Leveraging the capabilities of Power Platform to build a bespoke HAVS Power App

In the UK, employers have a responsibility to safeguard their employees from health and safety risks related to hand-arm vibrations (HAVS). The UK Vibration Regulations of 2005 mandate regular HAVS assessments to proactively prevent the occurrence of HAVS and other long-term health concerns among employees.

The Challenge

Our client faced challenges keeping track of employee HAVS exposure:

Inefficient Process: The process involved manual data entry into Excel and the use of an external HAVS calculator for daily usage analysis. This manual approach was time-consuming and prone to error.
No Approval Workflow: Supervisors were burdened with the responsibility of reviewing HAVS ratings on a weekly basis. Without a streamlined approval workflow, this process lacked efficiency and accountability.
Lack of Transparency: Employees did not have readily accessible HAVS scores. Instead, supervisors communicated these scores at the beginning of each week, which could often lead to confusion and hinder proactive measures.
Decoupled Actions: The Action Register was separate from the HAVS records, making it challenging to identify trends related to problematic tools.

The Solution

Utilising Microsoft Power Apps, Power Automate, SharePoint, and Power BI, Accord designed and developed a user-friendly Power App which integrates into our clients SharePoint environment. This versatile solution is easily portable and can be packaged and published into any 365 tenant. Here’s how it works:

Leveraging the capabilities of Power Platform to build a bespoke HAVS Power App

1. HAVS Mobile App:

The Power App allows an employee to log how much time they have spent using each tool.
Users can select from a catalogue of Company-owned tools or enter the details of any ad-hoc tool.
The app will calculate an employee’s HAVS score and maintain daily totals so the employee can ensure they keep within the lower HAVS threshold of 100.
The app will alert users when HAVS thresholds have been exceeded.
The system will notify employees every Friday if they have any outstanding submissions.

2. Supervisor Desktop App:

The Desktop App allows Supervisors to View submitted HAVS entries from employees.
The app will raise flags against particular HAVS entries, prompting investigation and analysis.
Actions will be raised against a master list for resolution.

3. HSEQ Power BI Report:

The report will highlight high-risk tools that are routinely producing high HAVs scores
It will analyse which employees carry the greatest risk from recurring high scores.
Trends can be spotted in the workforce’s health and safety standards

The Results

Streamlined Process: Streamlining our clients HAVS reporting process reducing administrative overhead and error.

Enhanced Efficiency: Employees now experience a smoother journey, resulting in quicker alerts on HAVS compliance.

Real-Time Dashboards: Live Power BI reports provide a holistic view on the workforce’s Health and Safety.

Highly Accessible: Functions seamlessly on all devices (Desktop / Tablet / Mobile) and can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection.

Conclusion

The HAVS Power App beautifully demonstrates Accord’s expertise in leveraging the Power Platform to create tailored solutions aligned with a company’s unique practices. Through close collaboration with our client, we’ve crafted an innovative solution that not only streamlines workflows but also enhances the user experience.