Advanced safety technologies and modernized protective equipment standards have earned Flintco the ABC Rocky Mountain Region Innovation award. Flintco’s forward-thinking approach addresses two critical industry challenges: ineffective pretask planning and outdated personal protective equipment.

In response to industry-wide labor shortages and the rapid promotion of workers into field leadership positions, Flintco has revolutionized its pretask planning process through the implementation of FactorLab’s SmartTagIt application. This AI-powered software platform is currently deployed across nearly 100 Flintco jobsites, transforming what was once considered a routine requirement into an engaging and valuable practice.

The SmartTagIt system streamlines pretask planning through artificial intelligence, enabling more efficient hazard identification and mitigation. The platform serves multiple functions: sharing critical safety information, providing coaching opportunities, engaging field leaders, and strengthening incident prevention protocols. This technological advancement has proved particularly valuable in supporting newly promoted field leaders, ensuring they receive proper training and guidance despite the industry’s pressing labor challenges.

Flintco’s innovative spirit extends beyond digital solutions to physical safety equipment. Following extensive research into head protection alternatives, the company has mandated a significant upgrade from traditional hard hats to Type II safety helmets across all project sites, effective March 1, 2024. This decision marks a dramatic departure from the conventional hard hat design, which has remained largely unchanged for six decades and primarily protected only against impacts to the crown of the head.

The transition to enhanced head protection began with a pilot program in 2018, initially distributed among safety department personnel. The program’s success led to voluntary adoption by the Memphis division, sparking a company-wide movement toward the newer technology. The mandate applies to all new subcontracts issued after March 1, 2024, requiring trade partners, service providers, vendors, and visitors to wear ANSI Type II or EN12492 safety helmets with integrated chinstraps properly secured.

The impact of these innovations extends beyond immediate safety improvements. The modernized pretask planning process has created a more engaged workforce and strengthened succession planning efforts by identifying and developing future field leaders. Meanwhile, the updated head protection standards demonstrate Flintco’s commitment to evolving safety practices based on current technology and research.

The ABC Rocky Mountain Region Innovation award recognizes Flintco’s comprehensive approach to modernizing construction safety practices. Through the combination of advanced technology implementation and equipment standardization, Flintco continues to set new benchmarks for safety innovation in the construction industry.