Fire and Life Safety

Compliance and Safety | Analytics and Data Collection | Inspections

Mobile Fire Inspections: A Game Changer for Fire Safety Professionals

Posted on December 13, 2023July 28, 2025 by GoCanvas Team

Mobile Fire Inspections: A Game Changer for Fire Safety Professionals

Fire safety is serious business. As a professional dedicated to protecting lives and property, you understand the importance of regular fire truck inspections: They’re not just good practice, fire departments are required by law to perform them. But traditional inspection methods can be clunky and time-consuming, often leading to incomplete inspections, irrelevant details, and confusion over who even conducted the checks in the first place.

By switching from old-school checklists to mobile fire truck inspection apps, fire safety professionals can eliminate these problems and save hundreds of hours annually. Mobile fire inspections offer a more efficient, transparent, and compliant way of conducting routine maintenance checks to ensure the safety of the trucks and equipment to better serve the community.

Let’s dive into how mobile inspections can streamline your processes, making reporting easier and quicker than ever before.

Benefits of Mobile Fire Inspections for Fire Safety Professionals

The rise of mobile fire inspections represents a significant leap in the way fire departments approach their essential duties. It’s not just about doing things differently; it’s about doing them better. By integrating mobile technology, fire safety professionals are equipped with tools that redefine efficiency and accuracy in fire truck inspections. This innovative approach not only addresses the challenges of the past but also paves the way for more streamlined and effective fire safety management in the future.

And when it comes to safety, innovation is key to staying ahead. That’s exactly what mobile fire inspections bring to the table—a transformative approach that’s reshaping how fire safety professionals conduct their crucial work. By moving away from traditional paper-based methods, mobile solutions open the door to several benefits that both streamline the inspection process and enhance the overall quality and effectiveness of fire safety operations.

Next, let’s take a closer look at how mobile fire inspections are revolutionizing the field with solid benefits that go far beyond reducing paperwork. From improving accuracy to enhancing compliance, these tools are setting a new standard in fire safety—one that makes the lives of those responsible for protecting our communities significantly easier and their work much more effective.

Enhancing Efficiency With Mobile Solutions

Time is something you can’t afford to waste in this line of work. Mobile fire inspection apps and software are all about getting you more bang for your buck, time-wise. You’ll be able to slash the hours you spend on each inspection thanks to features like quick data entry, preloaded checklists, and the ability to send reports on the fly, giving you more time to do what matters most: keeping everyone safe.

But it’s not just about speed. Mobile tools bring organization and ease to a process that was once chaotic and scattered. Imagine having all your inspection data in one place and accessible with just a few taps. No more rummaging through piles of paper or trying to decipher handwritten notes. It’s all there—clear, concise, and ready when you are.

Integrating Technology in Fire Inspections Safety: A Closer Look

Switching to tech like GoCanvas for fire safety inspections means out with the old paper hassles and in with a simpler, more streamlined process. These tools are changing the game, making inspections much quicker and a lot less trouble.

No more drowning in paperwork or wrestling with outdated checklists. With these digital solutions, you get the job done efficiently and accurately. Next, we’ll explore how mobile tools are not just streamlining fire safety inspections but also improving their quality.

Improving Accuracy and Compliance in Fire Inspection Safety

Accuracy is about more than crossing your T’s and dotting your I’s—it means making sure no detail is missed. In addition to helping ensure that every inspection is as thorough as possible, mobile apps enable you to adapt quickly if regulations change. When you’re always compliant, fines and legal issues become a thing of the past.

Moreover, features like photo uploads and instant reporting allow for immediate documentation and action, making them an indispensable part of modern fire safety practices.

User Experience and Real-Time Reporting in Fire Inspection Safety

The technological advancements in mobile fire inspection tools are evident in their user-friendly interfaces tailored for field workers’ ease of use. These advanced systems simplify the inspection process, minimize errors, and significantly reduce training time. Another standout feature is the technology’s capacity for real-time reporting—as soon as an inspection report is completed and sent, all relevant parties can be immediately alerted and the information can be seamlessly transferred to other systems, enhancing transparency and saving time. This rapid information-sharing facilitates quick decision-making and ensures consistent communication across the team, which is a crucial aspect of fire inspection safety.

Customization for Specific Needs in Fire Inspection Safety

The power of modern fire inspection technology lies in its customization capabilities. Built with the understanding that each fire department has unique needs, mobile technological solutions offer extensive customization options. This flexibility is key in adapting the technology to various equipment types and inspection protocols, thereby enhancing the relevance and efficiency of the inspection process. Additionally, the ability to tailor reports to specific requirements means the most critical information is always highlighted. This level of customization not only streamlines workflow but also significantly bolsters overall safety assurance in fire inspections.

The Future of Fire Safety Inspections

As technology keeps evolving, so will the tools we use. Imagine inspections that are not only quicker but also smarter, allowing you to predict potential issues before they arise. That’s the future we’re looking at with mobile fire inspections.

In our tech-driven world, mobile fire inspection tools are not just a fancy add-on—they’re a necessity for those who want to stay ahead of the game. They make inspections faster, more accurate, and a whole lot easier, so it’s about time we embrace them for the safety of our teams and communities.

Optimize Your Fire and Safety Inspections

Ready to take your fire inspection game to the next level? Talk to one of our product experts at GoCanvas today to learn how we can transform your approach to fire safety. Don’t work harder when you can work smarter. GoCanvas is here to help.

About GoCanvas

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

Fire & Safety Commodities, Inc. goes 100% paperless

Read the case study to find out how Fire & Safety Commodities, Inc. went 100% Paperless and unlocked revenue forecasting by using GoCanvas.

Read Story

Streamline Fire Inspections and Improve Safety

GoCanvas empowers fire protection service providers, facility managers, and fire departments with a solution that streamlines inspections, ensures compliance, and improves safety.

Learn More

The Appeal of Mobile Fire Alarm Inspections

Discover why fire safety professionals are turning to mobile fire alarm system inspections for accuracy, efficiency, and reliability.

Read Blog

Connect with an Expert Today.

We’ll help you put together the right solution for your needs.

Inspections | Business Operations

Mastering Inspection Dispatch and Scheduling With Technology

Posted on November 14, 2023July 28, 2025 by GoCanvas Team

Mastering Inspection Dispatch and Scheduling With Technology

Dispatching and scheduling inspections are key in construction, quality control, and fire safety. Inspection form templates help, but advanced technology’s where the action is. With advanced tech, you’re not just keeping pace—you’re setting the standard in your industry. Ditch the spreadsheets for smarter, tech-driven scheduling by using the right tools to quickly assign technicians, optimize location-based schedules, and get your project teams working in harmony.

Why Traditional Dispatch and Scheduling Methods Fall Short

Relying on outdated dispatch and scheduling methods is like using an old map in a changing city: You hit dead ends and waste time. Lack of real-time info makes adapting to changes tough, leading to delays and increased costs. Human error—like typos—can send teams to the wrong place and mess up the whole schedule, while poor coordination between teams can cause misunderstandings and throw off everyone’s day. But there’s room for a more efficient approach.

Why Streamline Technician Assignments?

Traditional methods mean you juggle paper schedules, endless calls, and manual job assignments, wasting time and increasing the chance for errors to creep in. Switching to a tech-driven approach streamlines these tasks on a dashboard, offering benefits like quick job matching, less admin hassle, and happier technicians.

In contrast to the manual mess, tech solutions cut down on human errors and inefficiencies. One missed call in a manual system can ruin a day’s work—but with digital tools, you get a more efficient and reliable system that eliminates common scheduling problems.

How Technology Makes Scheduling Easier

Scheduling tools like GoCanvas help you auto-assign jobs based on a tech’s skills, location, and current workload as if you have your own 24/7 digital dispatcher adjusting schedules in real time. If a job gets canceled or a tech calls in sick, the system reroutes and reassigns work to minimize disruption.

Benefits for the Construction and Fire Protection Industries

In fields like construction and fire protection, time is crucial. Using technology streamlines the inspection process, letting you do more in less time. Real-time info makes team coordination a breeze, cutting down on communication issues. The result is less time spent on admin and more focus on inspection quality and site safety.

Inspection Form Templates

Inspection form templates are game-changers for dispatch and scheduling. They act like blueprints that can be easily customized for each project to save time and reduce errors—and you can use the time you save from not having to create new forms from scratch to improve quality control or safety. The templates come with features that help you avoid common mistakes and easily sync with scheduling software, auto-filling the necessary info once you assign a job. The result? A smoother, more efficient process from start to finish.

Increased Productivity and Team Coordination

Tech-savvy scheduling ups productivity and reduces errors in compliance. In fact, a study by McKinsey found that digital tools boosted productivity by 25%, which translates to less paperwork stress and faster compliance checks. Benefits include:

Better margins
Faster document access
Fewer errors
Quicker approvals
Smooth team handoffs

All compliance docs are centralized for easy audits and teamwork.

Navigating Inspection Compliance With Tech-Driven Approaches

Scheduling software makes everything digital and searchable, keeping projects in compliance and inspection reports easy to find. Plus, GoCanvas comes with built-in inspection compliance checklists that align with industry standards. Digital tools also make real-time updates, so if regulations change, your teams can continue to meet—and even exceed—inspection compliance standards.

Save Time and Keep Projects on Track

GoCanvas ensures your teams are on the same page. The software helps teams manage inspection compliance by eliminating paperwork, templating forms, and decreasing overall admin time. With features like this, managers can catch issues early and communicate with field techs on the fly. Level up your inspection dispatch process site by signing up for a demo.

About GoCanvas

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

A person sits at a desk holding their phone showing a graph, while their laptop sits on the desk showing more charts and graphs.

How TE3CO Leverages Data Analytics to Unlock Business Potential

TE3CO provides mission-critical pressure relief technology and services to customers across the oil and gas industry. They employ a highly trained and capable workforce of field technicians and engineers. Before working with GoCanvas, TE3CO relied on spreadsheets and emails to manage their ticketing process but found the system time-consuming and difficult to track.

Read their story

Two men in hard hats look onto a tablet.

VIP Lighting Gains Business Efficiencies with GoCanvas

VIP Lighting is a retail lighting and electrical maintenance company that services retail chains across Australia and New Zealand. The business has been operating for 25 years and now services 10,000 retail sites across both countries. Prior to joining GoCanvas in 2018, the business had multiple systems running different aspects of their technician and contractor network.

Read their story

Man in a hard hat inspecting HVAC vents.

Three HVAC Maintenance Checklists that will Reduce Errors and Grow Your Bottom Line

For HVAC technicians, so many errors within their daily tasks come from using outdated paper forms while completing a job. Using these HVAC inspection checklists will prevent issues before they happen, so your technicians can collect comprehensive and consistent data at every job.

View checklists

Connect with an Expert Today.

We’ll help you put together the right solution for your needs.

Disaster Preparation | Compliance and Safety

7 Biggest SDS Compliance Violations in Chemical Manufacturing (And How to Reduce the Risk)

Posted on May 22, 2023July 28, 2025 by GoCanvas Team

7 Biggest SDS Compliance Violations in Chemical Manufacturing (And How to Reduce the Risk)

Not complying with the safety data sheet (SDS) regulations can cost chemical manufacturers in terms of fines, customers, and reputation. Knowing and avoiding the biggest SDS compliance violations is one of the best ways to follow Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations.

This article reveals the top seven SDS compliance violations to give you the best chance of preventing legal issues and protecting your brand image. And because meeting every requirement can be challenging for many chemical manufacturers, we will show you where to get a comprehensive SDS-compliant checklist to make things easy.

1. Using the Wrong Format

OSHA requires distributors and manufacturers to provide an SDS for each hazardous chemical. As the bare minimum, the SDS should use a clear, user-friendly, 16-section format to inform downstream users about the substance.

Each section should provide specific minimum information detailed in the Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200). The information must be in English, although copies in other languages can be provided if necessary.

2. Failure to Communicate Chemical Hazards

In 2011, OSHA penalized two manufacturers and two distributors of hair products for failing to inform users of the substance’s potential hazards and protect their employees from exposure. In fact, the total fine for the four companies totaled $49,200.

Manufacturers are responsible for evaluating the risks related to a particular chemical and including the hazards in an SDS. Concerning communication of chemical hazards, the sheet should:

Specify the concentration (exact percentages)—sometimes, concentration ranges may be used to protect trade secrets
Explain why the substance is hazardous
Indicate the chemical’s possible harm
List protective measures users should follow
Describe what users should do in an emergency

3. Improper Updates

Having a static SDS may not always be enough to meet OSHA requirements, resulting in SDS compliance violations. In some instances, updates are necessary—and they must be made within a particular period to avoid noncompliance.

According to OSHA, chemical manufacturers must ensure SDS information accurately details hazards and how to protect against them. But when your company discovers new potential harm of a particular chemical or identifies more effective ways to avoid the risks, the new details should be added to the SDS within three months.

On the other hand, the chemical labels must be revised within six months, depending on the significance of the new information. In short, your company needs to update its SDSs in one or all of the circumstances below:

The manufacturer makes significant changes to the chemical compound.
Research reveals considerable new information about a chemical’s potential harm or anti-hazard measures.

4. Insufficient (or Lack of) Chemical Handling and Storage Instructions

Improper handling and storage can cause toxic exposures, explosions, as well as fires from chemical reactions. That’s why OSHA requires manufacturers to include a safe handling and storage section in the SDS.

Required information includes:

Precautions for reducing the release of the chemical into the environment
Advice for managing incompatible chemicals
General hygiene recommendations
Ventilation requirements for safe storage

5. Manufacturer’s Failure to Provide Employers With an SDS

Every employer must have a readily accessible SDS for employees in the workplace. To ensure chemical safety, information about the identities, as well as potential dangers of chemicals, must be readily available and understandable to workers.

Manufacturers are also responsible for classifying chemical hazards and transmitting the information to employers through data sheets. An SDS must be provided in the initial shipment as well as the first shipment after a sheet update. Additionally, chemical manufacturers must provide the document to employers or distributors upon request.

6. Insufficient Information About Chemical Composition and Properties

OSHA laws require SDSs to reveal a chemical’s ingredients. The required information includes the following:

Chemical name, common name, and synonyms
Stabilizing additives and impurities
The exact percentage of each ingredient that is considered a health hazard
Whether these ingredients are present above their concentration limits
Whether the ingredients are present below concentration limits but are still a health risk

Your company can use concentration ranges if specifying the exact percentage exposes trade secrets. In that case, you must also include a statement indicating that the exact chemical concentration has been withheld.

In addition to ingredient information, OSHA calls for the minimum information about the physical and chemical properties required in the SDS compliance checklist:

Chemical appearance and odor
Freezing and melting point
Evaporation rate
Viscosity
Solubility
Boiling point and range
Flammability and pH
Vapor pressure and density
Explosive limits
Partition coefficient

You don’t need to include everything on the above list if a physical or chemical property doesn’t apply to your products. However, you need to ensure every property relevant to your company’s chemicals is sufficiently detailed in the SDS. You should also include other relevant properties not indicated on the list above.

7. Leaving Out Recommendations to Control Exposure and Enhance Personal Protection

Not including exposure limits in your SDS can also result in expensive noncompliance penalties. An exposure control section in the sheet helps recommend personal protective measures and minimize user exposure to chemicals. Essential details to cover in this section include:

Exposure limits from regulatory bodies, such as OSHA and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)
Your recommended exposure limit as the chemical manufacturer
The necessary engineering controls
Advice for personal protective measures to prevent exposure to chemicals
Recommended personal protective equipment (PPE)

Get an Easily Accessible SDS Compliance Checklist Form

Manufacturers are required to obtain or create an SDS for every chemical they produce. Additionally, they must ensure a copy of that sheet is available for customers.

The SDS compliance checklist form from GoCanvas is easily accessible from a smartphone or tablet. This also makes it easier for employers and employees to access safety data and handle chemical inventory appropriately.

Because the checklist comes as an SDS-compliant template, you don’t have to create the sheet from scratch, which saves you money and time. In fact, once you create the document, it becomes mobile-accessible via smartphones and tablets to easily empower employers to create a hazard management program and enhance occupational safety. Request a demo today to see how our SDS compliance template helps you save time and money.

About GoCanvas

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

Manage Risk for Oil and Gas Companies With a Risk Assessment Checklist

Today, the challenges faced by the oil and gas industry are considerable. Effective business leaders and managers must thoroughly understand them to determine…

read the blog

Solutions to Waste Management Issues For Oil & Gas Companies

Waste management compliance is important in every industry. The oil and gas industry, in particular, has a strong risk of waste emissions…

Read the blog

4 Ways Big Data is Transforming Oil and Gas

Oil and gas companies are getting smart about using the data they collect to gain insights and manage people, equipment, and worksites more effectively…

Connect with an Expert Today.

We’ll help you put together the right solution for your needs.

Analytics and Data Collection

Create the Best Checklist App with GoCanvas

Posted on August 19, 2022July 28, 2025 by GoCanvas Team

Create the Best Checklist App with GoCanvas

Create the Best Checklist App with GoCanvas

Checklist apps are growing in popularity because they offer an efficient solution for task management and workflows. Mobile checklists are even more efficient with their dynamic features and the elimination of hassles associated with paperwork, such as lost or damaged forms, illegible handwriting, and incorrect information. By using a checklist app, businesses can ensure that tasks are completed correctly and on time.

GoCanvas provides companies the ability to create their own checklist app to enhance business solutions. Our easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface makes it simple to get started without any coding required. With GoCanvas, you can quickly create mobile forms and checklists for your business needs without any headaches.

Businesses Who Can Benefit From a Customizable Checklist App

There are many types of businesses that can benefit from their very own customizable checklist app such as businesses in the construction industry, the service industry, the petroleum industry, the transportation sector, and the energy sector. Here’s what our customers have utilized their checklist apps for:

Inspections
Work Orders
Timecards
Daily-Weekly Reports

Now that you know how a GoCanvas checklist app can benefit your business’s project management, here are the quick and easy steps to creating your own checklist app using GoCanvas.

Choose a Customizable Template for Your Checklist App

Making a customized application is easy when you partner with GoCanvas. The GoCanvas system has thousands of pre-built checklist templates – many of which were created for specific industries – for users to access. Each of these checklists is completely customizable to your business and its process preferences. Some of the most popular industry-specific checklist templates offered by GoCanvas include:

Each of these templates can be edited using GoCanvas’ simple “drag and drop” app builder tool. You can even add your company’s logo, name, and other branding information. To view the full range of GoCanvas template offerings, browse the GoCanvas Application Store today.

Add Checklist App Features for Android and IOS Mobile Devices

GoCanvas offers a variety of features that make it the perfect platform for creating a checklist app. Our platform is fully customizable, so you can tailor your app to fit your specific business needs. We also offer a wide range of integrations, so you can connect your checklist app with the other tools you use. These features may include:

Data Capture: Helps you capture data such as signatures in real-time.
Photo/Video Capture Allows you to take pictures or videos and add them to the report.
GPS/Location Services: Enables you to track the location where the inspection or cleaning took place.
Offline Data Collection: Lets you collect data even when there is no internet connection.
Push Notifications: Allow you to send notifications to your team members in real-time.
Integrations (such as subtasks and shortcuts): Helps you automate your checklist processes.

With GoCanvas, you have the flexibility to add as many features as you need to create the perfect checklist app for your business.

Publish Your Checklist App to Your GoCanvas Mobile Devices

Once you have created your checklist app, it’s time to put it into action. With GoCanvas, you and your team can easily access the checklist from your smartphone or tablet. Mobile apps make it easy for you to take your checklist processes with you wherever you go. Ultimately, mobile checklists provide enhanced convenience while helping you save both time and money on your checklist processes.

How Businesses Can Utilize Checklist Apps to Increase Productivity

Business owners can utilize customizable checklists for multiple functionality purposes such as:

Delegating Tasks: Daily tasks for work orders, timecards, and safety reports can be assigned to specific team members as “to dos” via the checklist app.

Tracking Results: Checklists provide an efficient way to monitor and track results in real time. This is especially helpful for quality control purposes.

Analyzing Data: By collecting data via checklists, you can generate insightful analytics that helps you improve your business processes.

Time Tracking: Time management for inspections can be tricky, but checklists can help keep everyone on track by providing a clear outline of what needs to be done.

Prioritizing Customer Service: By using checklists, you can ensure that every customer receives the same level of service. This is especially important for businesses that rely heavily on repeat customers.

Decreasing Paper Waste and Saving Money: Paper waste reduction is not only environmentally-friendly, but it can also help businesses save money by reducing pricing for businesses on printing and paper costs.

Start Customizing Your Digital Checklist Today with GoCanvas

Are you ready to start creating your own mobile checklists using GoCanvas? The knowledgeable GoCanvas experts are available to guide you along the way as you convert your paper processes to mobile. If you have a paper checklist that you use regularly, send it to GoCanvas and our professionals will convert it to a mobile form for you. Try GoCanvas for free to start building your checklist apps today!

About GoCanvas

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

Gown Your Business with GoCanvas Partner Program

Join our Partner Program and gain instant access to our global network of thought leaders and industry experts enjoying shared collaboration and collective success.

Learn more

Forte Supply Chain Solutions Partner Video

Partner Snapshot: Forte Supply Chain Solutions

Explore how Forte Supply Chain Solutions partnered with GoCanvas, combining in-house industry expertise with our white-label mobile forms to revolutionize their processes.

Watch VIDEO

GoCanvas Integrations: Streamline your Workflow

Integrate with over 1,000 software applications. Enhance your GoCanvas experience by syncing real-time data to one or all of your business tools.

View integrations

Connect with an Expert Today.

We’ll help you put together the right solution for your needs.

Compliance and Safety | Analytics and Data Collection | Inspections

How To Prepare for an OSHA Safety Inspection

Posted on December 20, 2021July 28, 2025 by GoCanvas Team

How To Prepare for an OSHA Safety Inspection

Plenty of owners of small- and medium-sized businesses find the prospect of having an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspection scary, especially since the agency is now inspecting businesses from bakeries and liquor stores, to construction companies, tire stores, and performing arts companies.

But you can be ready for OSHA.

Knowing what to expect, and using some easy-to-use technology, can help even small- and medium-sized businesses without large safety budgets feel like they are equipped if OSHA comes calling. This article will cover four steps you can take to prepare for OSHA inspections, and avoid fines and violations.

Understand OSHA’s inspection priorities and most-cited hazards
Develop safety checklists unique to your business
Put an OSHA inspection plan in place
Know what to do on inspection day — and after

OSHA inspection planning is critical for almost every type of business. Continue reading this article for our guide to OSHA Safety Inspections.

1. Know OSHA’s Most-Cited Hazards

While OSHA doesn’t break down its more than 70,000 or so annual inspections by industry, it does offer a list of its top 10 most-cited violations. Think of these as “trouble spots” you should concentrate on addressing. In 2020, these were the top 10 most frequently cited standards by OSHA.

Fall Protection—General Requirements (§1926.501): 5,424 violations
Hazard Communication (§1910.1200): 3,199 violations
Respiratory Protection (§1910.134): 2,649 violations
Scaffolding (§1926.451): 2,538 violations
Ladders (§1926.1053): 2,129 violations
Lockout/Tagout (§1910.147): 2,065 violations
Powered Industrial Trucks (§1910.178): 1,932 violations
Fall Protection—Training Requirements (§1926.503): 1,621 violations
Personal Protective and Life Saving Equipment—Eye and Face Protection (§1926.102): 1,369 violations
Machine Guarding (§1910.212): 1,313 violations

Three out of the top 10 most-cited violations — fall protection, scaffolding, and ladders — involve construction standards. Not surprisingly, the construction industry remains among the industries most frequently inspected by OSHA.

How does OSHA choose when and where to conduct an inspection?

The agency can’t possibly inspect all 7 million workplaces that it covers. Here is how OSHA decides where to go:

Referrals or tips. Hazard information reported by government agencies, nonprofits, the media, and individuals often prompts an investigation.
Employee Complaints. Employees can request anonymity when filing complaints and such allegations often warrant OSHA follow-up.
Follow ups. OSHA frequently conducts follow-up inspections to previous visits, so stay prepared.

2. Develop Unique Safety Checklists

OSHA may have issued you a “checklist” when you opened your business, but that’s just a starting place.

That’s because the agency’s inspectors additionally develop their own policies for specific industries via the “General Duty” clause. They can then use it to cite workplaces for violations of regulations that aren’t written down. And they do it. It’s clear that as a business owner, you can’t simply follow OSHA’s safety checklist and take a nap.

You’re responsible for creating and maintaining your own safety checklists and procedures specific to your industry and workplace – and then for keeping those checklists up-to-date and following them.

To create your checklist:

Start with what OSHA delivered to you
Take a look at the most cited violations list
Inspect your workplace to find any other potential violations that might likely occur
Create more than one checklist – one for the front office, and other for the primary worksite itself

Then get employees from each area to take turns checking for and recording any hazards they encounter on a regular basis – some items only monthly, others every day. (You’ll want to develop safety inspection calendars to guide inspection efforts in each area.)

Let Technology Help You

Now, this is where mobile application technology comes in.Moving from paper checklists to mobile apps, which can be customized to your company’s unique and varying needs, can make your OSHA compliance efforts much easier and more effective.With mobile checklists, you:

Enter data in real time and that data is not only stored in the cloud, but can be immediately shared with a supervisor or manager, minimizing response times
Create a variety of inspection checklists for various tasks and sites – all accessible from a smartphone or tablet
Update your mobile apps as OSHA guidelines evolve and change to reflect changes and immediately deploy the information across your organization
Your mobile checklists are not only more flexible than the paper versions, ensuring that your business is in compliance with the latest regulations, but employees will never again have to drag around a big binder while doing a self-inspection or making copies of paper checklists.

Mobile data will also offer insight into:

What are your common problem areas?
Which of your safety procedures are redundant?
Which employees are completing safety checks regularly?
Which team members are wearing the proper protective clothing and equipment?
Which employees are safety leaders? Safety violators?

3. Put an OSHA Inspection Plan in Place

Now that you’ve made your checklists and safety self-inspection calendars, you have to prepare for the inevitable:the day an OSHA inspector shows up. What happens and what do you really need to be ready for?

Create a plan

First, you need to put together a day-of-inspection plan. Doing so will give you some control over the OSHA inspection, make a good impression on the inspector, and – most importantly – result in fewer violations. Assemble an inspection team, including:

Representative from management. A member of senior management or your dedicated safety officer. He or she is charged with recording everything that happens, making decisions about where and what the inspector can observe, and answering questions.
Photographer. Always photograph everything the OSHA inspector photographs.
Document controller. To have access to all the documents the inspector might request. This is where mobile form apps are extremely useful. Your document controller will be able to access everything he or she needs with a few swipes of a tablet.

Prep the team in advance

Due to changing priorities and regulations, OSHA may shift its focus to any business or industry at any time. It’s important to prepare your team in advance and here are a few tips:

Practice Interview Questions. Prep your team for likely employee interviews and understand your rights. They should answer questions specifically and truthfully, but not volunteer any additional information.
Hold Surprise Inspections. Try to make these mock inspections as true to an OSHA inspection as you can. Get pushy: For instance, “demand” documents that your team members aren’t supposed to give up.
Create Mobile Checklists in Advance. Use mobile checklists to help you prepare for OSHA inspection day. Besides self-inspection checklists, mobile apps can help you create your inspection plan, manage “surprise” inspections, and organize all those regulatory documents.

Make sure you understand what rights your team has if the OSHA inspector arrives and be sure to test your team’s knowledge in advance.

4. How Software Can Help Your Business with OSHA Compliance

No matter how well you prepare, OSHA might find something that you need to correct. But with proper preparation, you’ll be much less likely to be cited for serious violations. Most importantly, you’ll have a strong system in place to keep your employees safe and free from workplace hazards.

By tapping into the power of mobile apps and cloud-based technology, you can ensure that your business is more than ready to welcome OSHA inspectors when they come calling.

Use Mobile Forms Apps to Stay Violation-Free

By using mobile apps to create safety checklists, analyze your business’ safety program and trouble spots, and implement corrective action, you’ll avoid injuries and safety violations — keeping you off OSHA’s radar in the first place.

GoCanvas has a wide variety of OSHA mobile apps that can help make your business safer. Get in touch to find out how cloud-based data collection can take your OSHA compliance efforts to an entirely new level.

Why GoCanvas for OSHA Compliance?

Easy-to-use software. Creating checklists to inspect and regularly record hazards and correct them can keep you clear of fines. Making those checklists mobile keeps data at hand and accurate.

Accessible documentation. Mobile apps ensure that the appropriate people have access to important documents in real time and employees know their roles in case of an audit.

Improve safety compliance. In the majority of cases, OSHA’s inspections are not announced in advance. You have to be prepared at all times and mobile apps like GoCanvas can help to ensure compliance and lower your risk.

3 Key Benefits of Software for Mobile Forms

Still not sure about moving to software for capturing form data? Here are some of the key outcomes companies have seen when implementing software platforms for mobile data:

Increase Productivity. Mobile forms can improve annual productivity by 28% and show an ROI in 6 months.
Cost Savings. A company can lose hundreds of hours in manual data entry. Mobile forms save an average of $40,000 in year one.
Lowered Risk. Companies that implemented mobile form software report that they have reduced their risk and liability by 18%

About GoCanvas

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

Three people in hard hats looking at a tablet.

Smarter, Faster, Safer: Improving Safety Compliance with Mobile Technology

Compliance, there are many ways we talk about it. A necessary evil, a chore, a struggle, or a critically important part of business. We all know how crucial it is, helping save…

Woman reviewing information on a tablet.

Your Guide to Waiver Forms — Examples and Templates

Waiver forms are a type of legal protection used by businesses to reduce their liability and risk. This type of agreement between a business and its customers is used…

Duotank Transforms Business Processes with GoCanvas

Duotank is a bag-in-tank alternative to the traditional keg beer system. The aseptic tank environment enables breweries to maintain the quality of their beer after it leaves…

Connect with an Expert Today.

We’ll help you put together the right solution for your needs.

Compliance and Safety | Business Operations | Disaster Preparation

Guide to PPE for Construction Safety

Posted on December 7, 2021July 28, 2025 by GoCanvas Team

Guide to PPE for Construction Safety

Though it’s almost impossible to remove all hazards on a construction site, one effective way to keep employees safe is the use of PPE. PPE is essential on construction job sites when there is no other way to remove the risk or hazard. Continue reading to learn more about PPE and what types of risks workers exist for workers on construction sites. The article will explain an introduction to PPE and workplace hazards, and we will explain how software can help manage construction safety programs and inspections.

What is PPE?

PPE is short for Personal Protective Equipment. It includes all devices that employees use to prevent risks in the workplace. PPE protects against injuries to the eyes, head, skin, lungs, and ears.

Some examples of Personal Protective Equipment for construction safety include:

Gloves
Shoes
Safety glasses
Earmuffs
Vests
Coveralls
Full bodysuits
Respirators
Hard hats

Why is PPE important?

PPE becomes essential after exhausting other measures of risk prevention. Personal Protective Equipment limits exposure to objects or chemicals that can cause harm to workers on the construction site. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Act) requires employees to wear PPE whenever necessary.

What hazards exist in the workplace?

A workplace hazard creates room for potential harm to the workers. Though employers are responsible for removing these hazards, employees should have a keen understanding of workplace safety hazards. OSHA agents may carry out routine inspections of construction sites to ensure site managers comply with safety requirements.

While construction safety is non-negotiable, common hazards in the workplace include:

Safety hazards
Biological hazards
Chemical hazards
Physical and ergonomic hazards

Safety hazards

Safety hazards are conditions or activities in the construction area that cause accidents, injuries, or death. Some actions or scenarios that constitute safety hazards are:

Walking on slippery floors.
Using a faulty working tool.
Standing on an insecure scaffolding.
Absence of fall protection equipment.
Working in a poorly ventilated environment.
Tight working schedules.
Working in buildings with no alternative entrance and exit.

Chemical hazards

Chemical hazards expose a worker to direct contact with a harmful liquid. Construction site managers must provide workers with the correct equipment and put all measures to prevent leakage of chemicals. All employees that handle chemicals should have Safety Data Sheets for routine inspection and reports.

Biological hazards

Biological hazards can come from exposure to viruses, bacteria, infected animals, or humans. A typical example is a Covid-19 pandemic. To prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the workplace, workers should adhere to WHO guidelines for wearing PPE.

Physical hazards

Construction workers face noise problems and should wear earplugs to prevent harm. Employers must enforce the use of PPEs to reduce the risk of employee injury from physical hazards.

Ergonomic hazards

Excessive physical activities also expose workers to the risk of injuries. A worker who often lifts heavy objects or fails to use the correct object carrying-posture risks skeletal injury. Employers should provide work tools and switch to automation processes to limit ergonomic risks.

What are the types of PPE?

Types of PPE fall under the category of protection. PPE includes helmets, goggles, boots, safety harnesses, reflective dress, gloves, earplugs, etc. Employers must assess the risks in the job site and provide a suitable PPE.

Use of PPE for construction safety should be for:

Head protection
Hands protection
Feet and leg protection
Face and eye protection
Hearing protection
Lungs protection
Skin or body protection

Head protection

All construction sites require head protection. While employers remove hazards, workers need to wear the correct helmets. Conditions for adequate head protection include:

Ensuring the helmet is in good condition. If the headgear is faulty, throw it away while the employer replaces it.
A helmet should fit comfortably on the head. And the size should match the individual.
Head protection equipment should not prevent someone from wearing earplugs.
Only buy headgear from a reliable supplier.

Foot or leg protection

Construction workers must wear protective footwear on the job site to prevent foot injuries. A suitable foot PPE comes equipped with steel toecaps to protect the wearer from falling objects, and it should also protect against puncture wounds from sharp objects.

Ear protection

Construction workers experience high noise levels, which could lead to ear damage. Noise level and duration of exposure are the most significant risk factors for hearing issues. For example, there could be damages if the duration of exposure is short, but the noise level is high. Hence, workers should wear hearing protection that matches both duration of exposure and noise level.

Ear protection must protect without preventing the use of a helmet. Employers must train workers on PPE applications to ensure absolute construction safety. Possible options for ear protection devices include:

Earplugs
Semi-insert caps
Canal caps
Earmuffs

Face and eye protection

Eye and face protective devices prevent dust, gas, flying metals, liquid splashes, gas, and sun glare. The selection of eye protection must match the task and fit the worker; otherwise, wearing it becomes useless.

PPE for facial protection are:

Goggles
Safety glasses
Face shields
Visors
Face screens

Respiratory protection

Construction workers require protective devices that prevent the inhalation of dust, vapors, and gasses that damage the lungs. Like face protection, it’s essential to select a lung-protective device that fits the user and the intended purpose. If there’s no shrug fit of the respiratory PPE, use enough seal to boost protection levels.

Examples of respiratory protection are:

Respirators
Filtering face-pieces
Fresh-air hose
Breathing apparatus
Powered respirators

Skin and body protection

Workers on construction sites also deal with harmful dust and chemical splashes. Employees should wear disposable coveralls or aprons that can withstand fluid hazards.

What does OSHA require for PPE?

PPE promotes construction safety by reducing exposure to hazards in job locations. OSHA states that PPE should pass safety standards for design and construction. Other OSHA requirements are:

PPE must be easy to maintain, clean, and store.
Should provide a comfortable fit
PPE must be reliable, effective and encourage the worker to use

What PPE is needed for COVID-19?

Construction workers are at risk of contracting Coronavirus in the workplace, hence gear up. For prevention of Covid-19, the employer shall provide the following kits where applicable:

Gloves
Face shields
Googles
Non-surgical masks
N95 masks
Gowns

Who is required to pay for PPE?

The employer is required to cover the costs of purchasing the PPE for employees. Besides, the employer is responsible for each worker’s training on the use of the specific PPE free of charge. Each employee must demonstrate a proper understanding of the use and maintenance of the PPE. Where necessary, the employer is responsible for retraining the workers on PPE applications.

What are PPE inspections?

PPE Inspections are regular checks performed by companies to ensure total compliance to OSHA and construction safety standards. Pre-use PPE inspections help detect devices’ problems, exposing employees to hazards.

Inspections help identify issues with the equipment before an accident happens. Completing an inspection checklist can confirm whether the PPE is suitable for use or not. Sometimes, cleaning a protective device is all that is needed to put it into shape. But it’s also reasonable to shelve an item that performs below standard.

PPE inspections are an important part of construction safety and regular PPE inspections ensure the devices function as intended. PPE inspections can also be performed during an OSHA inspection, and employers should make sure to prepare for an OSHA safety inspection by creating a clear inspection plan.

How can you provide safety training for PPE to employees?

As mentioned earlier, employers must train employees on PPE. Such training sessions can be individually or in groups, and they must address the hazards, selection, and use of the PPE. How the employer delivers the safety talk can determine its effectiveness, and the address cannot create positive results if only given to satisfy OSHA requirements.

Consider the following tips for practical safety training for PPE to employees:

Present the talk and not read – the presenter should understand the subject and speak in a practical tone. Be clear when speaking and avoid mumbling.
Choose competent presenters – A foreperson or supervisor with rich experience in safety should deliver the talk. Junior employees will take the program seriously when a superior engineer presents the safety talk.
Bar all distractions – Hold the talk in a serene environment.
The talk must be straightforward as it addresses the worker’s safety.
Make your topic concise.
Avoid generic talk that could distract the employees.
Use props where available
Document the safety training session

Benefits of managing safety programs with software

Analyzing safety programs and creating safety checklists with mobile apps can prevent accidents to employees. The use of software can make your construction site safer and keep your business in compliance with OSHA’s directives.

GoCanvas offers practical and easy-to-use OSHA mobile apps to enhance your OSHA’s compliance efforts. Get in touch to learn how managing safety programs with software is essential for maintaining construction safety standards.

About GoCanvas

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

Smarter, Faster, Safer: Improving Safety Compliance with Mobile Technology

Compliance, there are many ways we talk about it. A necessary evil, a chore, a struggle, or a critically important part of business. We all know how crucial it is, helping save…

Your Guide to Waiver Forms — Examples and Templates

Waiver forms are a type of legal protection used by businesses to reduce their liability and risk. This type of agreement between a business and its customers is used…

Duotank Transforms Business Processes with GoCanvas

Duotank is a bag-in-tank alternative to the traditional keg beer system. The aseptic tank environment enables breweries to maintain the quality of their beer after it leaves…

Connect with an Expert Today.

We’ll help you put together the right solution for your needs.

Top 4 Workplace Safety Apps

Posted on November 1, 2021July 28, 2025 by GoCanvas Team

Top 4 Workplace Safety Apps

Compliance and Safety | Analytics and Data Collection | Business Operations | Inspections

There are many great reasons to invest in workplace safety apps. Digital technology for safety can help modernize your operations and provide greater insight into safety issues and patterns.

A digital workplace safety management program will lead to better overall outcomes for your business. Apps help to keep workers safe and productive, ultimately lowering risk for your business and ensuring safety compliance. This article highlights the top workplace safety apps to roll out in your workplace.

#1. Covid Safety Apps

Employee health screening apps have become standard for businesses during the pandemic. This category of safety apps has been particularly useful in industries like retail, construction, manufacturing, and similar types of businesses that have needed to operate in-person.

The purpose of the technology is simple. It helps to screen employees daily to record their temperature, symptoms, and potential exposure to the virus.

Key features include:

Alerts based on thresholds like high temperatures or symptoms
Photo capture (or manual entry) for thermometer readings
Required signatures
GPS location capture
Symptom tracker
Secure cloud storage
Online and offline data collection
Pre-populated info like employee names and badge numbers
Screening dashboard showing near real-time results
Employee health screening advice and resources
Vaccination Log
HIPPA Compliant to protect sensitive information

When workers are exposed to coronavirus, it can create delays and cause downtime or lost productivity. Minimize these risks by deploying simple health screening apps that can protect your business and your customers. With real-time reporting, you can hear about potential risks as soon as they are reported to minimize further exposure.

You can learn more about employee health screening apps by following this link.

#2. Safety Meetings Apps

Safety culture is a top priority for the construction industry and field crews. This category of safety apps is designed to digitize safety meeting content, so employees can watch videos and complete forms on their mobile devices.

Safety meetings, sometimes referred to as toolbox talks, can cover a wide range of topics. Apps can be used to formalize these programs and measure employee engagement with the meetings.

Key features include:

Workflow tools to manage and assign meetings
Toolbox talks available to complete from any mobile device
Digital signatures to record compliance
Real-time reporting on safety meeting attendance across job sites
Alerts to identify non-compliance
Program results stored in the cloud
Online or offline capabilities
Pre-built templates with hundreds of existing toolbox talks to choose from

When toolbox talks are run using a safety meeting app, it gives your employees an easy way to access critical safety information. Since safety meeting apps are digital, it gives your business an easy way to track and report on safety program data like meeting attendance and incidents.

You can learn more about safety meeting apps by following this link.

#3. Incident/Accident Apps

Incident and accident reporting is a requirement set by OSHA. Safety apps can be used on job sites to provide the required forms to complete in case of an accident or near miss. By going digital with these forms, it ensures proper reporting procedures are followed and apps provide an instant way of reporting accidents through the proper channels.

Key features include:

Customizable mobile forms
Required form fields to ensure data accuracy
Easily capture images, GPS stamps, and sketches of the actual site of the accident
Central cloud-based system for reporting and documentation
Access and share PDF files via email to stakeholders
Dashboards and reporting to analyze safety incidents across job sites
Pre-built templates for OSHA forms 300, 300A, 301, and more
HIPPA Compliant to protect sensitive information

Going digital with incident and accident reporting is a great alternative to using pen and paper. While paper forms can be easily lost or misplaced, digital apps and forms ensure that data is never lost and is shared in real-time with anyone that needs it.

Learn more about Incident and Accident Reporting apps by following this link.

#4. Safety Inspection Apps

Routine safety inspections are designed to audit and assess job sites. Safety apps can be used for safety inspections, using digital checklists and mobile forms. This type of app helps to streamline workflows by managing and assigning safety inspections in the field. Some common safety inspection apps include job safety analysis, PPE checklists, equipment inspections and more.

Key features include:

Easy-to-use digital checklists and image capture
Barcode scanning for equipment
Digital signatures and GPS tracking to ensure locations
Dynamic form fields for faster data collection
Data integrations to pre-populate any known fields
Pre-built and customizable templates based on use case

Using apps for safety inspections is a time-saver for inspectors in the field, making it faster to complete forms and eliminating the need to deal with manual-processes with paperwork. Apps also help operations teams to manage and assign work in the field, with instant reporting back to the office once work has been performed.

Learn more about all of the types of safety inspection apps by following this link.

Software and Forms with GoCanvas for Construction

GoCanvas is a mobile platform that makes it simple for businesses to automate how work is done, replacing outdated processes and expensive paperwork. The GoCanvas App works on smartphones and tablets, helping companies easily collect information across their organization, share it instantly with others, and gain real-time insight into their business. Construction firms rely on GoCanvas to increase productivity, promote workplace safety, and create a competitive advantage. You can learn more about all of our safety management software solutions and forms here on our website.

About GoCanvas

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

Smarter, Faster, Safer: Improving Safety Compliance with Mobile Technology

Compliance, there are many ways we talk about it. A necessary evil, a chore, a struggle, or a critically important part of business. We all know how crucial it is, helping save…

Your Guide to Waiver Forms — Examples and Templates

Waiver forms are a type of legal protection used by businesses to reduce their liability and risk. This type of agreement between a business and its customers is used…

Duotank Transforms Business Processes with GoCanvas

Duotank is a bag-in-tank alternative to the traditional keg beer system. The aseptic tank environment enables breweries to maintain the quality of their beer after it leaves…

Connect with an Expert Today.

We’ll help you put together the right solution for your needs.

Compliance and Safety | Business Operations

How Safety Meeting Apps Can Help Lower Costs

Posted on October 30, 2021July 28, 2025 by GoCanvas Team

How Safety Meeting Apps Can Help Lower Costs

Digital apps for construction safety can help your employees access toolbox talks on their mobile devices and tablets. Many companies have found that regular toolbox talks can help to decrease the number of accidents on site, when employees are more informed about potential safety risks. Investing in apps for construction safety is good for your employees well being and it can help to lower costs for a business in the long run. This article covers an introduction to how safety apps can help you keep down costs and avoid accidents.

Understanding EMR

The construction and manufacturing industries have some of the highest workers’ compensation costs, according to statistics from the Department of Labor. Employers in construction and a few related industries spend about $1 per hour per employee on workers’ comp, compared to the national average of $.45 per hour per employee for all other industries.

How are workers’ comp premiums determined?

Workers’ comp premiums are determined by multiplying a rate set based on the class of employee (there are thousands of class codes, for everything from “construction of dwellings not over two stories in height” to “installation of air conditioning systems”) by an experience modification rating (EMR). The EMR adjusts premiums based on your previous three years of injury records.

A small improvement in your EMR — even just a .1 decrease — can translate into a 10-20% reduction in insurance premiums.

What’s Average for EMR?

The industry standard EMR is 1; a company with a better-than-average safety record will have an EMR of .9 or .8, which means their premiums will be 10-20 percent lower than the “average” company. A company with a worse-than-average safety record could have an EMR of 1.2 or higher, leading to higher premiums.

Sometimes the number of accidents is more important than how serious they are, for calculating EMR. This can be frustrating — why should your premiums rise based on a bunch of insignificant slip-ups? — but it also means it’s easy to lower your EMR by instituting a good safety program that can reduce those minor mistakes.

Keeping Your Accident Rate Down

Having a low EMR doesn’t just save you money, it also can make you more money by making your bids more competitive. One insurance broker lists five things you can do to keep your accident rate down:

Implement a formal written safety procedures manual.
Hold regular “toolbox talks” about different workplace safety topics.
Train employees how to use available safety equipment properly.
Reward employees for demonstrating safe workplace habits.
Apply for and achieve a Drug Free Workplace Certificate.

Why Go Digital with Safety Apps?

Mobile forms let you immediately track and document which employees attended each talk, with date, time, signature, and GPS stamps. Mobile forms are also stored in the cloud and can be searched and printed instantly if an OSHA inspector shows up (read: no more sifting through file cabinets to find documents). And mobile safety checklists (we have hundreds of pre-made templates for contractors and manufacturers that can be customized for your business) give employees a memory aid to follow those safety procedures you stressed in your talk.

Key Stats to Keep in Mind:

Total Injury-Related Costs. OSHA reports that companies around the U.S. spend $170 billion each year on work-related injuries and illnesses.
Safety Programs Pay. Implementing a safety program can reduce injury and illness costs by 20-40%.
Delayed Injury Reporting. A study by the National Council on Compensation Insurance Inc. showed that delayed injury reporting can increase comp claim costs up to 51%.

See How Mobile Safety Apps Work

Mobile apps can make your safety program more effective by helping you deliver toolbox talks effectively (anywhere and at a moment’s notice) and document who was there with a signature, date, time, and GPS stamp (to prove frequency and jobsite location). GoCanvas offers mobile templates for several popular toolbox talk topics, or you can easily create your own.

The Takeaway: Investing in Safety Programs Benefits Your Business

Having robust safety programs can benefit your business in a number of ways. While there is an upfront investment for these programs, the long term benefits will make your employees safer and more productive on the job. Here are three key takeaways on the benefits of safety programs:

Workers’ Compensation Premiums

Creating a culture of safety can improve your EMR, which can lead to lowered workers’ compensation premiums.

Legal Costs Due to Employee Injuries

Employees who are more knowledgeable about safety requirements are less likely to get hurt — which makes you less likely to get sued.

OSHA Fines Due to Safety Violations

By continually teaching your employees about safety requirements, you can avoid costly OSHA violations.

About GoCanvas

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

Smarter, Faster, Safer: Improving Safety Compliance with Mobile Technology

Compliance, there are many ways we talk about it. A necessary evil, a chore, a struggle, or a critically important part of business. We all know how crucial it is, helping save…

Your Guide to Waiver Forms — Examples and Templates

Waiver forms are a type of legal protection used by businesses to reduce their liability and risk. This type of agreement between a business and its customers is used…

Duotank Transforms Business Processes with GoCanvas

Duotank is a bag-in-tank alternative to the traditional keg beer system. The aseptic tank environment enables breweries to maintain the quality of their beer after it leaves…

Connect with an Expert Today.

We’ll help you put together the right solution for your needs.

5 Ways Mobile Inspection Apps Ensure Better Compliance

Posted on October 9, 2021July 28, 2025 by GoCanvas Team

5 Ways Mobile Inspection Apps Ensure Better Compliance

Compliance and Safety | Business Operations | Inspections

The whole point of inspections is to ensure compliance. They help you ensure your work is up to code and your employees are safe. But paper inspections come with a host of issues, many of which could be leaving you at risk. Here are five ways mobile inspection apps ensure better compliance:

1. Apps ensure information is accessible

Perhaps it got lost on the way to your office. Maybe you go to look up a form later on and just can’t find it. Either way, you’re missing a report. It happens to many businesses. In fact, up to 11% of documents are misfiled or lost. That’s 11% of your time wasted. Worse, lost inspections create a massive liability risk.

Going mobile ensures you receive every inspection. Every finished safety inspection is stored securely in the cloud. There, you can access each and every form as a PDF, or download them for your own databases in various form types. GoCanvas also makes it easy in case OSHA audits you.

With all safety inspections stored in your GoCanvas account, you can quickly retrieve your safety inspections to prove your continued dedication to a culture of safety. A mobile app ensures your business has all the safety inspection records you need to stay in compliance and give you an accurate bigger picture.

2. Apps help you avoid errors and misspellings

Reading handwriting can be an art. You can have amazing inspectors, but if you can’t read their writing, they might as well have written the information in Greek! Mobile apps allow you to gather that information in a clear and easy-to-understand way.

Every inspection has typed text. Easily read it at your computer, or even on the go on a smartphone or tablet. You’ll spend less time trying to translate and more time getting work done.

3. Apps create clear documentation

A safety inspection done on paper can be hard to verify. How can you be sure that it occurred at the appropriate time and place?

Some companies have tried to game the system: New York is taking up a case against a business that hired unqualified people to pose as licensed site safety managers. These bad eggs, however, can put additional pressure on other businesses to prove that their work sites are safe.

Going mobile can provide additional information to protect and validate your inspections. Automatic date and time stamps prove when an inspection took place. With one click, you can have GPS capture your location, proving that the inspection occurred at the right location. You can also take photos, providing visual information to back up your inspection. Need a signature? Just sign with a finger or a stylus.

All of these features provide additional proof that paper forms can’t provide. They create external validation, protecting your business even further. Mobile apps keep your business safe and help you gather more information than ever before.

4. Apps eliminate paperwork and associated issues

It’s a dangerous world out there. Grease, dirt, heck even a cup of water can ruin a paper form! All it takes is a stumble for you to tear up an inspection and lose an hour of hard work.

Sure, smartphones and tablets can break. But you can easily protect these devices in a way that was never possible with paper. You can put a paper inspection in a folder, but to use it, you have to write directly on it.

On the other hand, with smartphones and tablets you have choices of different ruggedized devices and protective cases. Not only can you gather information, but you can also ensure that a cup of coffee won’t ruin your hard work.

5. Apps help to minimize rework and manual processes

It doesn’t matter how many asterisks or underlines you use; sometimes forms come back incomplete. With forms taking hours or days to come to your office, it’s often too late to go back and get good information.

A mobile inspection removes this headache. With one click, you can make fields required. Even if an employee skips a section, they won’t be able to submit their inspection until they fill out the required fields. No more chasing down employees days later, just easy-to-read and complete inspections at your fingertips.

Creating accurate reports relies on having the best data possible. Mobile technology reduces human error and allows you to gather more information in real time. Say goodbye to illegible handwriting, missing paperwork, and other holes in your information. Say hello to more accurate information in real time each and every time.

For more information about GoCanvas inspection apps, contact our team to start a conversation or sign up for a free trial to learn more.

About GoCanvas

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

Smarter, Faster, Safer: Improving Safety Compliance with Mobile Technology

Compliance, there are many ways we talk about it. A necessary evil, a chore, a struggle, or a critically important part of business. We all know how crucial it is, helping save…

Your Guide to Waiver Forms — Examples and Templates

Waiver forms are a type of legal protection used by businesses to reduce their liability and risk. This type of agreement between a business and its customers is used…

Duotank Transforms Business Processes with GoCanvas

Duotank is a bag-in-tank alternative to the traditional keg beer system. The aseptic tank environment enables breweries to maintain the quality of their beer after it leaves…

Connect with an Expert Today.

We’ll help you put together the right solution for your needs.