Page 45 - Occupational Health & Safety, May 2019

may use an iPad, an iPhone is more manageable and more portable. ■ The operating system of each device (iPad and iPhone) should be updated to the latest or equivalent operating systems.
(Go to “settings,” “general,” “software update.”)
■ Each device (iPad, iPhone) should be fully charged prior to the
inspection. The iPhone 6 or higher will generally provide two hours of audio-video fully charged with working batteries. It may be optimal to use a portable charger for the iPhone to increase battery time.
■ Use the FaceTime App for audio-video communication. To ensure optimal resolution and prevent delay in transfer time, Wi-Fi should be utilized. There may be instances when Wi-Fi is lost but cellular is still available. If Wi-Fi is not available or is partially avail- able, cellular technology is adequate.
■ The inspector should turn the camera lens around using the lens on the back of the phone when showing details of the facility (use the flip arrow icon in FaceTime). The camera should be turned to the front lens when the remote inspector is interviewing person- nel at the site.
■ Photos can be taken directly by the remote inspector through the FaceTime App or by taking screen shots. The site in- spector may also take and send photos to the remote inspector.
■ Discussing camera movement terms may be helpful (slowly pan or move right, left, up, or down or zoom in or out). Instruct the site inspector to move the camera slow and steady for optimal video.
■ Emphasize to the site inspector the importance of watching where he or she is walking or stepping to avoid trips/falls. Site in- spectors must keep their eyes on the walk path at all times, not on the iPhone.
Once the remote inspector and site inspector work through the above details during the trial run, they should be ready for the inspection. In some instances, periods with no Wi-Fi or cellular connection or delayed audio or video transfer may present a chal- lenge, but it is generally not a significant barrier to completing an effective inspection.
Conclusion
When time, resources, security, safety, or physical limitations limit the ability for a safety professional to conduct an on-site inspection, a remote inspection can be an effective alternative. The technology and method described in this article allow remote documentation of the workspace through employee interviews, image gathering, and real-time audio-video information transfer from the facility site to the remote location. The findings and corrective actions can be compiled in a report and communicated to appropriate staff.
Ann Rivers is Certified Industrial Hygienist and Certified Safety Pro- fessional. She works as an Industrial Hygienist/Safety Program Man- ager with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. She can be reached at amriv@msn.com.
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