For many businesses, barcode technology plays a crucial role in the deliverability of goods and services. Whether you’re performing a facility inspection, a safety equipment check, merchandising product, or tracking shipments—barcodes provide a database worth of information on a single item. When leveraging barcode scanning capabilities with mobile forms, one scan can dramatically transform the way your team collects information.

Using your Mobile Device as a Barcode Scanner

The Barcode Field, in its simplest form, allows users to scan an item’s barcode (using the built-in camera on their mobile device) and extract the information into text format in a form field. The field will then display the corresponding numeric combination associated with the item, saving users time spent entering lengthy characters and human error associated with manual data entry.

The real magic of the barcode feature occurs when users reference preexisting data from an Excel sheet, Google sheet, or other database resources. When uploading an exhaustive list of assets, inventory, or product information to your Resource files, you simultaneously equip your team with the same access, right at their fingertips. When you give your users access to pick-lists of information, they can narrow down selections and expedite form completion while you receive more accurate data in return.

By using the lookup function of a resource with the barcode field, scanning a single barcode can automatically pre-populates fields with corresponding cells. No more missing line items or re-entering information before submitting forms.

You can easily recreate, upload, or delete data when scanning existing barcode labels. Users can scan barcodes and quickly determine when the next time an equipment asset needs to be serviced or replaced, or what aspect requires further inspection.

Because digital forms are inherently smarter than paper-based alternatives, they can be formatted with conditional logic specific to an asset, so users are answering the right questions about the correct item, every time. With barcode scanning, your team can significantly reduce time spent filling out form fields.

Check out more reasons why you should implement barcode scanning in your mobile forms below.

Benefits of Barcode Scanning and Mobile Forms

• All-in-one solution. Mobile Forms and Barcode Scanning exist in the same application meaning no additional third-party scanners are required. Users can scan directly from their mobile device and finance teams can reallocate funds for other projects. Because the application exists across iOS and Android platforms, employees can leverage their personal devices, saving more time and investment.
• IT team not required. Administrators logged into the Management Console can setup barcode workflows with ease using the drag-and-drop form builder. Device Magic’s intuitive user interface makes it possible to seamlessly create workflows and connect your existing tools, without an IT expert.
• Auto-Fill, all the way. When a tech needs to go back out to a job or do a task again because it was incomplete or incorrect the first time, it costs your business time and money. Preventing errors and finding ways to reduce reworks will keep projects moving forward on schedule and allow you to get more done.

Each mobile form feature offers its own unique approach to transforming how you collect data. Consider how using the barcode scanning feature in your data collection process can streamline work for your team.

See why administrators and mobile users alike choose Device Magic for their teams. Create your free account today to test the power of barcode scanning and digital forms.

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Restaurant owners understand how nerve-racking a surprise visit from the health inspector can be. Their analysis of the kitchen, front of house, bathrooms, staff, and food can either make or break your restaurant.

These unexpected visits can be more manageable with preparation. Part of being prepared involves creating and implementing a restaurant inspection checklist to ensure your restaurant is always up to industry standards. Learn how to create custom mobile forms to help hold your staff accountable for meeting health and safety standards.

What is a Restaurant Inspection Checklist?

A restaurant inspection checklist is a document that restaurant owners and managers can use to ensure every aspect of their restaurant is compliant with health and safety standards. This type of kitchen checklist can cover everything from regulations for employee hygiene to the way food is stored. Having a comprehensive checklist can make your routine inspection process easy and efficient for your employees while helping you prepare for those unexpected visits from the health inspector.

What Should You Include In Your Checklist

Here are six key areas to include in your checklist, which can all be completely customized with the Device Magic restaurant inspection checklist app:

Food Storage

Proper food storage practices play a significant role in maximizing the preservation of dry goods in your restaurant. Using clear and consistent food storage strategies can help ensure your food lasts longer, reducing waste and preventing cross-contamination that can result in getting customers sick. Your inspection checklist should cover food storage methods such as:

• All food storage containers are labeled and dated
• Food is stored in cool and dry locations and not exposed to heat or other contaminants
• Food and chemicals are stored separately
• All food is stored at least six inches above the ground
• Staff and management are aware of the FIFO method—first in first out.

Refrigerators & Freezers

Controlling and maintaining temperatures of cold foods is another crucial element in following industry regulations and guidelines. Refrigerators and freezers should be maintained regularly to ensure consistent climate control. Your checklist should cover aspects pertaining to the restaurants’ refrigerator and freezer usage such as:

• Refrigerators and freezers are cleaned regularly
• A thermometer is visible and working correctly
• If there is a walk-in fridge or freezer, all items are stored off the ground
• All foods in the refrigerator and freezer are labeled correctly
• All foods are being stored in a place that is conducive to their particular “safe range” for temperature

Food Prep Process

Food Storage in a restaurant is the first step in remaining compliant with health and safety guidelines. The next step is ensuring that food is prepared in a way that eliminates cross-contamination. The kitchen can be a busy place. But following a clear and consistent food prep process will help your kitchen staff prepare, cook, and serve foods in a way that is safe for the end consumer. Some of the issues your restaurant inspection checklist should cover in regards to the food prep process include:

• Frozen foods are being thawed correctly
• Tasting utensils are washed after every use
• All foods are being heated to the correct temperatures
• Food that is not in use is covered to avoid cross-contamination
• Everyone in the kitchen who touches food washes their hands, uses gloves, and cleans utensils when switching from one food to another

Sanitation

A clean restaurant is a healthy restaurant. Every section of your restaurant should be inspected regularly and cleaned thoroughly, from the waiting area to the main dining areas and the bathrooms. Consistent sanitation processes help reduce the spread of germs and ensures that every utensil or tool that comes in contact with food is sanitized correctly. Be sure to include the following items in your checklist:

• All kitchen equipment is cleaned regularly
• All utensils are cleaned between uses
• The concentration of sanitizing solution to water is optimized for best use
• Waiting areas, tables, chairs, and menus are all wiped down and clean to the touch
• Food prep areas are wiped down and sanitized
• The water used for disinfecting and cleaning is at the optimal temperature for sanitation

Garbage & Food Disposal

Restaurants throw away a lot of food. Unfortunately, this can lead to infestations and attract vermin if not handled correctly. Overflowing garbage cans and dumpsters can attract mice and rats, which can pose a severe health risk to consumers. Make sure you are addressing the way garbage and food is disposed of in your restaurant:

• Check that the lid of the dumpster is always closed
• Make sure garbage cans are cleaned regularly
• Implement a realistic policy and schedule for disposing of waste and food
• Ensure all garbage bins have lids and covers
• Check that the outside dumpster is organized, and no food or trash is on the ground that could attract rats, mice, or other creatures

Employee Hygiene

The people who work in your restaurant play a vital role in the overall health and safety compliance of your restaurant. While you can’t monitor every interaction that your staff has with the food they produce, putting strict policies in place regarding hygiene can help eliminate many of the most common health violations. Some non-negotiable items to include in your restaurant inspection checklist:

• There are designated smoking areas and eating areas for employees that are separate from food prep areas and guest dining areas
• All employees wash their hands before handling food and after using the bathroom
• Wounds are quickly treated and immediately bandaged to reduce the risk of contamination
• Employees are required to keep their hair pulled back or wear hair nets when coming in contact with food
• Employees are required to wear close-toed shoes, and their uniform must be clean

Try Device Magic for Free

Your success as a restaurant owner is heavily influenced by your continued compliance with health and safety regulations. Device Magic Mobile Forms can function as a restaurant inspection checklist app, allowing you to easily create a custom mobile checklist with a drag and drop interface. Your form can then be accessed from anywhere, even offline.

The post Restaurant Inspection Checklist App appeared first on Device Magic.

Providing a safe work environment for employees should be a priority for your company. When compliance is overlooked and workers aren’t trained properly or act carelessly, an accident or injuries can easily occur. Compliance with safety regulations will help your company to avoid accidents and costly OSHA violations that will stall your project or worse, shut down a work site. In this post, we’ll cover the top 10 OSHA violations and how to avoid them in 2020.

“The OSHA Top 10 is more than just a list. It is a blueprint for keeping workers safe. When we all work together to address hazards, we can do the best job possible to ensure employees go home safely each day.” – Deborah A.P. Hersman, President and CEO of the National Safety Council

Top OSHA Violations

Here’s a quick list at the top OSHA violations. We’ll provide a closer look at each below along with some tips on how to avoid them:

• Fall Protection – General Requirements
• Hazard Communication
• Scaffolding
• Lockout/Tagout
• Respiratory Protection
• Ladders
• Powered Industrial Trucks
• Fall Protection – Training Requirements
• Machine Guarding
• Eye & Face Protection
• Electrical – Wiring Methods

This list is a great place to start to evaluate safety on your own jobsite or workplace. Doing so will help you to avoid potential OSHA violations and expensive fines. This will also help you to be prepared if an OSHA inspector shows up at your site.

Device Magic can help you complete site inspections, audits, and compliance reports faster with mobile forms. Learn more

OSHA Violation Breakdown

Let’s take a closer look at each of the most common OSHA violations noted above:

Fall Protection – General Requirements

Every year, over 300,000 people are injured due to a fall in the workplace. This happens most commonly on construction sites, but the risk of slipping and falling is something every business needs to take very seriously. To avoid this extremely dangerous workplace risk:

• Keep walking surfaces clean and free of clutter
• Lighting and signage
• Require proper footwear
• Regularly inspect scaffolding and other susceptible areas

Hazard Communication

OSHA requires companies to have a hazard communication plan in place to keep everyone safe and accountable. An OSHA compliant Hazards Communication plan consists of four parts: a written program, appropriate labels and warnings, datasheets for material safety, and comprehensive hazard communication training. This allows employees to be clear about the hazards of the chemicals they are exposed to when working.

To avoid an OSHA violation:

• Educate employees on Hazard Communication labels around the workplace and what they mean
• Educate employees on how to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical in the work area and what to do if they find themselves in this situation
• Educate employees on the procedures you have in place to protect them from exposure to hazardous chemicals. This includes safe work practices, how to handle a hazardous materials emergency, and how to use/access personal protective equipment.

Scaffolding

Scaffolds are a necessary type of equipment used on most construction sites to help workers build, repair, and clean specific structures. They are essential to help workers reach projects that are high off the ground, but they can put workers at risk of slipping, falling, or being struck by falling objects.

OSHA has established specific standards to regulate the design, use, and construction of on-site scaffolds. To avoid this type of OSHA violation:

• Ensure all scaffolds higher than 10 feet have guardrails
• Use step stools and ladders to ensure workers can safely get off and on to the scaffold
• Check for gaps between the planking and decking that could cause a fall
• Check that the foundation of the scaffold is placed on something solid such as level gravel or crushed rock.

Device Magic makes it easy to keep track of your inspections. Use our free inspection report templates, or create custom forms to meet your unique requirements. Learn more

Lockout / Tagout

Lockout / Tagout (LOTO) procedures are in place to ensure that hazardous energy is not expelled during the service or maintenance of equipment and machinery. It also helps to prevent the unexpected energization or startup of machinery and equipment. According to OSHA, a Lockout / Tagout involves “authorized employee(s) either locking or tagging the energy-isolating device(s) to prevent the release of hazardous energy and take steps to verify that the energy has been isolated effectively.”

One of the easiest ways to prevent injury on the job is to ensure that all machinery and equipment is disabled when not in use, so it doesn’t start up accidentally. To avoid this type of OSHA violation:

• Get all of your employees on the same page. Many times, a lockout / tagout violation is not due to an employer’s negligence, but instead due to employees not being trained on the risks and procedures associated with LOTO. Require all employees to go through a LOTO training program.
• Perform regular inspections to audit all machinery and equipment, especially when there is a new piece of equipment in the workplace. Identify all sources of energy, not just electricity. A pulley could technically be a source of energy and could result in an accident if not stored and handled correctly.
• Don’t buy cheap equipment. Investing in durable and reliable machinery and equipment is much more cost-effective than paying thousands of dollars in OSHA violation fines—or workers compensation claims.

Powered Industrial Trucks

Incidents involving powered industrial trucks or forklifts consistently rank among the top 10 OSHA violations. OSHA requires any company using a forklift to have procedures in place regarding “hazard identification and solutions, supervision, operating procedures, maintenance and repair procedures, facility design, and forklift selection criteria.”

The improper use of a forklift could result in serious damages, injury, and even death. To avoid this type of violation:

• Develop a training program that identifies the type of workplace forklifts and which employees are authorized to use them.
• Set clear rules and restrictions on how and where a forklift can be used.
• Ensure adequate licensing. Ensure everyone who operates this equipment meets all the designated requirements and has the appropriate licensing.

Fall Protection – Training Requirements

Your company can be found in violation of OSHA standards if you don’t have a fall protection training program in place. Falling off of scaffolding or a tall ladder is not the only fall risk in a workplace. Many workers are injured when falling into an excavation site or in other situations as well.

To avoid this violation:

• Understand the four different levels of fall protection training requirements: awareness, authorized-user, competent person, and qualified-person training
• Ensure that all employees go through authorized-user training to comply with OSHA standards and regulations
• Keep good records. Detailed training records, such as dates and employee attendance, are required in some OSHA mandates.

Machine Guarding

Machines that are not guarded correctly put workers in harm’s way. Employees could be injured by flying pieces, sparks, and moving parts when machines do not have a safety guard in place. Some examples of machines that require the use of safety guards include transmission shops, flywheels, belt tighteners, portable saws, and more.

To keep employees safe and avoid this type of violation:

• Use safety guards. Make sure every machine that needs a safety guard has a safety.
• Watch pinch points. Keep guards away from pinch points.
• Train your workers. Provide adequate machine guard training so your workers know how to use these devices properly.
• Stay on top of preventive maintenance. Keep your machine guards maintained, and ensure all employees understand the importance of replacing machine guards after their removal for maintenance.

Eye & Face Protection

When a job requires an employee to come in contact with chemical, environmental, or radiological hazards, eye and face protection must be provided. Workers must go through a workplace hazard assessment and undergo training to ensure their health and safety. The training should include details on when this equipment is necessary, what equipment to use when, and the proper care, maintenance and disposal of the equipment.

Neglecting to train employees about the appropriate use of eye and face protection could result in severe injuries, blindness, and even death. To avoid this common type of OSHA violation:

• Make sure there are emergency eyewash stations in all areas that are considered hazardous.
• Post first aid instructions and procedures in areas of the workplace that could potentially be dangerous.
• Conduct workplace training that covers the proper care and use of personal protection equipment.

Electrical – Wiring Methods

Electrical equipment and wiring systems that are improperly installed can create a dangerous workplace environment. Faulty wiring methods can lead to blown circuits, fires, and electrocution. OSHA lists the following as the most frequent causes of electrical injuries: “contact with power lines, lack of ground-fault protection, the path to ground missing or discontinuous, equipment not used in the manner prescribed, and improper use of extension and flexible cords.”

To avoid this type of violation:

• Train employees on how to spot potential hazards and familiarize employees with the proper use of extension cords.
• Provide guidelines for appropriate maintenance and storage of power tools.
• Regularly inspect heavy machinery to make sure there is no risk of it coming in contact with live wires.
• Provide ladders that are not made of metal for employees who work with power lines.

More Tips to Avoid OSHA Violations

Here are a few more general tips to help you avoid top OSHA violations:

Document Procedures

Make sure that everyone at your company is aware of OSHA standards and guidelines so they can better follow them. One of the most important things you can do to avoid potential OSHA violations is to create a plan to deal with these hazards, and to train your employees sufficiently. Keep safety plans and procedures well documented and accessible to employees.

OSHA also provides training materials and resources to help you stay compliant and to create procedures for your company.

Identify Hazards

Violations related to falls and fall hazards consistently top OSHA’s list. Workers need to be able to safely access all areas on a jobsite or in the workplace to complete tasks. Guardrails, safety harnesses, railings, secure scaffolding and not having open areas are all steps you should take to protect workers.

In order to minimize risks for everyone on your site, it’s important to complete a job safety analysis. Each job safety analysis should outline the hazards of the job being performed, as well as what steps will be taken to prevent injury to the people completing the task. Once documented, this information can be used in employee training and can help you to be OSHA compliant.

Provide Sufficient and Frequent Training

Make sure that everyone at your company is aware of OSHA standards so they can better follow them. This is one of the most crucial areas to focus on to avoid violations. A lack of employee training is more likely to lead to an accident.

Provide training for all employees on using equipment and general safety procedures. Also, make sure that your documentation and training materials are updated regularly.

Safety training shouldn’t be limited to employee on-boarding. It needs to be consistently discussed and emphasized. Hold safety trainings every few months to keep the information fresh in employees’ minds. Creating a culture of compliance and safety will help your company to avoid dangerous situations and costly delays.

Consider Using Mobile Forms

Complete site inspections, audits and compliance reports faster with mobile forms. Learn more

The post Top 10 OSHA Violations & How to Avoid Them in 2020 appeared first on Device Magic.

You’re not likely to receive prior notice of an OSHA inspection, so you need to be prepared for the possibility of an inspector dropping by your site. This should include providing regular training for your employees and conducting a job safety analysis to identify and address potential risks and hazards. Doing so will help you to avoid violations and expensive fines.

Follow these tips so you won’t be caught off guard for your next OSHA inspection.

1. Establish a Procedure

Have a procedure in place so that you’ll know what to do when an inspector shows up. Establish who will meet the inspector and show them around your site or facility. If you have designated safety staff or employee representatives, they might want to join the inspection. But it’s also not a good idea to have too many people involved. Keep the group to one or two, if possible.

Designate a meeting space for the opening and closing conference, such as a conference room or private office. Ask about the scope of the inspection when the inspector arrives and make sure that it will be possible to visit the necessary areas. During the walk through, take your own notes and photos so that you will have your own record of the inspection.

Also, be sure to check the inspector’s ID. It’s not unheard of for people to impersonate inspectors.

If you know what to do when an inspector arrives, it will help to alleviate some of the anxiety that can come along with a surprise OSHA inspection.

2. Have Records Accessible

The inspector is going to want to look at your records, so you should be able to easily plan accordingly. Having your documentation organized and readily available will only help you to put your best foot forward with the inspector, which can keep things moving along smoothly. It can be helpful to keep all safety information and illness or injury logs together to avoid needing to look in multiple places for what is requested, or worse, having the documents somewhere off-site.

The most important thing is to make sure you are keeping complete and accurate records. This is necessary not just for legal compliance, but for the well-being of everyone at your company. Try using a mobile forms solution or cloud storage database to keep things digital and searchable, which will save time and ensure that important paperwork is never lost.

3. Don’t Avoid Questions

It’s easy to worry about saying the wrong thing when doing a walk through with the inspector. But not answering the question, or deliberately withholding information will not play out in the long run. It’s better to answer as honestly as you can, and if you don’t know the answer to a question make an effort to find out.

This should extend to all other employees as well. No one should be instructed not to speak to the inspector. Cooperation is best. If you refuse, the inspector can get a subpoena, which will just make things worse.

4. Address Issues Quickly

If any citations are brought up during the inspection, take care of them as soon as possible, even immediately if you can. There is no need to wait until receiving an official citation. It’s all about keeping everyone safe on the job and work moving forward, so be proactive and don’t hesitate to fix a problem once you know it’s there. You should also ask questions of the inspector so you can better understand what’s required for abatement.

5. Provide Training

Keeping up with safety training and procedures should be an ongoing process, not just something that is done in order to meet compliance standards or in case of an OSHA inspection. Provide training for all employees and update safety materials regularly. Creating a culture of compliance and safety will help your company to avoid dangerous situations and costly delays.

Keep all of your paperwork updated and in reach with mobile forms. Get started today and test field data collection with mobile devices and apps.

The post 5 Tips for How to Pass an OSHA Inspection appeared first on Device Magic.