Skills Institute

Wednesday, 31 October 2012 - 2:27pm

The Skills Institute, in conjunction with Sprout Labs, is developing a mobile solution for workers to access Workplace Health and Safety information, checklists and other documentation when on-site and on the move.

Previously, workers such as electricians had to undertake cumbersome paper-based safety documentation and checks before entering work sites.

Fully funded by WorkCover Tasmania Workplace Innovation Funding, the project utilises tablet technologies to give workers access to documentation, including workplace procedures and other information relevant to safe and efficient work practices such as checklists, procedures and other safety information.

Functionality of the system will provide the user with the ability to complete WH&S documentation with a touch of a finger and then upload it to a central server. It will allow for real-time tracking and monitoring of safety checklists.

The system is currently being trialled by three companies in the electrotechnology industry: PSG Electrical Solutions, Stowe Electrical and Michael Fraser Electrical.

PSG Electrical Solutions currently employs 130 electrical workers around the state and has been trialling the system for the past month.

“The ability to check whether risk assessments are being done whilst the tech is on the job is seen as a real positive,” Brett Saward, the company’s HSEQ Manager, said.

“Our service technician, who has been using the system, says the program has prompted him to think through a wider range of potential issues that he’d not always considered previously.

“As the system is refined, we are hoping to use it across a wide range of areas, which will streamline our procedures and save a lot of time and money on-the-job.” 

Two workshops were held in Burnie (October 30) and Hobart (October 31) during WorkSafe Tasmania Month to showcase this purpose-built software. 

WorkSafe Tasmania Month runs from 1 October – 2 November 2012 and aims to get Tasmanians talking about, and acting on work health and safety issues. As part of WorkSafe Tasmania Month, WorkCover Tasmania is hosting a month of free work health and safety events across the State.

About WorkCover Tasmania Workplace Innovation Funding:

WorkCover Tasmania is committed to preventing work-related injury and disease; fostering the successful rehabilitation and productive return to work of injured or ill workers; and building strong relationships with other organisations that support these goals and our strategic objectives.  WorkCover Tasmania achieves this through their research and workplace innovation grants program.

For the purpose of the Research and Workplace Innovation Grants Program, workplace innovation is defined as either a new initiative or original solution to a specific work health and safety problem.

In the context of this program, an innovative project is expected to change and improve a specific workplace safety and health environment, leading to and resulting in lower incidence and frequency of injured and work-related illnesses and diseases. The intent is for the applicant to undertake the project within a workplace environment.