TECHS4BIZ Australia says over the past few years, automation has proven to be an important tool in the management of safety inspections. It enables effective identification of major Occupational Health & Safety risks and is suitable for the mining industry.
In the past, many automation solutions offered ‘paper-based’ software, which produced paper work orders to perform field inspection. Once paper forms were returned to the office, they would be ‘manually’ entered and integrated with the software product. The same concept applied to web-based solutions, which required paper work orders and computers to enter the data back onto the system.
In recent years, the role of handheld devices and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistant) has gradually increased from ‘toys’ used by early adopters, to day-to-day tools deployed by organisations that want to improve their staff’s productivity and minimise unnecessary administrative tasks.
Techs4Biz Australia says most PDA’s operate on either the Palm Operating System (PalmOne) or Pocket PC (Microsoft), and both platforms can easily handle safety inspection and software. Handheld devices should provide information that already exists on paper forms or on the desktop, and at the same time improve one’s ability to access and utilise the data. For example, if a user fills out a monthly inspection report providing specific information, the handheld device should fulfils the same function.
Techs4Biz Australia says a handheld user can pick from a list of possible choices and/or write or type in information, according to the organisation’s requirements and preferences. Handheld devices make current, past, and future information accessible and easy to use. Handheld software should also be tailored towards OH&S personnel who need to perform their tasks using easy-to-use screens and functions. Furthermore, by simplifying navigation buttons and minimising keystrokes, inspectors can learn to operate their PDA software in a very short timeframe.
Techs4Biz develops and provides technology solutions for improving work-related activities and processes, combining software with handheld devices. Techs4Biz has offices in Australia.
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