How The BirdDog Life Safety Inspection System Helps Reduce Field Inspector Turnover

Managers of field inspectors know it’s more cost-effective to retain existing staff members than hire new ones – which is why it’s so important to utilize life safety inspection software that can help reduce field inspector turnover. The BirdDog Life Safety Inspection System offers more than a superior inspection system and great inspection reports. It’s also a life safety inspection system with features that can help life safety contractors and in-house facility management departments retain field inspectors.

Universal Factors That Affect Field Inspector Turnover

Here’s a look at universal factors that can cause a life safety inspector to leave a fire safety contractor or facility management department.

An Expanded Range of Job Opportunities: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that jobs for fire life safety inspectors will increase by 8% through 2029. This is a higher statistic than many other industries, and it means that fire inspectors will likely face an expanded range of job opportunities in the next decade. (Source: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/fire-inspectors-and-investigators.htm)

Salary Competition: The U.S. BLS also reports that manufacturing industries pay the highest salaries to fire life safety inspectors, while state governments pay the least. Mid-range salaries for fire life safety inspectors were found in local government and at colleges, universities & professional schools. Fire life safety inspectors receiving the low end of the salary range may leave an organization for higher pay with a new employer. U.S. BLS statistics also show that fire life safety inspectors make more money doing their jobs in urban areas vs. suburban or rural areas. (Source: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/fire-inspectors-and-investigators.htm#tab-5)

Frustration with Technology & Knowledge Requirements: According to O-net Online, fire life safety inspectors need to have a variety of technology skills, as well as a knowledge of fire suppression equipment, building & construction materials & methods, knowledge of fire codes, and more. All these knowledge requirements can add up to information overload. (Source: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/33-2021.00?redir=33-2021.01)

Company Culture Issues: A review of fire life safety inspector reviews of their employers on Indeed.com, the leading hiring website, shows the following universal complaints from field inspectors:

• Lack of support for field inspectors from management
• Lack of training
• Technology overload from complicated technology tools
• Disorganized & stressful place to work
• Heavy workload leading to uncompensated overtime
• Unrealistic estimates for completion of work by management

Between job offers elsewhere with higher salaries and challenging work conditions, it’s no surprise that a fire safety contractor or facility management department could easily lose a valuable life safety inspector to “greener pastures.”

This is where the power, functionality & ease of use of the BirdDog Life Safety Inspection System can help contractors & facility management departments retain valuable field inspectors.

How Does The BirdDog Life Safety Inspection System Help Reduce Field Tech Turnover?

The BirdDog Life Safety Inspection System offers a variety of features & functions that can help retain field techs.

Easy To Learn, Easy To Use: The BirdDog inspection system is both easy to learn and easy to use – with questions & prompts that help lead an inspector through an inspection process regardless of their years of experience. Given the many areas of knowledge that field inspectors need to master, BirdDog’s ease of use lessens their stress and information overload. Net net: If field techs can use a smartphone, they can use the BirdDog Life Safety Inspection System.

• The Problem BirdDog Solves: Field tech complaints about technology overload & complicated technology that’s hard to use.

Effective Training & Follow-up: When a fire safety contractor or an in-house facility department chooses the BirdDog Life Safety Inspection System, their employees are provided with thoughtful, thorough training by a friendly, U.S.-based trainer. In addition, Asurio offers a unique Customer Success Program in which Asurio representatives check in with customers periodically to see if they have questions on how to use features & functions within the BirdDog inspection system.

• The Problem BirdDog Solves: Field tech complaints about lack of training.

Embedded Code References: The BirdDog inspection system is one of the few inspection software offerings on the market today which has embedded NFPA code references right in the inspection form. Whether an inspector has decades of experience or is new to the job, embedded code references help field techs meet code standards without having to memorize them.

For example, a lot of paper inspection forms have open-ended questions such as: Is the valve OK? This does not help the field inspector know what they’re looking for in terms of a deficiency. With the BirdDog Life Safety Inspection System, field techs are provided with clear questions such as: Is the sprinkler head free of paint, corrosion, or leaking? As a result, BirdDog literally helps train field inspectors, and help them gain more knowledge about NFPA codes.

In addition, the fact that BirdDog has specific NFPA code references built into the inspection form means that field inspectors can easily defend their judgment that a deficiency exists…both to their own management, and to the property owner. They simply cite the NFPA code that’s embedded right into the inspection form and resulting inspection report.

• The Problems BirdDog Solves: Field tech complaints about lack of training, and Field tech complaints about a lack of support from management.

Automatic Data Population: Once a facility has been inspected the first time using the BirdDog inspection system, the information about devices and their locations within the facility is stored for future inspections. Handy functions like these make the inspections process more efficient, and allow field techs to finish their jobs in a more timely manner.

• The Problem BirdDog Solves: Field tech complaints about overtime work and/or uncompensated overtime work.

Efficient Deficiency Management: The BirdDog inspection system’s Deficiency Management Module has many unique information fields where field techs can list the deficiency found in the inspection, list the number of people required for the repairs, and special equipment that will be needed to complete the job (such as a ladder of specific height, special tools that will be needed, etc.) The ability to report on and repair deficiencies efficiently eases stress and saves time.

• The Problem BirdDog Solves: Field tech complaints about overtime work and/or uncompensated overtime work.

Fast, Easy Report Generation: With the BirdDog inspection system, it’s fast and easy to conduct an inspection, and then generate and email an inspection report while still in the field. This handy function eases stress for field techs, especially when an owner or fire marshal is demanding to see an inspection report ASAP.

• The Problem BirdDog Solves: Field tech complaints about overtime and/or uncompensated overtime.

Capability of Logging How Long It Takes To Complete Inspections of Specific Facilities: The BirdDog inspection system has the capability of recording how long it takes to inspect a specific facility. This gives management accurate data on how much time to allot for each inspection. Thus, management’s estimates of how long an inspection will take are based on factual data rather than guesswork.

• The Problem BirdDog Solves: Field tech complaints about unrealistic estimates for completion of work by management.

Efficient Inspection Administration: With the BirdDog Inspection System, the system records answers to questions with drop-down menus with pre-populated answers. The system also allows field inspectors to shoot and attach pictures to the inspection document. Deficiencies also can be indicated and then organized along with lists of equipment & manpower that would be needed to complete specific repairs. With BirdDog, techs don’t have to spend extra time straightening out the inspection field paperwork before they submit the inspection report to the office. As a result, BirdDog reduces the administrative & paperwork burdens on field inspectors.

• The Problem BirdDog Solves: Field tech complaints about overtime and/or uncompensated overtime.

There are many more features & functions within the BirdDog Life Safety Inspection System that make a field inspector’s work life easier & more efficient, less stressful, and minimize many universal complaints voiced by fire safety field inspectors. This can help reduce field tech turnover – which benefits everyone in the long run.

Interested in taking the BirdDog Life Safety Inspection System for a test drive? CONTACT ASURIO for a demo today!