Identifying the problem
Inertia employs specialist teams to inspect bridges all over the country. The nature of the job means the dangers presented by working at height are constant threat to safety, and have to be carefully managed. High-ropes workers need specialist skills and training, and the right equipment to do the job safely, all backed by robust safety checks and procedures.
Inertia often works on short-duration transient jobs, meaning teams move between many different sites in the same day, checking for emerging defects or structural problems that need remediating. Each site for each client has its own specific challenges and requirements, and paper-based processes made it difficult to get teams the information they needed.
Finding the Solution
Inertia’s employees were finding that paper-based processes were holding them back. Jobs were taking longer because of the large quantity of physical files that had to be sorted through, and it was easy to miss vital information, which could place them at greater risk. Inertia wanted a digital solution to modernise their working practices and help keep people safe.
As a top priority then, Inertia needed a system that could speed up and simply its risk assessments and method statements, with access while on the move. They also needed to keep track of their equipment and assets, making sure they were maintained, safe, and properly calibrated, and a digital system could help there too. After researching the options available, they approached Work Wallet to see if we could help.
Delivering the Outcome
Work Wallet has made Inertia’s risk assessment processes much more efficient, by providing everything its employees need directly to their mobile phones on site. Staff no longer have to leaf through reams of paper to find the information they need, saving them time and helping them get to site more quickly.
The digital solution also has alert capabilities built in, highlighting whenever key equipment might need checking or maintenance, which is so important when working at height on the bridges. This minimises delays and maximises productivity, and employees know their essential kit is up to standard.
When on site, Inertia’s employees have better visibility of the threats they face, which enables them to work more safely, and maintain compliance. Health and safety adviser Darren can then also use the information in the app to complete spot checks in live environments, guiding and coaching workers to improve safety performance.