ZeraWare Software Frequently Asked Questions * Incident Report * Accident Investigation * Safety Inspections

Frequently Asked Questions

• General Questions
• Questions about Incident Report
• Questions about Accident Investigation
• Questions about Safety Inspections

• How can your software help solve my firm’s accident prevention problems?
• How will ZeraWare support our supervisor’s safety responsibilities?
• What kind of applications can you suggest for the ZeraWare software programs?
• How will your safety software impact supervisory and employee safety training?
• How can your product improve the safety culture of our workplace?

General Questions

1. I received the 30-day free trial and saved useful data about my Company in the database. But I didn't purchase the programs within the 30 days and it stopped functioning on my computer. I want to purchase the programs but I really don't want to re-enter all that data I saved while previewing. Can I purchase the programs now and get my previously saved data too?
   
   Yes. Your data is saved even after the 30 day free trial period ends and will be available to you when you purchase the ZeraWare programs. After purchase, you have the option of using the previously entered data or deleting it.
   
   
2. I purchased one ZeraWare module and like it. I would like to purchase two other modules. Can I get the discount for purchasing all 3 modules if I purchase the remaining two now?
   
   The discount for purchasing more than one ZeraWare module applies to when the purchase is made. We're sorry to say that the discount purchase policy is not retroactive.
   
   
3. My firm purchased all three ZeraWare programs for use in one location, one computer. Our other locations would like to use these programs as well. How do I arrange for expanding the number of locations using our ZeraWare programs?
   
   ZeraWare software programs are licensed for use at one computer or network at one location. However, your firm can obtain a "MULTIPLE-USER" license for the other locations. A multiple user license offers a discount for purchasing multiple copies of ZeraWare for use at several computers, no matter the location. The discount per CD varies according to the number of CDs purchased. An installation code is provided per each computer using ZeraWare.
   
   
4. I want to e-mail a computerized report form (from any Module). How do I do that?
   
   For most computers using Microsoft Windows, sending a report by e-mail can be accomplished as follows.
   
   1. Click "Export" in the top tool bar. A "Save in" window will open.
   2. Select the folder in your computer's list of documents where you want the report to be placed.
   3. Double click the folder that you want the report to be saved in. That folder will appear in the "Save in" window.
   4. To send that report by e-mail: exit ZeraWare. Open your computer's e-mail program and make the filed report an attachment to an e-mail message.
   
   
   
5. I received the 30 day free trial and during the installation, the demo cd keeps asking me to install the .NET Framework over and over again. What should I do?
   
   Everyone's computer configuration is a little bit different and .Net Framework may or may not already be living on your computer. The ZeraWare installer will automatically install it if you do not have it, since this background software is needed for parts of ZeraWare to perform properly.
   
   In rare cases, your operating system may not be able to determine that the .NET Framework is in place and will continually ask you to install it. It is not a problem with your ZeraWare product.
   
   These four steps should finish the ZeraWare installation and by-pass this error message.
   
   
   1. With the ZeraWare CD in your drive, click the Start menu and click the Run menu option.
   2. Type in D:\Demo\Zeraware.exe (where D: is the drive letter associated with your cd drive)
   3. If you don't know the drive letter associated with your cd, you can use the browse button on the Run window to locate the ZeraWare installer. Zeraware.exe will be located in the Demo folder of the user's cd drive.
   4. After the file name (Zeraware.exe) is filled in on the Run form, click the OK button.

Questions about Incident Report

1. I attempted to create a Report Heading that included the symbol "&" instead of using the word "and". The symbol does not appear in the Heading.
   
   The symbol "&" will not work with this program. It's a programming issue. You will need to use the word "and".
   
   
2. I have all three ZeraWare modules. I have computerized numerous Incident Reports, accident investigations and safety inspections. I noticed that the Incident Report numbers are not in consecutive order. Neither are the Accident Investigation numbers. The first Accident Investigation report form that I saved was assigned a number 3. It should have been #1. Is there a problem?
   
   No problem. The Incident Report and Accident Investigation modules are cross referenced to avoid repetitive data entry. (Note the "Import Incident Report" button in the top tool bar of three accident investigation types). Because of this, the sequential numbering system for Incident Reports and Accident Investigations are combined. The program will assign the next sequential number to either an Incident Report or an Accident Investigation form that is saved.
   
   
3. When I am creating a heading for a new template (from "Create Form" - main page), the "Open Template" button is shaded and not functional. I can't see what the heading looks like on the form. But when I click on templates that have been created before, the "Open Template" button is functional.
   
   When creating a New Template, you must SAVE it before you can view it, as it will appear at the top of an Incident Report. Once "saved", the Open Template" button works.
   
   
4. When computerizing information in an Incident Report form, data fields #19 Type of Injury and #20 Injured Part of Body, have headings that state (most serious). But in both data fields, I can indicate more than one injury or body part if I choose to do so. Why the limitation in the heading? I would like to indicate all of the injuries and body parts injured.
   
   The problem is injury data compiling and computation. One benefit of computerizing incident information is having the ability to sort and search through records to identify patterns and significant correlations. This will help pinpoint problems and direct corrective actions. For each Incident Report, the most severe injury to a body part is the reason for lost time or restricted work or both. For future searches and sorts, the most severe injury will be the most relevant bit of information about the consequences of the accident. If you wish to describe more information about an Incident, this can be accomplished in data field #28 - "Additional Information".
   
   
5. When filling in the data fields of a new Incident Report I refer to job titles for the Distribution data field. But there are some occasions when I would prefer to use names instead. How can I create Incident Reports that allow me to choose between job titles or names that appear on the form?
   
   On the main page, click on "Data Maintenance" in the top tool bar and click on "Distribution List". List both names and job titles in the left window. When you want to list Job Titles, "hide" the names. When you want to list names, "hide" the job titles.
   
   
6. When I first open "Compile Data" from the main page, a small window appears for just a second and then disappears. Is there a problem? What is that?
   
   That is simply an informational display that is telling you that the program is in the process of opening the Incident Summary Report. If you have a Summary Report that is very lengthy, it will take longer to open. That little window will be visible a little bit longer to let you know that processing is taking place.
   
   

Questions about Accident Investigation

1. Employee names can be included in a Motor Vehicle Accident Investigation form but they are not listed in the "Employee" column of the "Search/sort" window. Employee names are listed in other types of accident investigations. Why not motor vehicle accident investigations?
   
   Motor Vehicle accidents are different from the other types of incidents. Motor vehicle accidents occur outside the workplace, include conditions that are not under management control and involve non-employees. Because of the peculiarities that separate motor vehicle accidents from other types, both the programming and the form were done differently. This resulted in the Employee Name being omitted from the Search/Sort function. This issue may be addressed in a future upgrade of ZeraWare.
   
   
2. I would like to have an Investigation Report form that only applies to hazardous chemical spills. How can I create another investigation type that would be listed along with the other types on the Main Page?
   
   The ZeraWare Accident Investigation module includes five types of Incident Investigations including a generic "Other". There is no way to list another "Investigation Type" on the main page. However, you could click on "Other Incidents" as an Investigation Type and create a "Hazardous Chemical Spill" heading in the "Select Document Header" window. Then add "Hazardous Chemical Spill" to the choices in data field #8 - Type of Incident. This would give you an investigation form that would be specific to your intended use.
   
   
3. I have all three modules of ZeraWare. I want to use an Accident Investigation form with some Incident Reports that are computerized. Some of the identification information at the top of both forms is the same (i.e. Employee Name, Accident Date, Shift and Location data fields). How can I reduce the duplicative data entry?
   
   The ZeraWare Incident Report and Accident Investigation modules are interconnected. Common data fields will have the same content listed in drop windows (i.e. Employee Name, Location information). If you computerize the Incident Report form first, ZeraWare will duplicate common data field information in an Accident Investigation form for you. Open a blank Accident Investigation form and click "Import Incident Report" in the top tool bar. A small window will open that will display your computerized Incident Reports. Select the one desired. The common data fields will be filled in automatically.
   
   

Questions about Safety Inspections

1. When entering information about a new inspection in the "Inspection Details" table of the "Safety Inspection Form" window, I have a problem with lengthy explanations. If I type in three lines of text in the "Problem or Action Needed" column, I can't read the first line of text. It is hidden from view.
   
   To view all of the text that you enter in the "Problem or Action Needed" column, you can either expand the depth of the row or expand the width of the column. Both of these features are described in the User Guide. To expand the depth of the row, use the mouse to move the cursor into the extreme left, shaded margin of the table and place it on a horizontal line separating the rows. The cursor will change to a double headed arrow. Hold down the left button on the mouse and drag the horizontal line. To expand the width of a column, use the mouse to place the cursor on a vertical line separating column headings. The cursor will change to a double headed arrow. Hold down the left button on the mouse and drag the vertical line.
   
   
2. When entering information in the "Location" data field of a Safety Inspection, there are choices already listed that I didn't put there. I can't delete them.
   
   The "Location" data field of the Safety Inspection module is cross referenced with the Incident Report and Accident Investigation modules. If you type in and save any "Location" data field (i.e. building, floor, department, etc.) in one module, it will appear as a choice in the same data filed of all modules. This cross referencing is intended to reduce data entry work/time by allowing choices to be selected with a click instead of being retyped. You can't delete them because they have been selected and saved. If you don't wish a choice to be visible, you can't delete it but you can hide it. Please consult the User Guide for more information how to hide data field choices using the "Data Maintenance" button on the menu at the top of the main page of any ZeraWare module.
   
   
3. I want to create a history of corrective actions that have been taken with the current list of unsatisfactory inspection items that have not been corrected yet. How can I combine the two lists?
   
   The Corrective Action feature of Safety Inspections provides a list of unsatisfactory items that have been corrected and another list of unsatisfactory items that are still open (uncorrected). The two lists are mutually exclusive. They have been separated by design. You could simply provide two reports with different headings: one would list items corrected, the other the items that are uncorrected.
   
   
4. The "Inspector's" name does not appear on the saved Safety Inspection form. Even after I type it in again and click "Save" in the top tool bar, when I re-open the Inspection form, the name I typed does not appear.
   
   The Inspectors text box has a window underneath that lists the names of Inspectors that have been entered in previously saved Inspection Reports. If you are entering a NEW inspector's name, it is entered in the text box directly under the heading "Inspectors". You must click the "Select" button to the right of the text box to retain the NEW typed inspector's name. Only the name(s) that appear in the window underneath the "Inspectors" text box will be saved with that Inspection Report.