What is the Engineering Quality Certificate?

Ontrack is pleased to announce the development of the Engineering Quality Certificate.

Reflecting the system configurations required, the EQC is a certificate issued by a contractor using the Ontrack system which provides documentary evidence of the works which have been completed.

It contains job data, photos and other evidence which certify that excavation and repair works have been completed in a high quality and compliant way.

The data in the EQC comes from operatives using the workflow features in Ontrack to complete their tasks in a pre-defined way, recording critical data and photographic evidence as they work.

Why did Ontrack create the EQC?

Following the successful launch of the award winning RQC last year, Ontrack have now extended the family of reports to include the Excavation work being delivered via the system.

The EQC retains and builds upon the desire embodied within the RQC to create an innovative solution which would support delivery of all sizes of utility contracts by providing evidence that excavation and engineering works had been completed to the required standard.

As Ontrack was already capturing the data and has extensive compliance functionality both in the main works management software and its companion app, the EQC was able to be developed and rolled out in record time.

What features in Ontrack support the EQC?

Ontrack has rich functionality specifically designed for contractors to use when completing utility and other street works. The Ontrack functions which provide the evidence for the EQC are:

  • Operative Workflow
  • Compliance Prompts
  • Task Questions
  • Tagging

Site operatives use the mobile app (iOS or Android) to record their tasks, thereby providing data which drives the EQC. The workflow is configured for each client meaning that your certificate reflects the way you work.

What are the benefits?

Utilities and other Statutory Undertakers have historically struggled to demonstrate that their works are done compliantly. They have also had issues with identifying retention at the end of contract periods with their contractors.

If a certificate can be created that meets the requirements of Section 71 of the New Road and Street Works Act (NRSWA) it will help solve industry wide issues and provide reassurance for both utility, highways agency and the contractors that works are compliant.

The EQC will evidence the excavation and engineering aspects of street works. It will include site safety, excavation compliance (SRoH) and Engineering Quality Assurance and can be used on all contracts by contractors using Ontrack as their works management system.

Produced in conjunction with its sister report the RQC, the EQC can provide complete peace of mind across the full spectrum of works delivered.

How can I use the EQC in my business?

The EQC can evidence compliance internally, to your utility client and to the Highway Authorities. It can be provided to utilities in water, electric, gas and telecoms and provides them with the assurance that their asset is being correctly maintained.

Being able to demonstrate compliance in a robust and evidential manner can reduce intrusive testing by HA’s and their partners. This reduces cost, disruption, and the carbon footprint of street works.

Certificates can be provided for individual jobs or a sample of jobs. The contents of the EQC can be varied between utility clients and are bespoke for each contractor.

Significant benefits have been experienced by those using the EQC. Since its introduction it has resulted in joint agreements for the reduction and stopping of core and air void testing for one major contractor. A reduction in visual defects has also been experienced.

Please let me know if you would like more information about how Ontrack and the EQC could help your business on sales@ontrackms.com 

Phil Harris, Business Development Manager, Ontrack

Who gives the OK for new releases?

When our developers complete a new Ontrack product feature it goes through an intense testing programme, carried out by our Quality Assurance testers.

Our testers are involved in the quality assurance stage of all software development and deployment. If issues are found, they are reported back to the developers to carry out further works to improve the product.

Once rectified, the testers will do another test to guarantee the product runs smoothly.

Once we are confident with the quality of our product and features, we then release them to our customers.

For more information on the Ontrack family of applications, book a demo today.

Are you at significant risk of an HA prosecution?

In March 2015, Level 5 Health and Safety offences were uncapped, meaning the potential fine is now limitless. Utilities companies didn’t really see the true impact of this until 2018 where multiple prosecutions took place ranging from £90,000 up to £385,000 for a few failures.

Mainly these prosecutions were a result of non-compliance with the Safety at Street Works and Road Works CoP (Red Book). A common difficulty in the industry is trying to deal with thousands of open excavations across a large network without any control. This volume of reactive work coupled with difficulties in full supervision results in an incredible potential risk of prosecution.

Ontrack gives you the capability to monitor jobs in real time, understand what field operatives are doing and even view images/videos wherever you are. The compliance functionality within Ontrack is superb and brings a whole new level of control into your business.

Not only can the Ontrack app essentially walk you through a job, but it can then give the operative reminders as they are working, with the loop being closed at the end of the job with the retrospective compliance function. If you want minimise risk and take back control of compliance, then Ontrack is the system for you!

If you need more information or would like a demo of Ontrack then please make contact with our team.

What is the Reinstatement Quality Certificate?

Ontrack was originally developed as a mission critical business tool to capture high resolution imagery and critical works data, and also coach operatives in best practice via configured prompts and questions.

The system itself promotes safety, efficiency and achievement of high quality work within and exacting compliance environment, delivering high levels of customer satisfaction and significant cost savings.

It also means that companies can audit work done, while retaining evidence for future scrutiny if challenges occur in the shape of claims, defects or charges. It is this core functionality which enabled the Ontrack team to create the integral ‘Reinstatement Quality Certificate.’

How does the Reinstatement Quality Certificate work?

A team can easily capture and upload data and imagery, in real time, as work progresses. This typically includes grab teams, white work teams and black work teams. 

As the job is completed within the system, Ontrack automates a Reinstatement Quality Certificate using a combination of pre-set data, such as material and equipment specification, combined with the images and information submitted by the teams.

A certificate is then available on each of the 100 jobs reinstated a day, with further development plans likely to enable the production of a list of sample jobs at the click of a button.

Why use the Reinstatement Quality Certificate?

Use of the Ontrack Reinstatement Quality Certificate creates greater value for all stakeholders, by reducing the cost and inconvenience of unnecessary site visits whilst positively impacting our shared customer satisfaction, operational efficiency and environmental objectives.

Is your system construction focused?

How will Ontrack help me in the construction industry?

For over 14 years, Ontrack has been used in various sectors in the construction industry.

Why is that?

Ontrack covers all aspects of a major project or job. Although starting in the street works and utilities sector, Ontrack has tools which provide reassurance across all of construction that a task has been done and to a high quality.

Ontrack’s mobile app is easy to use for all construction teams out on site. Images taken are transmitted back into Ontrack in real time.

If you need more information or would like a demo of Ontrack, please contact us.

Are you Lane Rental ready?

Whilst TFL and Kent initially ran Lane Rental schemes, in 2019 any Local Authority with a well-managed permit scheme was able to initiate a Lane Rental Scheme.

These schemes mean that Utilities companies and Contractors have to ‘rent’ road space with charges ranging from £800 to £2500 a day.

Ontrack’s Lane Rental functionality allows your planners and managers to easily identify a Lane Rental job and ensures your operatives are clear when Lane Rental times are active, reducing charges.

If you need more information or would like a demo of Ontrack then please contact us.

Using images to search for jobs

Does your company require the ability to search for a job within all its images?

We at Ontrack are proud to say that our system has the ability to retain all images at the highest quality.

Users have the ability to search for jobs very easily with just a few clicks. The clear, high quality images allow users in your business to identify any issues on site or to discuss potential changes.

Interested in finding out more about Ontrack’s image capabilities? Book a demo today.

Reinstatement quality certificate


A desire to help the Streetworks industry improve its performance and reputation was at the heart of Ontrack developing the Reinstatement Quality Certificate (RQC) service.

Ontrack were engaged in 2018 to assist a client with their requirement for what was called a Reinstatement Quality Certificate on a recently won framework contract. The certificate when produced, was mandated to include a set criterion of images and data captured on each job completed.

Creating Value, Raising Standards


Ontrack collaborated with their client to create an innovative solution to this contract requirement via the wider Ontrack works management system.

Ontrack had originally been developed as a mission critical business tool which not only captures high resolution imagery and critical works data, but also coach operatives in best practice via configured prompts and questions.

The system itself promotes safety, efficiency and achievement of high quality work within an exacting compliance environment, delivering high levels of customer satisfaction and significant cost savings. It also means that any client can audit work done, while retaining evidence for future scrutiny if challenges occur in the shape of claims, defects or charges.

It is this core functionality which enabled the Ontrack team to create the integral Reinstatement Quality Certificate. As the job is completed within the system, Ontrack automates an RQC using a combination of pre-set data, such as material and equipment specification, combined with the images and information submitted by the teams.

A certificate is then available on each of the jobs reinstated, with further development plans likely to enable the production of a list of sample jobs at the click of a button.

Use of the Ontrack RQC creates greater value for all stakeholders, by reducing the cost and inconvenience of unnecessary site visits whilst positively impacting customer satisfaction, operational efficiency and environmental objectives.

Award

In 2022 the Reinstatement Quality Certificate won the coveted Street Works UK award. It was praised for innovation and contribution to the industry.

Ontrack Lite – adding a task

Adding a task is now available for Ontrack Lite. We at Ontrack believed that if Lite was a simpler version of Ontrack 2 web, then it should have the feature to add tasks. This great new feature is permission-based and we recommend the function is used by supervisors and managers.

Ontrack Lite new features

Ontrack Lite works on any device as long as you have a browser and internet. Lite is now similar to its sister product Ontrack Mobile in that you can add and upload photos from your gallery.

Alternatively, you can take images and add comments to them directly. This feature allows all smartphone and tablet users to use Ontrack Lite for image collation. As images are sent, the status of the task is also updated therefore Ontrack 2 users are able to see the progress of the task in real time.