Mobile app for risk search and identification. Where to start with no budget

Safety Digitalization: From Idea to Implementation

The implementation of digital tools in the HSE system is becoming a natural stage in the development of safety culture at modern enterprises. Nikita Vildt, HSE Director at AKKERMANN CEMENT, shares practical experience in creating a mobile app for risk search and identification. The presentation details the development process of the "AKKERMANN Without Danger" tool on a limited budget.

How the "AKKERMANN Without Danger" App Works

The app's concept is built on maximum simplicity and intuitiveness. It does not require complex registration and does not overload employees' smartphones. The key feature is the "Report a Risk" button, allowing users to quickly record an unsafe act or condition.

• Risk Recording: The user selects a hazard category, specifies the area, attaches a photo or video, and adds a text or voice comment. This simplifies the reporting process even in the field.
• Geotagging and Stop Work Authority: The app allows attaching a geotag and using the stop work function in case of critical danger, which requires an immediate response.
• Admin Panel: Line managers receive notifications about new risks, assign responsible persons, and set deadlines for elimination. This ensures transparency and control over the implementation of corrective actions.

Employee Motivation and Engagement

One of the main challenges during the app's implementation was overcoming the resistance of employees who considered risk identification solely the task of the HSE department. The speaker demonstrates by example how the gamification effect helped engage the staff.

• "Tops" System: For each identified risk, workers are awarded points ("tops"), which can be exchanged for branded products or services (e.g., a trip to the sauna). This creates a material incentive for active participation.
• Non-material Rewards: For line managers, whose direct responsibility is risk identification, rewards are provided in the form of "best hunter" titles and participation in corporate events.
• Fast Feedback: Employees receive push notifications when a risk is accepted for processing, a responsible person is assigned, and the problem is resolved. This shows that their efforts are not in vain and genuinely impact safety.

Scheduled "Risk Hunts" and Alternative Solutions

In addition to the workers' own initiatives, the company introduced scheduled "risk hunts." A trained methodologist conducts a site walk with a group of employees (up to 5 people), teaching them to identify hazards and use the app. This is not an inspection, but practical on-the-job training.

For enterprises where implementing an app is not yet possible (e.g., due to a lack of smartphones among some staff or budget constraints), the speaker suggests using accessible messengers. At one of the company's plants, a Telegram chatbot successfully operates, performing similar functions for collecting risk information.

What you will learn from this webinar:

• How to develop technical specifications for a risk identification mobile app?
• What features should the app have for maximum user convenience?
• How to build a motivation system (material and non-material) for employee engagement?
• How to organize scheduled "risk hunts" and train personnel?
• How to use messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) as a budget-friendly alternative to a mobile app?