Strengthening Safety Through Proactive Technology:
Company Overview
Based in Charlottesville, Virginia, Lee Construction Group is a fifth-generation family-owned business delivering complex projects across the state, from historic renovations to commercial structures. With over 175 employees across multiple trade divisions, their core values—Pioneering, Honorable, and Professional—drive a deeply ingrained safety culture.
Despite this foundation, Lee Construction’s safety processes were hampered by disconnected systems. While the company had a strong desire to improve communication, their teams were caught between paper-based methods and partial digitization. To reach the next level, the EHS team sought a practical digital solution that could preserve the human element of safety while leveraging modern technology for better foresight.
Challenges
Lee Construction faced significant hurdles with their existing digital tools. Safety documentation was often trapped in a project management system used primarily for storage rather than active engagement. This “disconnected” ecosystem created a burden for field supervisors, who felt overwhelmed by redundant paperwork that didn’t seem to add real-time value to jobsite safety.
Because data capture was inconsistent, senior leadership lacked real-time visibility into field conditions. This reliance on reactive reviews meant that potential hazards could go unnoticed until an incident occurred. The company needed a way to eliminate field frustrations and move away from a reactive “paper-and-digital” hybrid toward a unified, proactive safety environment.
The Field1st Approach
To modernize their safety program, Field1st implemented an AI-powered platform designed specifically for frontline adoption and predictive risk management.
1. User Engagement
The strategy focused on empowering every foreman and supervisor. By integrating Field1st into existing workflows, the team ensured the platform drove engagement rather than becoming another administrative hurdle.
2. Voice-Driven Data Capture
Recognizing that paperwork was a primary pain point, Field1st introduced Voice1st. This allows supervisors to complete daily pre-task safety forms using their voice, significantly reducing administrative time and streamlining field workflows.
3. AI Hazard Recognition
To move into a proactive space, the solution utilizes AI to automatically analyze jobsite photos. The system identifies potential hazards and suggests immediate controls, providing an extra layer of protection for workers on-site.
4. AI Safety Agent
Field1st serves as a real-time coach. An in-app AI Safety Agent provides guidance aligned with both OSHA regulations and specific company policies, ensuring that safety standards are consistently met across all projects.
5. Self-Service Form Builder
The platform allowed Lee Construction to digitize their existing safety forms and approval workflows without needing IT intervention, ensuring the system grew with their specific trade needs.
6. Unified Analytics
Leadership now has access to real-time dashboards. This provides visibility into hazard trends and compliance status across all divisions, transforming the company into a data-driven, prevention-focused organization.
7. Predictive Results
Within months, 100% of supervisors transitioned to using Field1st for daily planning. The result is a shift from reactive reporting to a culture where issues are spotted and closed out before they become incidents.
