Author, Megan Lockhart, Client Communications Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

The construction industry stands as one of the biggest contributors to the U.S. economy. With the rapid advancements in technology, however, it still stands out as one of the least digitized industries in the world. While traditionally, construction companies have been loyal to paper methods, digitalization in construction brings many benefits such as increased efficiency, improved safety, and enhanced communication.

Although it might seem intimidating, making the jump from paper to pixels can help propel your company to the next level, especially in safety. Rancho Mesa offers the SafetyOne™ app to help transition companies into the digital age. Taking the first steps in this process with intention will make a huge impact in the long run, and we've outlined some key factors to get you started.

Collect the Paper

Once you have decided to ditch the paper and move to a digital format, one of the first steps is to get those papers organized. Collect all the forms, spreadsheets, and checklists you manually fill out. These include equipment inspections, training documentation, toolbox talk sign-in sheets, etc. Once you’ve gathered everything you use on a regular basis, you will be able to easily see what can be digitized.

Set Priorities and Goals

Making the switch to digital can appear intimidating especially when the goals exceed the realistic time frame. Prioritize what should be digitalized first and delegate who is responsible for completing each task. If you are using SafetyOne, the priority might be to add the names of your projects to the system and decide who will need access to the admin website and mobile app.

Start with the Easy

When you begin digitalizing your safety program, start with small switches that are easy for your employees to adopt. We recommend SafetyOne’s toolbox talks as a starting point because it only requires a few simple steps to implement.

The SafetyOne platform has a library of toolbox talks that can be accessed on the jobsite via the mobile app with ease. Once the supervisor has conducted the toolbox talk, each employee can document their attendance by signing their name on the supervisor’s mobile device. The employee doesn’t need to be added as a user nor have the app on their personal device. The documentation will automatically be filed in the system and can be reviewed back at the office.

Create Digital Versions of Paper Forms

Once you have collected the information and forms your company uses, you can begin the process of creating digital versions of them. Start with the most important forms and go from there. In SafetyOne, you can create your own forms or choose from a library of mobile forms and observations that can be filled out on the jobsite via a mobile phone or tablet.

Digitalizing your forms has several benefits. While similar to the process you have already been doing, it increases efficiency and saves time. You will no longer need to worry about misplacing the document, or bringing the physical form back to the office and filing it manually. Once a mobile form is submitted on the SafetyOne app, it will automatically be filed in the platform. Plus, digital forms can be easily accessed, edited, and shared, improving collaboration. 

As technology continues to evolve, it is important for construction employers to utilize digital tools in order to stay competitive in the industry. With the potential to save time and minimize risks, and improve employee safety, the construction industry is gradually embracing digitalization. Rancho Mesa is here to offer the tools and guidance to make this transition successful.

For more information about how SafetyOne can help your company, contact your client technology coordinator or visit the SafetyOne page on ranchomesa.com.