According to Dodge Data app & Analytics, nearly 88% of construction sites use smartphones. With tablet usage expecting to reach 85% within the next two years, why do so many construction companies still use paper to manage their site safety when they could use a construction safety apps?
The problems associated with using paper to manage your site’s safety and claims reporting are well known but often ignored. Whether it’s struggling to accurately report an incident when it happens because you can’t find the right form, or lacking SDS sheets and training records when you need them most, using paper at a construction safety site is less than ideal. If you’re not using a construction apps, you may be missing a solution that could drastically simplify how you improve site construction safety and reporting.
Why does the construction industry rely so heavily on paper to manage job sites? For many, it’s because “it’s how it’s always been done.” But as construction projects continue to grow, and safety leaders take on more responsibility how will you continue to ensure safety?
Whether you want to employ one safety app or a few construction safety apps (apps construction safety) there are a few great safety apps to choose from.
Here are the 6 top reasons why you need a safety app (or construction apps) to improve safety at your construction company:
1. Construction Safety Apps: Quick and simple mobile reporting from the field
When things go wrong at a job site, they can go very wrong. What if you could find information on what to do quickly and document everything within 60 seconds, right from your smartphone?
You can. There are a few mobile apps and safety management programs that enable your team members to quickly and easily report basic incident information from the field. This becomes increasingly important with a distributed workforce. They have what they need in the field – instructions, up-to-date forms – and you get notified quickly.
2. Accurate safety app data at all times
The worst part about using paper is that all the information recorded within a paper-based form that is not usable until it’s converted into a spreadsheet. Not only does that take time, but it creates potential data accuracy concerns. What happens if someone misplaces the form, or improperly records the information? How will you fix it, or even know that it’s wrong?
Construction safety apps can provide real-time and daily activity reports to enable business leaders, project managers, safety leaders, and team members to quickly understand what’s happening.
3. One System-of-Record – Professional Documentation
We all know the importance of OSHA compliance. If you’re keeping all your critical safety records on paper you probably face a TON of pressure when OSHA comes to inspect a job site. Project Managers oftentimes have to rush to find every piece of information possible to avoid potential fines. And if they can’t produce the proper/professional documentation, the fines can be devastating.
One system-of-record that can store all of your critical safety and team member data – safety training records, SDS Sheets, certificates, and incident reports to name a few – is absolutely critical and made even more difficult with a distributed workforce. Luckily, there are safety management systems enable project managers and safety leaders to access to relevant records and information at any time from anywhere.
A few key functions to expect:
- SDS Sheets
- Training Records
- Employee Data
- Checklists & Site Inspections
- Safety Recommendations
- Incident Reports – FROI, auto, general liability, and theft
Having one source for all your documents will save you time and will prevent unnecessary fines due to lost documents, or an inability to produce them.
4. All-in-one reporting capabilities
The best safety app will equip site managers with the tools they need to manage their entire safety management program quickly and easily. The critical components of a construction app are those that allow for proactive prevention of potential accidents, and the quick reporting of those accidents should the worst happen.
The following are examples of things that you should be able to do:
- Inspect equipment, sites, and hazards via digital checklists and forms
- Perform JSAs and overall site audits
- Submit safety suggestions and record employee interactions
- Record near-misses, FROIs, and incidents
- Document auto accidents, general liability & theft incidents
- Complete and report OSHA 300 Logs
- Search employee data, training records, and certificates
- Review and update SDS sheets
Click here for a solution that does all of this and more.
5. Easy OSHA compliance
Arguably the most urgent reason to switch to a safety construction app is due to OSHA’s new e-recordkeeping requirement that mandates high-risk companies keep their incident reports and OSHA 300 Logs digitally and well-maintained.
6. Safety Apps can Help Attract top talent
Although this can be rather intuitive safety construction apps can actually help recruit young talent. How you manage your processes impacts who you can hire. Young workers entering the workplace will expect to use mobile and digital technologies. Top talent will go where they feel most comfortable and equipped to succeed. Organizations still using “old school” methods to safety management, may risk attracting young high-performers.
Changing to Safety Apps is easier than you think
Managing safety with paper, email and excel is a thing of the past. It has a true impact to your business in terms of cost, time and action. Making the switch to a construction safety app can be easy… IF it’s the right solution. Ultimately, you will achieve better safety results if you ditch paper for the best safety app.
