The role of digital workforce & competency management in construction

The challenge: managing a transient workforce

Construction is, by nature, a transient industry. Workers move from site to site, project to project. This mobility creates a major challenge: ensuring that everyone on site is qualified, competent, and legally allowed to work. 
 
Without clear visibility, companies risk:

• Legal and financial penalties

• Safety and security breaches

• Reputational damage

• Project delays and impact 

Yet many sites still rely on outdated, manual processes that leave too much to chance. With paper-based processes, or even digital informational checks without biometric verification, how can sites really know who is on site well enough to mitigate these risks?  

Knowing who’s on site has a significant impact. You need to know: 

• Skills & qualifications

• Training, inductions & briefings

• Managing upcoming expiries 

• Managing skills shortages 

• Access to zones or restricted areas 

• Right to work status.  

Right to Work: the challenges and risks

Right to work checks are a legal requirement - but they’re also a safety and security issue. When these checks are overlooked or poorly managed, the risks and considerations multiply. The challenges and risks include: 

• Labour exploitation and modern slavery

• Worker impersonation

• Fraudulent documents

• Site security breaches 

• Fines and potential legal action

• Site security breaches & commercial disadvantage 

• Insurance validity

• Reputational damage 

Then there is also the question of who’s responsible for RTW checks. Legally, it is the employer, so many main contractors leave RTW checks to the subcontractor. We are however seeing more and more main contractors wanting to establish an audit trail for RTW checks on the basis of wanting a single source of truth and confidence that checks are taking place so they know who is on their site. They also recognize that even if the legal responsibility isn’t currently theirs, they would likely be impacted by the consequences of non-compliance.

Moreover, if someone doesn’t have the right to work, what else might be false? Are qualifications and training records accurate? This isn’t just about ticking boxes. It’s about protecting your workforce, your project, and your business. 

We’re also seeing a change of pace in the industry and action by regulatory bodies. Right to work checks and competency requirements are becoming more regulated, more scrutinized, and more digitally enforced. 

The role of technology

The good news? Technology is catching up—and fast. 

Now you can manage RTW digitally and integrate checks with workforce management software. It becomes part of the induction process and RTW status can be stored in your workforce management portal. It can also integrate with access control permissions to restrict access for unverified workers. 

At Biosite, we’ve integrated government-certified ID checks (via platforms like ppac) into our workforce management systems. This means:

• Real-time RTW verification.

• Digital storage of RTW status.

• Integration with access control to restrict entry for unverified workers.

We also use biometric data to:

• Manage workforces at site and group level.

• Link competency data to individuals.

• De-duplicate worker profiles across sites.

• Apply competency rules at multiple levels – role, site or zone-based.

• Provide real-time insights - not just post-incident reports.

Know who’s on site; their legal right to work status and their competencies, in real time, and control access to site for unverified workers. Not just at site set up and during induction. Every day. 

Taking control: four key steps

To move beyond the grey area, construction leaders need to:

1. Act now - don’t wait for regulation to force your hand.
2. Clarify responsibility - internally and with partners.
3. Digitize processes - from RTW to competency checks.
4. Use data proactively - to drive decisions, not just compliance.

Final thought

The industry is shifting. Compliance, competency, and safety are no longer optional - they’re essential. And in a world where grey areas can lead to real-world consequences, the right move is to lead by example and take ownership of managing your direct and extended workforce.  

Now is the time that construction technology can help demystify the grey area. 

Be safe. Be compliant. Be secure. Know who’s on your site.