Lanes Group goes digital with health and safety inspections

Lanes Group has begun using a new mobile app that allows managers to digitally record findings of worksite health and safety inspections.

The system allows inspections to be completed with no paper work, and builds up a database of information that can be analysed in different ways to fully understand health  safety and environmental issues.

The technology is part of the SHE Assure health and safety management software used by specialist drainage and maintenance solutions provider Lanes Group across its 19 service depots.

Lanes Group Health, Safety, Quality and Environment Manager Paul McParland said: “Carrying out unannounced worksite and depot inspections is a vital part of how we monitor our performance and continuously seek to improve it.

“For a number of years, our managers have carried out this task using printed inspection pads, with data inputted into spreadsheets back at the office.

“However, this system is both laborious and consumes thousands of sheets of paper every year. The mobile app does away with all that, and created powerful new ways for us to monitor and analyse our health and safety performance.

“It’s a significant step forward, in terms of our sustainability, reducing our carbon footprint, and enhancing our ability to drive up health  safety and environmental standards.”

The app is loaded on to a smart mobile phone. Bespoke templates can be created for different types of inspections. These can then be accessed online or offline, in case there is no broadband or mobile network connection at the worksite.

The Lanes Group worksite inspection is a 35 point questionnaire. The manager records whether the worksite set-up passes, fails, or is not applicable for each one. Each worksite needs to score above 80 per cent to pass the  inspection.

The manager carrying out the inspection also has to take four types of picture: the full site set up on arrival; the completed risk assessment; safety equipment inspection tags; and guarding in place.

If there is broadband or network access, the findings and images can be uploaded straight away. If not, the  inspection and images are stored on the phone, ready to be uploaded later.

Paul McParland said: “We will be able to drill down into the data, analysing it to assess each depot’s or region’s performance, the quality of health and safety at different types of worksite, and trends in behaviours of our operational staff.

“It will be an important tool in developing and implementing our health and safety strategy, so we can share good practice across the UK, learn lessons where things can be improved, and continue to set industry-leading standards.”

Lanes Group is a holder of the RoSPA Gold Medal for occupational health and safety.

Its utilities division was highly commended in the Health and Safety Initiative category of the Construction News Awards 2015 for another digital innovation, an app that allows point of works risk assessments to be completed on smart phones.