Turn Any Construction Safety Concern into a Trackable Observation

Construction safety observations often start informally and never reach the safety system. This update allows Contact Form submissions to convert directly into structured safety observations, improving jobsite safety reporting, reducing administrative rework, and increasing traceability across complex construction projects.  

On most construction projects, the people who spot risks first aren’t always the ones with system access. It might be a delivery driver navigating temporary access. A subcontractor noticing a shortcut forming. A visitor unsure who to approach. 

They see something. They say something - or intend to. 

But unless that concern makes it into your construction safety reporting system, it doesn’t formally exist. 

That’s the gap this update closes. 

What is a 'construction safety observation'? 

A construction safety observation is a recorded note about a hazard, unsafe behavior, or improvement opportunity on a jobsite. Alternatively, these can also be positive observations to reinforce good work and safety practices. Unlike incidents, observations are proactive, they capture risk before someone gets hurt. 

Strong safety programs rely on consistent observation management to: 

• Identify trends early

• Prevent incidents

• Improve accountability

• Strengthen worker participation 

The challenge is getting those observations into the system without friction.

What’s changed?

The Contact Form workflow now converts submissions directly into Observations inside HammerTech. 

When a Contact Form is configured to allow routing to Observations, each submission can be moved into the Observations module with key details carried over automatically. Site teams no longer need to manually recreate the issue, interpret notes from an inbox, or re-enter information into a separate workflow. 

A concern is raised once and becomes a structured construction safety observation. It then follows your existing ownership and close-out process, removing any chance of duplication or disconnection from the original event.

As part of your broader construction safety observation workflow, it aligns with how your team already tracks, assigns, and resolves issues across the jobsite. 

See it in action

Why do construction safety observations get missed on active projects?

On large, fast-moving jobs, informal reporting happens constantly: 

• Verbal comments during walk-throughs

• Quick messages between supervisors

• A worker flagging an issue in passing

• A member of the public scanning a posted QR code 

The problem is that when reporting requires a login, app access, or tracking down the “right” person, jobsite safety reporting slows down. And, of course, in some cases, it never happens at all. 

By connecting Contact Forms directly to Observations: 

• Issues raised externally are no longer delayed or missed

• Site teams see everything in the same place they already manage safety observations

• Administrative rework is reduced

• Traceability starts from the moment the issue is submitted 

For projects with large teams, multiple trade partners, or public-facing reporting requirements, that traceability isn’t optional. It’s operationally critical. 

What does it look like in practice?

Imagine a member of the public raises a concern about site access via a posted QR code. Or a subcontractor submits a quick observation without platform access. 

Instead of sitting in an inbox waiting for someone to translate it into a construction safety observation, the project team can choose to convert it directly within HammerTech. 

That means the original details carry through, an observation number is generated and ownership is assigned. The item then appears in your Observations list alongside everything else being managed on the project.

It’s the same safety reporting workflow your team already uses, just with a wider front door. 

Built for complex construction environments 

This update is particularly valuable where:

• Workforces are large or rotating

• Multiple subcontractors operate simultaneously

• Stakeholders outside the core site team need a reporting pathway

• Audit defensibility and documentation matter 

Rather than running parallel reporting channels, everything flows into one connected construction safety software platform. 

Contact Form submissions are now simply another source within your Observations list - filterable, trackable, and linked back to their origin. Information enters once and stays connected. 

How to enable it?

This functionality is enabled via the Public Contact Form Admin page. Once “Allow Moving Submissions to Observations” is switched on, site teams can move individual submissions into Observations directly from the submission menu. 

During conversion, teams can select which fields carry over, then complete the Observation form as usual. 

Once submitted:

• The Observation number appears on the original Contact Form

• The Observation is visible in the Observations module

• A link connects both records

• “Contact Form” becomes available as a source filter in list views 

It’s a simple configuration change that expands who can participate in your construction safety reporting program. 

Closing the gap in construction safety reporting 

Unlimited users matter. Strong workflows matter. But participation often starts before someone has a username and password. 

By allowing Contact Form submissions to become structured construction safety observations, HammerTech removes friction between noticing a risk and acting on it. 

More ways to raise issues. Less effort to track them. 

One connected construction safety software platform built for complex projects. 

If you’d like to see how this works in practice, book a walkthrough with our customer Success team or visit our Help Center. 

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