In the dynamic world of construction, safety is not just a priority; it is a necessity. As projects become more complex, ensuring the safety of workers and the public is paramount. However, contractors face numerous challenges in maintaining safety and efficiency in work zones.
As public infrastructure projects continue to rise in complexity and scope, Departments of Transportation (DOTs) across the U.S. are increasingly introducing new safety standards for construction work zones. For contractors bidding on state or federally funded projects, these standards are quickly becoming table stakes.
For contractors in general, jobsite safety isn’t just a best practice anymore—it’s a legal and financial imperative. With more DOTs exploring camera laws and liability risks on the rise, contractors can’t afford to be unprepared.
Luckily, there are options contractors can explore to get ahead of this trend and prepare for a regulatory shift. Tenna’s safety cameras fulfill new standards being explored by states, such as jobsite activity monitoring and rear (or 360-degree) views around vehicles and equipment—in addition to the video telematics and driver safety expectations your business may already have.
Read on to learn more about Tenna's powerful camera solution, growing public customer work zones requirements and other reasons why safety cameras are a must-have for civil contractors.
DOT Safety Standards Are Growing Across States
Several states, including Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Virginia, have already enacted or piloted automated work zone enforcement programs, with mandates for dash cams, rear-view and 360-degree equipment visibility, and continuous video documentation. These programs are intended to monitor traffic violations, enhance worker visibility, and reduce incidents around jobsite perimeters and access points.
Implications for Contractors
Contractors bidding on public infrastructure projects in these states are now expected to be familiar with these safety camera standards. At the rate and speed that these measures are being adopted, non-compliance could soon affect project eligibility or contractor qualifications.
These evolving camera regulations have serious implications down the line:
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- Qualifications: Non-compliance with camera standards could eventually cause contractors to be unqualified for winning public works contracts.
- Competitiveness: Contractors lacking compliant camera systems may be viewed as higher-risk partners, hurting competitiveness.
- Inspection and Audit Readiness: Projects are increasingly subject to camera footage requests during audits, inspections, or legal reviews.
Get Ahead of DOT Regulations
Given the rapid pace of adoption, contractors would be wise to proactively prepare for a future where cameras are standard—if not mandated—on all public jobs. Retrofitting your fleet and operations last-minute can lead to costly delays, rushed implementation, and training gaps.
By deploying a safety camera system now, you position your business to:
- Demonstrate readiness and compliance for DOT projects.
- Simplify adherence to emerging and varied camera requirements across states.
- Showcase a safety-first approach during qualification reviews and bid processes.
- Avoid costly fines or being unqualified and uncompetitive for public work due to outdated safety protocols.
It’s important for contractors to start thinking about how to get ahead of these regulations and be prepared to meet these standards before they risk falling behind or implementing them inefficiently under pressure.
Key Features of Tenna's Dash Cameras
Tenna’s fleet dash cam and heavy equipment cameras are designed to address construction challenges. With high-resolution imaging and real-time surveillance, these cameras are mounted in a cab and offer ease of portability to each site.
These safety cameras are equipped with advanced features that make it an ideal solution for work zone safety:
Dual-Facing HD Cameras: Capture crystal-clear video capable of 1080p or 720p with up to 30 FPS (a NYSDOT requirement) of both the road and the vehicle’s interior, ensuring comprehensive monitoring.
Seamless Integration with Fleet Management Software: Integrates effortlessly with Tenna's fleet management system, centralizing video telematics and asset performance metrics for better decision-making.
Rear and Side Views: Massachusetts, for example, requires a form of a backup camera onsite while machines are driving in reverse. Tenna’s cameras offer live viewing of what’s captured by supporting auxiliary cameras on the sides and rear of equipment for 360-degree views with Tenna’s in-cab monitor to satisfy this requirement and more.
Made in the USA: Cameras are made in the USA and offer domestic product support from Tenna’s support team.
Day/Night Recording: The camera operates seamlessly in all lighting conditions, from bright sunlight to low light and adverse weather—another requirement of many work zone cameras.
Continuous Recording: Scalable video storage options ensure continuous monitoring. Plus, Tenna’s fleet cam offers up to 24 hours of parking mode recording.
Designed for Construction: Tenna’s fleet and heavy equipment dash cam is designed to be robust and reliable, ensuring continuous operation even in the toughest conditions. Construction sites expose assets and tracker to harsh environmental conditions, and hardware must withstand these conditions, which is why Tenna puts all its camera products and tracking devices through rigorous testing for contractors.
Interested in learning more about what you should look for when evaluating camera options? Check out our blog post on the top features of the best dash cams for construction.
More Reasons for Contractors to Implement Safety Cameras
Aside from growing state requirements, dash cameras are a smart investment that address many pain points for construction businesses.
If any of these issues sound familiar, or if you’ve experienced any of these in the past six months, it’s time to consider a dash cam solution for your fleet:
- Struggling to prove your team wasn’t at fault in an accident?
- Facing rising insurance premiums with no clear fix?
- Wasting hours reviewing unverified incident reports?
If you’re worried about…
Increased liability in accidents due to lack of evidence, then dash cameras provide undeniable proof that can protect fleet owners from false claims and fraudulent lawsuits.- Rising insurance premiums, then dash cams help prevent or reduce the likelihood of accidences, and insurers may view this as a proactive safety measure, leading to further reductions in premiums.
- Difficulty monitoring and enforcing safety policies, then dash cams provide a way to ensure compliance and enforce policies consistently.
- Inefficient accident investigations, then dash cameras can provide transparency and reduce the ambiguity around incidents.
- Lack of operational insights, then dash cameras paired with an asset tracker, like Tenna’s fleet tracker, can detect potential issues with the vehicle.
- Limited monitoring of driver behavior, then dash cameras provide clear, actionable feedback to improve driving habits.
- Inability to prevent vandalism or theft, cameras paired with fleet trackers with GPS tracking can help locate vehicles.
- Compliance challenges, then dash cameras can help ensure compliance with laws, such as hours of service, and offer evidence during audits or inspections.
- Increased costs from poor driver behavior, then dash cams can help identify these issues and prompt corrective actions.
Be Ready Before Work Zone Cameras are Required
Cameras are a necessary part of construction fleet management and safety programs for protecting teams, the public, and reducing business risk. If you are a civil contractor who has not already explored the incorporation of dash cameras into your fleet and safety programs, the time is fast approaching where this technology will be a must-have.
Get ahead by exploring safety camera solutions so your fleet is equipped, and your team is prepared and trained in advance of this becoming an expectation for your business.
At Tenna, we are committed to providing solutions that enhance safety and efficiency in construction, and our fleet camera is designed to meet the highest standards of quality and reliability, addressing the unique challenges faced by contractors and improving safety.
Don’t wait until compliance is mandated or an incident costs you time and money. Talk to a Tenna specialist today about outfitting your fleet with AI-enabled dash cams that meet state standards and protect your bottom line.