Longview Bridge and Road

Jeremy Sanford is the Safety Director for Longview Bridge and Road, where he leads safety, compliance, training, and risk management initiatives across heavy highway and bridge construction operations. He is known for implementing technology-driven safety solutions that improve accountability, efficiency, and workplace safety. He is also the Founder and President of Called Out Christian, a nonprofit organization dedicated to prison ministry, homeless outreach, nursing home ministry, and evangelism. He is a speaker, minister, and advocate for servant leadership. Jeremy has been married to his wife, Shanie, for over a decade and is the proud father of four children. He lives in East Texas and is passionate about faith, family, leadership and serving others.

When Time Matters in Electrical Hazard Response

In construction, safety often comes down to what happens before the work begins. Before the first truck moves, before the first piece of equipment starts, and before crews’ step into an active work zone, someone has to slow down long enough to ask a simple question: is this equipment ready, and is this area safe?

That question is what led us at Longview Bridge and Road to begin using a QR code-based equipment inspection system. The idea was not to create a complicated program or add another layer of paperwork. The goal was to make inspections easier to complete, easier to track, and easier to act on in real time.

In heavy highway and bridge construction, equipment is constantly moving between jobsites. Crews are working around traffic, overhead power lines, underground utilities, cranes, dump trucks, rollers, loaders, concrete equipment, and changing site conditions. A paper inspection form can document a problem, but it may sit in a truck, a binder, or an equipment book before the right person sees it. When a safety concern involves brakes, lights, backup alarms, leaks, damaged cords, battery issues, or electrical hazards, time matters.

Digital Inspection and Electrical Hazard Awareness

With the QR code system, each piece of equipment can be assigned a scannable code. The operator scans the code with a phone or tablet and completes a digital inspection before operation. That inspection can capture the unit number, jobsite, operator name, condition of the equipment, and any repair or safety concerns. Once submitted, the information can be viewed quickly by the safety department, supervisors, and shop personnel.

A well-designed inspection does more than ask whether the machine starts; it reminds the employee to look up, look around, and think before moving.

The biggest benefit is not the technology itself. The benefit is communication. A small issue in the field can become visible to the people who need to know about it. If an operator identifies a damaged cord, a lighting problem, a leak, a warning light, or a safety device that is not working properly, the concern does not have to wait until the end of the day. It can be documented immediately and placed into a repair or follow-up process.

This kind of system also helps reinforce accountability. When inspections are simple and accessible, employees are more likely to complete them. When records are organized in one place, supervisors can better confirm that inspections are being done. When deficiencies are visible, the company can track whether corrective action has been taken.

For electrical hazard mitigation, digital inspections create an opportunity to place safety reminders directly into the inspection process. Operators can be prompted to look for overhead power lines, damaged extension cords, exposed wiring, battery concerns, improper charging areas, and other hazards before work begins. In the field, awareness is one of the most important safety tools we have. A well-designed inspection does more than ask whether the machine starts; it reminds the employee to look up, look around, and think before moving.

Simple Tools, Stronger Communication, Safer Outcomes

The same concept applies in shops, yards, and maintenance areas. Electrical panels need clear access. Battery charging areas must be controlled. Lockout/tagout procedures must be followed during service work. Fire extinguishers, eyewash stations, first-aid supplies, and spill kits must be inspected and maintained. A digital inspection process can help bring those checks into a consistent routine instead of relying only on memory or paper records.

For companies considering a similar approach, the lesson is simple: do not start with the software. Start with the hazard. Ask what problems need to be seen sooner, what information needs to reach the shop faster, and what questions employees should answer before operating equipment. The technology should support the safety process, not replace it.

At Longview Bridge and Road, our QR code inspection system has helped us strengthen communication between the field, the shop, and the safety department. It has also given us a practical way to promote pre-operation awareness, improve documentation, and respond more quickly to equipment concerns.

Construction will always involve risk. But when companies use simple tools to improve communication, accountability, and hazard recognition, they give their employees a better chance to identify problems before those problems become incidents. In the end, that is what safety leadership is about: seeing the hazard early, taking action quickly, and making sure every employee has what they need to go home safe.