The health and safety sector is seeing a shift towards data-led risk management as UK construction leaders adopt digital systems to improve operational visibility, according to a Business Wire report on EcoOnline’s 2026 United Kingdom & Ireland Construction Safety and Operations Forum.

The discussions reflect how software is being used to support safer site operations under rising pressure.

EcoOnline, a United Kingdom-based environment, health and safety software provider, convened customers including AtkinsRéalis, Colas Ltd, and Winvic. The sector continues to report high levels of worker fatalities, reinforcing the need for stronger prevention measures.

Rising costs and tighter timelines are reducing margins for error on site. This is driving a shift towards leading indicators, with organisations focusing on early warning signals rather than relying solely on lagging metrics.

Pat Sheehan, Associate Director, SHEQ at Colas Ltd, said, “Our focus is on near-miss reporting and trend analysis as leading indicators, so we can act earlier and prevent incidents that have a much higher potential to cause harm.”

Psychological safety also influences reporting. Steven Poxton, Senior HSEQ at Winvic, said, “if workers think blame is coming, reporting drops.” Digital and anonymous reporting tools are being used to improve participation and hazard visibility.

Contractor management is also being digitised, with firms improving certification, onboarding, and training processes. Research cited during the forum shows 40% of high-risk firms plan to increase investment in control of work software, with global spending expected to exceed $1.5 billion (€1.3 billion) by 2030.

EcoOnline emphasised that technology should support, not replace, human oversight as adoption of digital systems grows.

Learn more about how UK construction leaders at the EcoOnline forum are pushing for proactive safety measures as operational pressures rise in the full report.