Strengthening Safety and Accountability in Construction with Speak Up

This case study examines how a mid-sized construction company, specializing in commercial and residential projects across North America, improved its safety and compliance practices by adopting Qualee’s mobile-first whistleblowing solution.

The company employs around 500 people, including a mix of full-time staff, contractors, and subcontractors. With multiple job sites operating simultaneously—ranging from urban high-rise developments to remote infrastructure projects—the company faced significant challenges in maintaining a consistent safety culture across its dispersed workforce. 

To address these issues, the company required a solution that would empower all employees to report safety concerns and misconduct securely and anonymously, thereby fostering a culture of transparency and accountability.

The Need

To ensure a safe and compliant work environment, the construction company identified several critical needs:

1. Mobile-First 

Given the diverse and geographically dispersed nature of its workforce, the company required a user-friendly mobile platform that would allow employees, contractors, and subcontractors to report safety concerns, misconduct, or unethical behavior confidentially from any job site, at any time.

2. Enhanced Anonymity and Trust

The company needed a secure system that guaranteed anonymity to encourage employees to speak up without fear of retaliation or negative consequences. Building trust was crucial to fostering a culture where employees felt safe to report any issues.‍

3. Real-Time Monitoring and Alerts

A key requirement was the ability to analyze reports in real-time, enabling the company to identify and address potential risks, compliance issues, or safety hazards promptly. Immediate action would help prevent minor issues from escalating into major incidents.

4. Improved Communication and Accountability

The organization sought a solution that could facilitate transparent communication between employees and management regarding reported concerns and actions taken. This would enhance accountability and ensure that all parties were informed about the steps being taken to address reported issues.

5. Enhanced Safety and Compliance

By proactively addressing safety concerns and misconduct, the company aimed to improve its safety record and reduce the risk of regulatory penalties. An effective reporting system would help the company maintain compliance with industry standards and legal requirements.

The Challenges

Prior to implementing Qualee, the construction company faced several significant challenges:

1. High-Risk Work Environment 

Operating in hazardous environments, the company was exposed to risks related to safety violations, non-compliance, and accidents. Ensuring that all employees felt empowered to report unsafe practices was vital to maintaining a safe work environment.

2. Complex Workforce Structure

The company’s diverse workforce, which included a mix of full-time staff, contractors, and subcontractors, made it difficult to ensure consistent communication and adherence to safety standards and ethical guidelines across all job sites.

3. Limited Reporting Channels

Existing methods for reporting misconduct or safety concerns were limited to in-person or email channels, which deterred employees from speaking up due to concerns over confidentiality and potential retaliation.

4. Geographically Dispersed Teams

With job sites spread across different regions, it was challenging for management to monitor all locations effectively and ensure that employees had a confidential and accessible way to report concerns.

Qualee Feature Focus

Several key features of Qualee’s platform were instrumental in helping the construction company meet its needs:

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Speak-Up

This feature enabled anonymous incident reporting, allowing employees to voice concerns about safety and misconduct securely. By providing a user-friendly interface for reporting, the platform encouraged early identification of problems, enabling swift management intervention before issues escalated.

Simplified Case Management

Qualee’s mobile app offered a comprehensive case management system, eliminating the need for separate tools. The Qualee Console included unique case IDs, interactive messaging with attachment support, and case routing capabilities to efficiently involve relevant parties. A user-friendly dashboard provided real-time updates on case statuses, ensuring that all incidents were tracked and addressed promptly.

Keyword Alerts 

Qualee’s platform featured automatic alerts for specific keywords that indicated critical safety or compliance risks, such as "hazard," "accident," or "unethical behavior." These alerts allowed management to prioritize and respond to high-risk reports quickly, ensuring timely intervention and resolution.

Multilingual Support

Qualee’s support for over 20 languages was critical in promoting inclusion among a diverse workforce. By making the app accessible in employees' native languages, Qualee increased participation in reporting and engagement across all job sites.

Initiatives for Company-Wide Awareness

Following anonymous reports, the company could use Qualee’s Initiatives feature to communicate policy changes or corrective actions to the entire workforce. This tool ensured that all employees were informed of the company’s responses to reported concerns, reinforcing a culture of openness and continuous improvement.

Journeys

To maximize the effectiveness of the Speak-Up program, the company leveraged Qualee Journeys to educate employees on the reporting process and the benefits of using the platform. These guided learning modules clarified the importance of transparency and confidentiality, encouraging widespread adoption and trust in the program.

Implementation 

The implementation of Qualee’s solution was characterized by a rapid rollout, with no need for a separate case management system, as this capability is built into the Qualee platform. Education through the Qualee Journey paired with clear communication from leadership, emphasizing the importance of confidentiality and the company’s commitment to transparency and safety. This approach led to high adoption rates, with the mobile app made available to all employees, contractors, and subcontractors across all job sites. Throughout the process, Qualee’s client success team offered comprehensive support, helping the company maximize the benefits of the solution.

Results and Benefits

After implementing Qualee, the construction company experienced several key benefits:

In Summary: Why Qualee Speak Up?

This case study illustrates how Qualee’s mobile-first whistleblowing solution enabled a mid-sized construction company to strengthen its safety and compliance practices. By providing a secure and anonymous platform for reporting, Qualee empowered employees, contractors, and subcontractors to speak up about safety concerns and misconduct, helping the company build a more transparent and accountable culture. The solution’s comprehensive features supported the company’s efforts to enhance safety standards, reduce legal and reputational risks, and foster trust among its workforce.

If your organization faces similar challenges in maintaining safety and compliance across a diverse and geographically dispersed workforce, explore how Qualee’s solutions can help. From anonymous reporting to real-time monitoring, Qualee offers a powerful platform designed to empower frontline employees and enhance organizational safety and accountability. 

Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your business in creating a safer and more transparent workplace.