As those in charge of safety at any company, factory or office will know, the smooth running of your facility is of vital importance. The solution could be software applications specifically for Environment, Health and Safety or rather, EHS software applications, that look out for what is important to you: the company’s workers, vendors, and customers.

Staff safety at any company is the responsibility of the safety professionals in charge. They assess the risk in the workplace and then develop and implement proactive measures, sometimes with the help of EHS software applications, to prevent injuries and illnesses from happening. Their challenges include:

• A one-size fits all implementation of EHS;
• Dissonance between EHS strategy and overall business strategy;
• Management not seeing the value of EHS initiatives; and
• A lack of safety training.

EHS software applications can identify ways to avoid any incidents in the future, by looking into and then managing the safety problems. Essentially, it is a system of record that tracks, analyses and generates data for reporting.

The right data to make informed business decisions

Without EHS software applications to capture incidents happening on the job, safety leaders could be missing out on pertinent information. Without this data there is no way to know whether plans and policies are in fact effective. Successes and failures could be overlooked. With EHS software applications a company can efficiently log, track, and assess incidents. This way, decisions are not based on guess work but actual data.

An aligned strategy which will provide competitive edge

Competitive advantage simply boils down to the skills needed to eclipse your rivals. Sometimes, EHS management is just about ticking boxes to appease those watching, failing to consider the significant impact on performance. EHS can however also help companies retain and recruit staff, improve their reputation, save money and in turn win those contracts. By encouraging a safe work culture, productivity across projects is raised and both organisations and projects are more efficient.

A priority list based on issues identified

EHS sore points such as hazard assessments, fire and building code compliance, employee feedback concerning unsafe work conditions or emerging issues, need to be identified. A risk-based evaluation then determines the potential impact and adequacy of existing control measures. If additional controls or corrective actions are needed to reduce risks to acceptable levels, they are integrated into business planning. Categorising each item in this manner allows gaps that are identified to be prioritised and actioned, based on level of importance and available resources.

Formalised method of managing EHS obligations

Companies need a formalised method of managing their EHS obligations and EHS software applications can track regulations to keep the business in line. EHS policies put in place by top management are clearly outlined roles and expectations for everyone involved in the business and need to be adhered to. The commitment to EHS by management is crucial to a culture of safety and success within any organisation.

It is important that business can continue as normal with no interruption to production. They need to avoid workplace incidents like chemical exposures, poor ergonomics, and even physical hazards. Simply put, EHS software applications can help the safety leader sleep better at night.