When it comes to operational checks, whether it’s temperature logs, allergen controls or cleaning records, most people aren’t cutting corners on purpose. They’re just up against systems that aren’t built to support them.
So how do we move away from paperwork pitfalls and into clarity and confidence?
The myth of malice: why errors happen
It’s easy to point fingers when records go missing or checks aren’t filled in properly, but in reality, most people aren’t trying to deceive. They’re doing their best under pressure, in environments where time is tight, expectations are high, and paperwork gets in the way.
Think of it like this:
- Someone’s interrupted mid-task and forgets to fill in a fridge temperature check.
- A delivery turns up late and timings on the sheet no longer match reality.
- The pen’s gone walkabout, so someone ‘remembers’ the numbers to jot down later.
None of it is malicious, but it’s still wrong. And when those records matter (like they do in food safety, manufacturing or healthcare) it’s a risk no business can afford.
Not just mistakes: when poor records become a problem
The Railway Hotel case was a turning point. Individuals were convicted, and the chain was fined £1.5 million for unsafe food practices. The issue wasn’t just bad checks, it was knowingly falsifying records.
This highlights something crucial: it’s not only about what’s written, but when and how it’s recorded. Paper records can’t offer transparency. And without it, even honest mistakes start to look suspicious.
Why paper-based systems let us down
Paper sheets might feel familiar but they’re often part of the problem. They’re:
- Easy to lose or damage
- Hard to track or verify
- Open to interpretation and ‘best guesses’
And because they’re rarely in real time, they create a grey zone where anything from distraction to deception can creep in.
The real issue: Humans under pressure
Safety is never the only goal. As Nobel Prize-winning research reminds us, incentive structures are rarely perfect. People juggle schedules, service targets, and image – often all at once.
Throw in peer pressure, poor systems and a lack of visibility, and even the most diligent operator can fall short.
ChecQR: Changing the rules of the game
That’s why ChecQR was built.
Not to ‘catch people out’, but to support people doing the right thing consistently, confidently and clearly.
With ChecQR, you get:
- Real-time record capture: Not just when a sheet’s handed in.
- Reminders and alerts: Helping teams stay on top of routine checks.
- Simplified forms: With only relevant questions shown, removing guesswork.
- Visual proof: Take a photo of a completed check and ChecQR stores it, timestamps it and makes it audit ready.
- AI review tools: For an extra layer of clarity (we even tell you if your fire door…isn’t a fire door).
From “Bad Apples” to better systems
Sidney Dekker’s work on human error shifts the spotlight from blaming people to improving systems. Mistakes often reflect flawed design, not flawed staff.
That’s exactly the principle ChecQR is built on.
We make it easier to get things right the first time so your records reflect reality, not just what someone thinks they should say.
Good people deserve better tools
Most compliance errors aren’t due to laziness or fraud. They’re the result of working in a system that makes it hard to do the right thing.
ChecQR changes that. It brings checks into the real world, flexible, fast, and built for how people actually work.
Ready to move away from paperwork perils?