis industry averages" at the pre-qualification stage of a project, as is already done in some developed countries.