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Why a Mobile First Safety Strategy Makes Sense for Electrical Workers
In addition to making it easier to monitor and document OSHA compliance, the mobile system helps the contractor improve worker safety every day, which benefits everyone, including the people they serve.
2. Empowerment of Every Worker
Another benefit electrical workers get when they have access to a mobile-first safety strategy is that they’re empowered to take safety matters into their own hands. Literally.
Field leaders are usually responsible for their teams’ energized electrical permits. These important pieces of documentation ensure due diligence before work on energized equipment begins.
With the power to complete and organize energized electrical permits on their mobile devices, electrical workers can ensure smart documentation without sacrificing efficiency.
Another example is when near misses often go unreported. A facility worker almost trips over a cable but manages to avoid it at the last second. If the near-miss reporting process requires them to track down a binder with a paper form, fill out the form and submit it to a mailbox, there’s a good chance they won’t pause whatever urgent task they’re completing to submit the form.
There’s an even better chance that they’ll forget to do it at all by the time they have a spare minute. The result is that this particular worker goes about their day unharmed, but the cable remains in a place that might trip the next worker to pass by.
When safety reports are just a few taps away in a device, however, it’s much easier to document such incidents and therefore much likelier that they’ll be remediated. Again, the outcome is improved safety for workers, which means more time at full capacity for an organization as a whole.
3. Individualized Support for Every Worker
Mobile-first safety systems aren’t only about documenting when things go wrong, of course. They can also be part of education and prevention efforts. Some mobile safety systems include training functionality as well. Because the training is delivered via mobile device, it can be customized to individual workers’ needs.
This is great when a team consists of workers with varied experience levels. Mobile-first training means everyone can complete the site-specific modules, then each worker can complete a tailored training or refresher course that meets their current needs.
Another popular use case is if a site manager notices unsafe practices during the work day, they can pause work and pull up the relevant safety module for everyone to review before proceeding.
This article originally appeared in the September 2024 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.