DSS250: The Use of QR Codes in Industrial Applications and Safety with Bill Laturnus

In today’s episode of the Dust Safety Science podcast, we’re talking to Bill Laturnus, Senior Safety Advisor of manufacturing at BC Forest Safety Council, about the use of QR codes in industrial applications and safety.

Bill talked about how his team uses QR codes that people could scan to access resources from the BC Forest Safety Council about combustible dust. He said he got the idea from a website that was using QR codes in innovative ways for safety and information purposes.

Where Did the Idea for QR Codes Come From?

“The first exposure I had to the use of QR codes in industry was actually at the Canfor Wynnwood sawmill in Creston, BC, back in 2019,” Bill recalled. “I noticed that wherever they were either storing or using controlled products, they would put up a QR code for that controlled product so that workers had immediate access to the SDS that’s supplied by a third party.”

At that time, he thought that the use of QR codes was innovative and interesting to observe. Soon after, due to Covid, many businesses, particularly restaurants, began using QR codes for various purposes, like displaying menus. This led to the realization that QR codes were an effective tool for providing easy access to information.

How is the BC Forest Safety Council Using QR Codes?

The BC Forest Safety Council has two weekly subscription items: crew talks and safety alerts. QR codes are added when relevant, not only for subscribing to this information but also for accessing various safety alerts with attached videos. A QR code is also included for crew talks on specific topics. This allows someone using the crew talk to post it on their safety board afterward, so workers can access more information on that topic.

“We had a bit of an evolution in the use of QR codes after the crew talks and safety alerts,” Bill said. “The next item that we put together is what we call our communication card. It’s a regular letter-sized document that has two sides to it. The first side is all about the access to the relevant courses or free information we have on our website for sawmills. And then on the opposite side is the free information that WPAC hosts on their website. And so what we do is we give companies the ability to post that card in their workplace. Workers can have easy access to the free information just by scanning the QR code for the topic. Each side has about a dozen or so topics on it.”

This approach allows for direct sharing of information at the workplace, particularly with workers. To further utilize QR codes, an idea was developed to incorporate them into business cards. Three different types of business cards were created, each with a QR code linking to specific online resources. One card is for sawmill resources, another for the pellet industry (including contact information for the executive director and the card issuer), and a third, more generic card for broader access to free resources. These cards are frequently distributed, especially to workers and operational staff, who appreciate the easy access to free resources through a simple scan of the QR code.

How Else Will QR Codes Be Used?

The BC Forest Safety Council wants to ensure that everyone who needs its resources can access them easily. It is considering using QR codes in various ways, such as including them in email signatures. This would allow people to scan the QR code from their monitor to access information, courses, or free resources. The goal is to simplify the process, eliminating the need to type in URLs.

There are also plans to attach hyperlinks to the QR codes. This means that if someone is using a computer, they can simply click the link instead of scanning the code, providing direct access to the resources. The Council believes that this method will become a standard practice for promoting their resources.

Are There Other Ways That QR Codes Are Being Used in Industry?

According to Bill, a sawmill in BC, known for its technological savviness and strong IT department, has implemented measures to make tasks easier for its workers. They use QR codes for accessing safe work or lockout procedures directly at the machine centers. Workers can scan a QR code on a forklift, for example, to bring up a pre-use inspection form on their phone and submit it. If there are issues, the form is automatically sent to the mechanic for repairs. While not all companies have adopted this approach, this particular sawmill has overcome common concerns.

Other companies, across various industries, are hesitant to allow employees to use their phones during work due to concerns about distractions, time theft, and cybersecurity risks. However, the tech-savvy sawmill has managed these issues effectively. They rarely need to reprimand employees for misusing phones, and they consider the use of QR codes beneficial for their operations.

To ensure safety and security, the sawmill operates a separate Wi-Fi server for employees, distinct from their main server, to prevent hacking. For workers who prefer not to use their phones, the company provides tablets placed strategically around the mill. These tablets can be used to scan QR codes and assist with tasks like lockouts at machine centers. The company believes that concerns about phone usage and security risks can be addressed with these simple solutions.

Conclusion

British Columbia has proposed regulations governing combustible dust that are quite detailed and complex. In order to assist those who are unfamiliar with these regulations, such as regulatory officers visiting operations, a QR code could be included on the back of their business cards. This QR code would link to information about the new combustible dust regulations. The idea is to extend the use of QR codes beyond just the industry and the BC Forest Safety Council. Because business cards are inexpensive and efficient, with $35 for 500 cards, it is a cost-effective method for distributing information.

If you would like to discuss further, leave your thoughts in the comments section below. You can also reach Bill Laturnus directly:

Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.bcforestsafe.org/

If you have questions about the contents of this or any other podcast episode, you can go to our ‘Questions from the Community’ page and submit a text message or video recording. We will then bring someone on to answer these questions in a future episode.