John de Rooij
Product Owner
As an ‘old hand’ in the business, I regularly give demonstrations of our Centix Online software. The QR code sticker comes up early in the discussion. After all, this sticker offers many advantages: users can quickly retrieve information about the work equipment, such as the inspection status or the corresponding certificate.
A common response from customers is: ‘Oh, great! Then we won’t need to stick any more inspection stickers.’ Usually, slight disappointment follows when I advise them to continue using an inspection sticker anyway. In this article, I explain why.
Requirements for working safely
To work safely and achieve good results, a number of basic principles apply to the use of work equipment:
- Inspection and maintenance
- Correct procedure and use
- Use of personal protective equipment
- Safety during use
- Clean-up and storage
In the case of the first point – inspection and maintenance – the inspection sticker plays an important role.
The role of the inspection sticker
Every craftsman should first visually inspect the work equipment they use. Take a drill hammer, for example: the quickest way to check whether it has been inspected is simply to see if it has an inspection sticker. This is quicker and less distracting than taking your smartphone out of your work trousers every time.
Of course, the work equipment itself should also be assessed. After all, it may have been damaged since the last inspection – for instance, a cord that got caught or a piece of equipment that has been exposed to water.
When you do use the QR code
Are you using the work equipment for the first time, in a different way than usual, or do you have doubts about its condition? Then the QR code sticker offers a solution. Scan it to get immediate access to, among other things:
- Inspection reports
- Manuals
- Instructional videos
Because the QR code sticker lasts for the entire lifespan of the work equipment, it is of high quality. The inspection sticker, on the other hand, only needs to last for one inspection cycle and is therefore simpler in design.
Inspection stickers: not mandatory, but convenient!
Although it is not a legal requirement to place an inspection sticker, in practice, it is often the most efficient solution. The sticker immediately shows whether something has been inspected and until when that inspection is valid.
Many legal inspections require written proof that the inspection was carried out by an expert. That proof is the inspection report, which can be easily accessed via the QR code on the work equipment. In practice, this often only occurs during inspections by a safety expert or auditor. However, for the professional on the work floor, a visible inspection sticker remains the quickest tool.
Discover what Centix can do for your organisation
Not a Centix customer yet? I would be happy to guide you through the possibilities Centix has to offer in a product demonstration. Depending on your requirements, I will brief you in half an hour to an hour and a half to give you a clear picture of our software solution!
