In today’s fast-paced industrial environment, safety is not just a compliance requirement—it’s a strategic imperative. As a Process Safety Specialist and PMP-certified professional, I set out to bridge the gap between modern mobile technology and workplace safety management through the development of SafetrakX, a comprehensive safety application.
SafetrakX is designed to integrate multiple safety modules into a single, user-friendly platform, including:
- Field Level Hazard Assessment (FLHA)
- Lone Worker Monitoring
- Inspections
- Safety AI for PPE Detection
- Permit to Work Management
- Event and Drill Tracking
While the technical aspects of app development were crucial, it was the application of core project management principles that guided the project from concept to execution.
1. Initiating: Defining the Vision and Stakeholder Engagement
The project began with a clear project charter outlining the vision:
“Create an all-in-one safety application that enhances hazard awareness, streamlines safety workflows, and supports real-time decision-making.”
Key stakeholders included plant safety officers, frontline workers, IT developers, and management. Early engagement ensured the project scope was aligned with operational needs and compliance requirements such as Alberta OHS regulations.
2. Planning: From Scope to Schedule
Using PMI’s Planning Process Group, I developed:
- Work Breakdown Structure (WBS): Each SafetrakX module was treated as a subproject with its own deliverables.
- Schedule Management Plan: Leveraging Agile sprints, we prioritized high-impact modules like FLHA and Lone Worker for early development.
- Risk Register: Addressed potential challenges such as app adoption rates, integration with existing systems, and data privacy concerns.
This phase also included defining KPIs—such as hazard report completion rates and average response time to lone worker alerts—to measure success post-launch.
3. Executing: Agile Delivery with Continuous Feedback
We adopted an Agile hybrid approach:
- Two-week sprints with defined user stories for each module.
- Regular stakeholder demos to validate functionality and usability.
- Early user testing for the FLHA module, incorporating feedback to streamline hazard selection and control measure recording.
This iterative process allowed for early detection of design flaws and kept the development aligned with user expectations.
4. Monitoring and Controlling: Ensuring Quality and Scope Integrity
Project monitoring tools included:
- Jira boards for tracking sprint progress.
- Burndown charts for visualizing task completion.
- Quality assurance testing before closing each sprint to ensure that features met both functional and safety requirements.
Change requests were managed through a formal Change Control Board (CCB) to prevent scope creep while accommodating critical safety feature enhancements.
5. Closing: Deliverables and Lessons Learned
As modules reached completion, each was closed out with:
- Documentation of design, testing, and training materials.
- End-user training sessions to facilitate adoption.
- Lessons learned workshops, identifying what worked well (e.g., early stakeholder involvement) and areas for improvement (e.g., backend scalability).
These lessons are now informing the next development phase, which will expand AI capabilities for real-time PPE compliance detection.
Reflection: The Value of Project Management in Innovation
The SafetrakX journey reinforced my belief that structured project management is not just for large-scale infrastructure projects—it is equally critical in technology innovation. By applying the PMBOK® Guide principles, we:
- Delivered functional safety modules on schedule.
- Managed risks proactively.
- Maintained stakeholder trust through transparent communication.
As I work toward renewing my PMP credential, this project serves as a prime example of how project management methodology transforms vision into reality—delivering not just an application, but a safer and more efficient workplace.
