Streamlining Safety
Operations Through
the Widespread Use
of Mobility Tablets
ASSE PDC
Las Vegas, 2013
Jim Barry
Vice President, HSE
PCL Construction
Rich Baldwin, CSP
U.S. Director, HSE
PCL Construction
Technical Assistance
Present are three PCL staff members who will
help answer technical questions:
• Somsong Phungtham
• Galina Delude
• Jeremy Zimmerman
Content
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Introduction
The Need for Mobility Tablets
Overview of Safety Systems
The Evolution of the PCL SMC
Development of the SMC for Mobility
Benefits
Negative Aspects
Mobility Tablet Training
Summary
Introduction
Introduction
• Managers’ complain – “Too much
time in the office!”
• Initial computer use for safety was
limited
• iPad introduced in 2010
• Widespread use in construction
Introduction
• Construction
applications
developed
• BIM
• Schedules,
engineering
drawings
The Need for
Mobility Tablets
The Value of Field Presence
• HSE staff more valuable in the field
The Value of Field Presence
• Observe and
correct hazards
• Presence reminds
others to be safe
• Assist and help to
train supervisors
Overview of
Safety Systems
Overview of Safety Systems
• The PCL Safety Management Center
(SMC) is a data gathering and reporting
system that is designed to:
• Reduce the time spent in creating safety
reports
• Improve the accuracy of safety statistics
• Provide real time safety trend analysis
data and graphs
• Enable accurate review of safety data and
trends
Overview of Safety Systems
• The SMC collects HSE information on:
• Behavioral Safety Observations
• Pre-Job Safety Inspections and Audits
• Incidents
• HSE Inspections
• Field Safety Meetings
• District/Project HSE Committee Meetings
• Subcontractor Hours
• Monthly Safe Action Plans
Overview of Safety Systems
• Collecting Data Enables:
• Trend analysis of:
• Incident Causes
• Incident Types
• Body Parts Injured
• Updating of OSHA Logs
Overview of Safety Systems
PCL SMC Evolution
PCL SMC Evolution
• Originally developed in 2005
• Research and trial and error involved
• Forms modeled after those in the HSE
Manual
• InfoPath was used for data entry
• InfoPath Forms were saved to
Windows SharePoint Services 3.0
PCL SMC Evolution
• InfoPath Forms Services
Technology
• In MS SharePoint Server 2007
Enterprise CAL
• Also in MS Office Forms Server
2007.
PCL SMC Evolution
Since 2005, additional forms and
capabilities added to SMC
• Use of mobility tablets requires
completely different systems
• Users with web browser access do
not need to have InfoPath
installed
• Subcontractors can access our
SMC on the web
PCL SMC Evolution
• To run off-line, Windows 8 or iPad
SMC application is needed
• The complexity of the HSE forms
required the development of
unique applications
• Using off-the-shelf forms would
have reduced development costs
PCL SMC Evolution
• Project Resources Library
• Access to cache of documents
readily available anytime
o HSE Manuals
o Trade contractor information
o JHAs
o Fed and State OSHA and Provinical
Standards
PCL SMC Evolution
• Project Resources Library
o Competent persons log
o Training records
o Trend analyses
o Engineering drawings
o Critical lift plans
o Populated from project, district
or corporate office
Development of
the SMC for the
Mobility Tablet
Development of the SMC for the
Mobility Tablet
• Initiated December, 2011
• First – the Business Requirements
Document
• Authored by business analysts
and safety pros
• Details refined by IT specialists
• A road map with every spec and
capability outlined
Development of the SMC for the
Mobility Tablet
Aim was to move from InfoPath to
web-based forms
• Anyone with web browser supporting
HTML 5 and CSS 5 can use SMC
• Any device can be used… Windows 8 or
iPad
• Subcontractors or JV partners can
access SMC
Development of the SMC for the
Mobility Tablet
• User requirements
continually updated
• Beta testing by
projects and
individuals
• Training conducted
Development of the SMC for the
Mobility Tablet
Development was not without difficulties:
• Overseas technical assistance was
aborted
• Developers didn’t have too many places
to turn to for help since Windows 8 was
so new
• Navigation Menus required
improvement
Benefits of a
Mobility Tablet
Benefits of a Mobility Tablet
Data entry in field
• Data entry much faster because we
only have to do it once
• Web-based applications available to
all on project
• Field presence beneficial
• Trends identified in real time
Benefits of a Mobility Tablet
Incident investigations faster
• Witnesses interviewed in the field
• Pictures taken at the scene
• Reference materials available
• Voice and handwriting to text ability
• Report form completed
Benefits of a Mobility Tablet
Benefits of a Mobility Tablet
Inspection reports done in the field
• Complex PCL system easier to use
• Hazard categories on-line
• Digital pictures of findings inserted
• Voice and handwriting to text ability
• References available on-line
• Near instantaneous report submittal
speeds notifications and trend
analysis
Benefits of a Mobility Tablet
Benefits of a Mobility Tablet
Behavioral safety observations
submitted in the field
• Critical items checklist blocks marked
• Voice and handwriting to text used
for notes
• Digital pictures of observation taken
• Tablet entries made after the
observation is complete
Benefits of a Mobility Tablet
Safety meetings documented
• District, project and special HSE
committee meetings
• Field safety meetings
• Names of attendees
• Meeting dates and content
• Persons leading the meeting
• Meeting data immediately available
Benefits of a Mobility Tablet
Benefits of a Mobility Tablet
Pre-Job Safety Instruction (PSI)
• Record PSI audits in the field
• Document PSI accomplishment
• Important to measure subcontractor
participation
• Reports assessed in district and
corporate office
Benefits of a Mobility Tablet
Negative Aspects
of Mobility Tablet
Use
Negative Aspects of Mobility
Tablet Use
The advantages are
overwhelming, but
there are negative
aspects
• Field users could be
distracted and at
risk
Negative Aspects of Mobility
Tablet Use
• Evidence shows that SMC entries are
faster on a desktop computer
• Initial start-up costs are high
• Tablets and applications add costs to
the project
• Craft worker perception may be
negative
• Training is required
Mobility Tablet
Training
Mobility Tablet Training
Face-to face training to use tablets
is done on each site
•
An IT and HSE professional do the
training on each site
•
Two days in duration
•
Power Point and on-site, hands-on
elements
•
Tablet can be used for training craft
workers in brief sessions
Summary
Summary
• Value is apparent
• Evidence from beta testing shows
that HSE professionals are able to
devote far more time to the field
• Beta testers are enhusiastic
• More worker contacts assured
• Use broadens to all supervisors
DISCUSSION
Streamlining Safety
Operations Through
the Widespread Use
of Mobility Tablets
ASSE PDC
Las Vegas, 2013
Jim Barry
Vice President, HSE
PCL Construction
Rich Baldwin, CSP
U.S. Director, HSE
PCL Construction