The Safety Compass

As a worker focussed product input was sought from a number of worker groups on the design, functionality and features of The Safety Compass. This included the development of wireframes & workflows (including screen by screen mock ups) which were then 'walked through' with the workers. Input was received through several human factors specialists and ergonomists with a focus on human/computer interaction. This is critical as The Safety Compass is a highly interactive product that enables workers to freely explore detailed information about their workplace. As an agile startup we have already discovered improvements to be made to our augmented reality imagery in round 2 of our development, based on ISO7010

The Safety Compass allows dynamic risk management to occur among people on site within minutes. The Code of Practice 'How to manage work health & safety risks' (2011) states that risk management should occur when work practices, procedures of the working environment change. We are able to address both static and dynamic risks with real time, location specific information. As a brief example use of The Safety Compass can allow a PCBU to meet their duty of care to identify & communicate WHS information necessary to protect all persons from WHS risks (WHS Act 2011 s.19[e]) through geofencing & allows workers to contribute to WHS matters (WHS Act 2011 s.48[b]) through app use during site activities.

The Safety Compass is a new & innovative safety measure, we are the first ever company to provide WHS information through augmented reality and hazard mapping and have established market positioning. We are also one of the first apps to be designed and built specifically for frontline worker safety, taking into consideration extensive frontline worker feedback. Current apps on the market, with due respect, are simply digitised forms and the result of their use is digitised reports - there is no immediate worker benefit. In addition to this we hold a provisional patent with IP Australia and all revenant Trademarks with a standard patent forming part of our next stage of business development.

The Safety Compass is a new benchmark in WHS. We provide real time, location specific workplace safety information through augmented reality and interactive mapping on hardware most workers already have - smartphones. A company with true global potential our vision is to create a world where everyone comes home from work. Unlike many other WHS apps on the market we are designed and built specifically for frontline workers, allowing workplace hazards to be identified, detailed and shared within minutes. Checklist & audit apps provide moment in time lag indicators on workplace compliance and almost always list 'increases in productivity' as their selling point.

Ease of access to detailed WHS information is a core benefit of The Safety Compass, and allows this information to be taken where it's needed to who needs it most - frontline workers. The result of app use is an increase in risk control information and reduced workplace injuries. In Australia 1:250 management level employees sustain a work related injury and this is the audience current WHS apps suit, 1:40 blue collar workers sustain an injury and are greatly under represented in WHS apps. Benefits in reducing workplace injuries are also financial - reduced injuries result in lower insurance premiums, which is why we are negotiating use of The Safety Compass with Allianz.

Extensive research, for example from the Health & Safety Executive UK, proves that increases in workplace situation awareness directly reduces the likelihood of people sustaining injuries in the workplace. The Safety Compass exists to keep people safe at work and is designed and built for this function with the right audience at heart - those more likely to sustain an injury in the workplace. Traditional pre start risk assessments ,Take 5 for example, is one way to increase workplace situation awareness yet is a siloed approach, whereas entering similar information into The Safety Compass and sharing this information with those on site is real time and inclusive.

Strong reliance on paper based WHS information is a complex and time consuming requirement, which can be streamlined using The Safety Compass. By allowing workers to enter and communicate critical WHS information in the field information quickly added does not need to be double handled on paper. Workers are the solution to complex WHS practices as seen by Professor Sidney Dekker's research into harnessing the knowledge of workers in direct contact with safety critical processes and utilising their knowledge of abnormalities. Future build features including virtual site tours, addition of instructional WHS videos, and group messaging will naturally allow productivity improvements.