In our modern world, smart device apps are becoming a useful tool for our personal safety. There are a number of emergency apps available for smartphones and wearable devices that can be activated in life-threatening situations. We are able to use apps connect with friends and family and notify them of our safety and whereabouts. For the workplace, there are free apps available that can assist employees and employers to fulfil workplace OHS activities. These apps are generally used in workplace audits and safety inductions. The remainder of this InSight provides an overview of some safety that are work further investigation.
Personal safety
Safety apps have been designed for all kinds of emergency situations. There are many free apps available to assist first responders in a sudden medical emergency. Emergency communication apps have been developed for the aftermath of disaster events and personal safety apps have been created for those travelling alone, whether it be a short walk home or a trip abroad.
1. First Aid – Australian Red Cross
The official Australian Red Cross First Aid app is a free, comprehensive pocket guide to first aid (Red Cross 2020). It provides instant access to the most up to date first aid information anytime, anywhere. In emergency situations, you can access the information you need to know to handle the most common first aid emergencies. The app is designed to guide you through an incident with interactive and simple step-by-step advice. It covers 23 different scenarios, some of which include:
- allergies/anaphylaxis
- broken bones, strains and sprains
- burns
- chocking
- heart attack
- heatstroke or hypothermia
- mental health
- seizure/epilepsy
The First Aid – Australian Red
Cross app also provides interactive quizzes which can be used to help refresh
your first aid knowledge (Red Cross 2020).
2. Emergency+
Emergency+ is a free national app available for both android and iOS users which provides you with all the emergency services that you may need (Apple 2020) (Google 2020a). It is designed to help people call the right number at the right time, anywhere in Australia. The app provides easy access to Australian emergency services with all the emergency connection available in one place. The following services are accessible via Emergency+;
State
Emergency Services (SES): for emergency help in floods, storms and cyclones;
Police Assistance Line: for victims of a crime other than life-threatening
or time crucial emergency situations;
Crimestoppers: to provide anonymous information about a crime;
Healthdirect: for expert advice about any health issue;
National Relay Service (NRS): for individuals who are deaf or have a
speech impairment, to call an emergency or assistance line through NRS. An NRD officer
will relay your conversation with the service that has been called;
National Security Hotline: to report any suspicious incidents;
Poisons Information: provided the latest poisons information to the
public, and toxicology advice to professionals on the management of poisoned
and envenomed patients; or
Triple Zero (000): for emergency situations where someone is seriously
injured or in need of urgent medical help, when a life or property is being
threatened, or if a serious accident or crime has been witnessed.
Using GPS location, the app also gives you the option to communicate your coordinates with your emergency operator if necessary.
3. ICE Medical Standard & ICE – In Case of Emergency
The ICE Medical Standard is an application available to iOS software, the ICE – In Case of Emergency app is downloadable on Android devices (Arnold 2019) (Google 2020b). Both applications are free for users and designed to provide vital information to first responders and hospital staff in emergency situations. They are set up to retain important medical data which can be accessed even when the phone is locked (Arnold 2019) (Arnold 2019), including;
- emergency contacts
- allergies
- medication and medical conditions
- blood type
- insurance information
Safety among the workplace
Managing health and safety can drive the productivity of a business, find efficiencies and protect employees and visitors from danger. Therefore, improving health and safety in the workplace and developing a strong culture for safety is important for any business. In our modern-day, there are now many free apps available that can assist employees and employers to fulfil workplace OHS activities, including audits and inductions and risk management.
1. iAuditor
iAuditor can be used as an inspection, audit and quality control tool for your workplace (Safety Culture 2020). Combined with the web platform, iAuditor can be used as an inspector software that provides visibility and insights to help raise safety and quality standards across an organisation. As an inspection management software, iAuditor allows your team to collect consistent data, standardise operations, send reports, identify failed areas and get problems resolved with this easy-to-use checklist software. The app is available for free on both Android and iOS software, for up to 5 users with limited inspections. At $19 per user, per month (annual billing), the premium plan provides unlimited inspections, team administration features, business analytics and reporting features, and specialised services (Safety Culture 2020).
2. Decibel: Sound Meter
Any sound that is louder than 85dB (decibels) is capable of putting your hearing at risk (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) n.d.). In some workplaces, noise control can be a big problem. The Decibel: Sound Meter application is available for free on both android and iOS software devices, it is a highly reliable tool that can be used in the workplace to determine if the Sound Pressure Level (SPL) is hazardous to your employees’ health (Decibel Sound Meter Pro 2020). For noisy workplaces, a decibel meter may be used to monitor conditions and alerts workers when ear protection or other precautions to protect their hearing should be required.
3. SmartSuite
The SmartSuite is a free software application designed by ChemWatch is essential for any employer that works with hazardous chemicals. The app gives users access to comprehensive chemical health and safety information allowing you to view, print and email safety data sheets (SDS) and other related documents (ChemWatch 2020). Users are able to access;
- Original Vendor SDS
- Review SDS
- Single-Page Summary SDS
- Emergency Response Information
- Risk Assessment Reports
SmartSuite is available on both Android and iOS devices, allowing you to complete and update risk assessment reports and check up on your SDS register wherever you are (ChemWatch 2020).
Our people at Integrate Sustainability have the skills and knowledge to assist with workplace safety concerns and are always happy to discuss apps and safety software being implemented in your workplace. Contact us on 08 9468 0338 or enquiries@integratesustainability.com.au if you would like help finding the right safety app for your workplace.
If your business would like to address potential noise hazards in your workplace, or you require assistance with updating your SDS chemical register, Integrate Sustainability can assist in identifying your workplace safety obligations to provide a safer working environment.
Please note that not all applications discussed in this insight have been trialled by Integrate Sustainability.
References
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). n.d. Loud Noise Dangers. Accessed February 26, 2020. https://www.asha.org/public/hearing/Loud-Noise-Dangers/.
Apple. 2020. Emergency +. Accessed March 12, 2020. https://apps.apple.com/au/app/emergency/id691814685.
Arnold, Kristin. 2019. Top 5 “In Case of Emergency” Apps. December 20. Accessed February 26, 2020. https://www.safety.com/emergency-apps/.
Beck, Jessie. n.d. The Best Safety Apps for Travel. Accessed February 26, 2020. https://blog.tortugabackpacks.com/safety-apps/.
ChemWatch. 2020. SmartSuite. Accessed March 6, 2020. https://www.chemwatch.net/page/products/mobile-applications/smart-suite.
Decibel Sound Meter Pro. 2020. Decibel Sound Meter Pro. Accessed March 10, 2020. http://dbmeterpro.com/.
Google. 2020a. Emergency +. Accessed March 12, 2020. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.threesixtyentertainment.nesn&hl=en_AU.
—. 2020b. ICE In Case of Emergency. Accessed March 10, 2020. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lagache.sylvain.ice_android&hl=en_AU.
Red Cross. 2020. First Aid App. Accessed March 10, 2020. https://www.redcross.org.au/get-involved/learn/first-aid/first-aid-app.
Safety Culture. 2020. iAuditor. Accessed March 10, 2020. https://safetyculture.com/iauditor/?utm_source=google&utm_campaign=700038670&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=iauditor&adgroup=39375756627&gclid=Cj0KCQjwx7zzBRCcARIsABPRscNTqjde7qWOgpAoW4ZhLCR5_CJMkbvVPb1h3KkDnvqVwvOTbIJ5GU8aAp0fEALw_wcB.