Effective Use of Mobile Apps & Technology in Winter

November 23, 2024|Industrial Hygiene in the Workplace, PPE, Technology

By: Gen Handley, Contributor

Winter conditions change how we work. If not, they should—or, at the very least, impact how managers and workers prepare for and adjust to the changing temperatures and weather.

This impact is felt everywhere in the workplace: from the employees’ mental and physical health to the equipment, machinery and any tools they use in these conditions. These also should include mobile apps that provide a wide range of important functions and purposes, including weather and navigation.

Safety apps serve an important purpose in occupational health and safety, providing specific protections to workers in areas such as incident reporting and tracking, journey management, lone worker safety, mass emergency notifications, temperature/weather/heat index monitors and first aid.

There are mobile apps that workers use daily and have become reliant upon for communication and information needed for their jobs in the winter. To reduce the risk of winter conditions impacting use of essential mobile apps, both employers and employees can take several steps now that will prevent any significant issues later.

Winter conditions should change how managers and workers prepare for and adjust to the changing temperatures and weather. © pvl0707 – stock.adobe.com

Proper Training and Onboarding

One of the most effective ways to communicate important skills and knowledge to workers is through safety training and onboarding. Even though most apps are quite user-friendly, these apps can be challenging to use in cold conditions, particularly with applications for journey management, lone worker safety and mass emergency notifications.

Any app-specific training or onboarding provided by the employer ahead of time can proactively address these challenges. In some cases, the app’s usage is a specific safety protocol that is part of a great safety program and reflects the company’s overall safety and wellness culture—this is why it is important workers are properly trained on how to use the app, regardless of how simple it may be.

Adequate Charging Stations & Outlets

This may be obvious; however, workers need outlets and places to charge their phones and devices, so they can access their apps and maintain communication during the winter. It is particularly important during the colder months, when subzero and extreme cold temperatures have been found to seriously impact the battery health of smartphones.

Employers need to provide strategically placed or installed charging outlets and stations for employees, which must be assessed and planned ahead of usage or training. Back-up or solar charging stations and docks are a good idea for cold weather phone safety, as well.

In cold weather, it can be difficult to use a touchscreen when performing work of any kind. In addition to PPE required for work in these conditions, proper handwear might be needed to use smartphones and other devices. © romaset – stock.adobe.com

Identify People Working Alone

When working in cold, frigid conditions, the worker’s safety is even more at risk when performing this work alone. People who work alone face the danger of being unable to request emergency help if needed. This includes being harassed by a member of the public; having fallen and hit their head; are unconscious—or any situation in which they cannot call for help themselves. Employers must identify the employees who are considered lone workers and require special safety measures, such lone worker mobile apps.

Proper PPE and Handwear

In windy, wet, cold weather, it can be difficult to use a touchscreen when performing work of any kind. In addition to the PPE required for work in these conditions, proper handwear might be needed to use smartphones and other devices with apps. There are many different options for touchscreen winter gloves and touchscreen waterproof cases that can be used on the job. These are highly effective in wet conditions.

Partnering with Other Devices

What is important about safety apps is that they can be used on current, existing devices and don’t require employers to purchase new devices, resulting in significant savings. Additionally, they can easily be partnered and used with complementary technologies, like GPS and satellite communication devices to significantly help improve communication and safety; these GPS devices are also more reliable under harsh and extreme conditions.

By integrating a smartphone with a satellite device, not only can the employer monitor the employee anywhere in the world; more importantly, the worker can request emergency help no matter where they are working.

Seek Simplicity

Whether working in extreme weather or not, people want tools that are simple to use and that do not interrupt their workday or schedule. This includes the work safety apps that workers have come to rely on, including journey management, emergency notifications and communication, lone worker safety, as well as weather and temperature monitoring.

As part of your safety program, incorporate a minimal number of safety apps, using those that do not require many steps from the employees—or require a lot of training to learn.

In addition to simplicity and thorough training of these apps, employers can also provide enough charging outlets or stations; any needed handwear; or integrate with a satellite device to make sure their employees continue to use important mobile apps during the cold winter workdays and nights. IHW