Page 58 - OHS, September 2024

ELECTRICAL SAFETY
Why a Mobile-First Safety Strategy Makes Sense for Electrical
Workers
A mobile-first safety strategy significantly enhances worker safety, compliance and
operational efficiency in the electrical industry by empowering workers and enabling
real-time safety management.
BY TAYLOR THORN
Often, discussions of workplace safety are framed in terms of compliance. What does an organization need to do to avoid OSHA fines? That’s important, of course, but it’s just as important — if not more so — to think in
terms of worker safety. After all, OSHA guidelines exist to prevent workplace injuries.
Injury prevention is also good for business. On average, injured workers require 11 days off of work.1 That missed time, combined with potential workers’ compensation costs, hurts the bottom line. For electrical workers, the costs can be particularly painful for employers, as the industry is currently facing a severe shortage of skilled workers.2
It also faces challenges in implementing traditional training and safety documentation and reporting. Because workers are often in the field, maintaining unified data — and even keeping track of incidents and certifications — can be challenging.3 A mobile-first strategy can help. Here’s a look at five ways embracing a mobile- first approach to safety can improve compliance, worker safety and the bottom line in the electrical industry.
1. Real-time Insights into Worker Conditions
One electrical contractor whose workforce was more than 60 per- cent outdoors was using a paper-based system to track safety inci- dents. Employees would note things down on clipboards, and then
submit them at the end of the week for another worker to enter manually into the computer system.
This was not only cumbersome and time-consuming; it also meant that information into dangerous conditions often came well after that information could have been useful. In some cases, the information got lost altogether.
After transitioning to a mobile-first system, the contractor was able to enter incidents via smartphone in real-time and see analyt- ics in real-time as well.
This proved invaluable for managers and team leaders. Sudden- ly, it was much clearer who needed what, in terms of both equip- ment and ongoing training.
The mobile system also lets everyone be more proactive about safety. They now get push alerts reminding them to do safety audits so that they can assess their work conditions before anything goes wrong and, ideally, prevent incidents and injuries.
In addition to making it easier to monitor and document OSHA compliance, the mobile system helps the contractor im- prove 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
56 Occupational Health & Safety | SEPTEMBER 2024
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