Observations in Raken give your field team and supervisors a fast, documented way to flag jobsite safety and quality concerns — and track them through to resolution. Whether you're noting something positive your crew is doing well or flagging a hazard that needs immediate attention, Observations create a clear record with photos, priorities, and assigned owners.
Quick Answer
To log an observation in Raken:
Open your project and navigate to Safety & QC > Observations.
Click or tap the + button and choose Positive observation or Negative observation.
Fill in the details — type, priority, location, description, and assignee — and save.
How to Log an Observation on the Web
Step 1: Navigate to Observations
Log into the Raken web app. Click Projects in the left side navigation and select your project. In the project left side menu, click Safety & QC, then click Observations.
Step 2: Create a New Observation
Click the orange + Observation button in the top right corner.
Step 3: Set the Observation Type
Select whether the observation is Positive (something done correctly — reinforces safe behavior) or Negative (a hazard, risk, or quality issue that needs attention). Then select the Type and Sub type to categorize it.
Step 4: Fill in the Details
Complete the observation record:
Status — defaults to Open; change to In Progress or Resolved as work progresses
Priority — Low, Medium, High, or Critical
Location — select from project locations if configured
Description — describe the observation in detail
Assignee — assign to the team member responsible for resolving it
Due date — set a deadline for resolution
Attachments — add photos or files as evidence
Step 5: Save
Click Save to create the observation. The assigned team member receives a notification. Click Save as draft if you need to return and add more detail before submitting.
How to Log an Observation on Mobile
Step 1: Navigate to Observations
Open the Raken mobile app and tap Project Tools. Select your project. Tap Safety & QC, then tap Observations.
Step 2: Create a New Observation
Tap the + button in the bottom right corner. A menu appears with two options: Negative observation and Positive observation. Tap your selection.
Step 3: Fill in the Details
Select the Type and Sub type, set the Priority and Location, write a Description, and select an Assignee with a Due date. Tap the camera icon to attach a photo directly from your device.
Step 4: Save
Tap Save in the top right corner. The observation is created and syncs to the web app immediately. The assignee is notified.
Managing Observations
Once created, observations can be updated as resolution progresses. Open any observation to change its status, add corrective action notes, attach additional photos, or update the assignee. Observations move through the workflow: Open → In Progress → Resolved → Closed.
Administrators can view all observations across all projects from the company level and configure notification recipients for observations under Company > Observations > Notifications.
Troubleshooting & FAQ
What's the difference between Positive and Negative observations?
A Negative observation documents a hazard, unsafe condition, or quality defect that needs corrective action. A Positive observation recognizes something done correctly — reinforcing safe behaviors and quality practices. Both are tracked and reportable.
Can I assign an observation to someone outside my company?
Observations can be assigned to any employee or collaborator who has been added to the project in Raken.
Where do I find observation reports?
Observation reports are available from the project Reports dropdown. Select Observations to export a full report of all observations on the project.
Can I see all observations across all my projects in one place?
Yes. Navigate to Company > Observations in the web app to view observations across all projects, filter by status or priority, and manage notification recipients.
Technical Specifications
Compatibility: iOS 15+, Android 10+, and all major web browsers
Offline Capability: Yes — observations can be created offline on mobile and sync on reconnect
Data Format: PDF and CSV export available via project Reports
Plan Required: All plans
Role Required: All project users can create observations; Account or Project Administrator to manage notifications and view company-level data
Considerations
No plan restrictions apply — Observations are available on all Raken plans.
Assignees are notified when an observation is created and when it is updated — ensure assignees have a valid email address in their Raken profile.
Observations are project-level records. They are not shared across projects.
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More Questions?
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