Cramlington-based Compass Developments is set to invest in an advanced app-based system to modernise its health, safety, and quality procedures across the business. The move is designed to create a paperless system, reduce administrative bottlenecks, and transform the safety culture.

The construction firm, which provides turnkey solutions across all business sectors, is rolling out the bespoke digital management platform following a consultation with North Shields-based Carney Consultancy.

Carney Consultancy recommended the system to help Compass move away from traditional paper or PDF-based forms, which had become difficult to manage as projects grew "larger and more complex".

Martin Crammond, Technical Director at Carney Consultancy, said: “In our external support role, we recommended the adoption of the Safety Culture management system as we were aware of the movement towards paperless activities, seamless document management and control. We designed a bespoke system and the core forms that Compass use.”

The platform allows instant access to essential documents, such as site inductions, risk assessments, and daily checklists, on any device. It automatically generates geo-tagged and time-stamped records, streamlining evidence for audits and compliance with ISO and HSE requirements.

Chris Morris, Company Secretary at Compass Developments, said: “Our integrated management system developed in partnership with Carney, gives us exceptionally strong ISO aligned procedures across quality, environment and health and safety. Following our discussions with Martin, we’re now trialling the system on our Woodhorn Museum project.”

He added: “The site provides an ideal case study given its complex, heritage-focused nature and live operational environment, making it a strong test for real-time safety reporting. Key risks such as scaffolding and protection of historic fabric make reliable data capture essential, while the site’s remote location underscores the need for effective mobile and offline functionality.”

The platform offers enhanced data for leadership via dashboards, allowing teams to monitor trends like inspection numbers and recurring issues, and is intended to drive a more proactive safety culture by converting internal "Speak Up for Safety" reports into instant digital reports.