Environmental, Health and Safety News, Resources & Best Practices

How to Use a Software Solution to Manage Your Safety Program

Written by EHS Insight Resources | October 15, 2018 at 3:11 PM

Finding the right safety software solution to manage your EHS operations could be the difference between seeing your goals in the distance and crossing the finish line. Not all safety software is created equal, and it’s important to understand its intents and purposes in the organization to ensure you make the best decision for your needs.

Let’s take a closer look at what safety software does, why it’s important, and what you should look for when sourcing the best solution.

There’s a Health and Safety App for That

Need help recording incidents? There’s a health and safety app for that. Are you logging workplace observations? Keeping track of employee training completion? Staying on top of compliance requirements? Yep, there are apps for these things and more.

Safety software solutions should help you manage every aspect of your EHS department to cut down on manual tasks and repetitive actions. An integrated solution should help you connect various data points to discover insights.

As a result, EHS software isn’t just beneficial to the health and safety department, but to the organization as a whole. It’s a business tool that can help to drive and support decisions and give you all the information you need to strengthen your EHS program from within.

Benefits of EHS Software

Depending on the software you choose, the platform can look and function differently for each organization. However, the core benefits generally remain the same:

Mobile Access

Almost any type of software-as-a-service offers mobile access so that there’s never a loss in productivity. You can retrieve data on the go, whether you’re at another work site, at home, or traveling. Having immediate, ongoing access to health and safety data can help you respond faster and know what’s happening in your department at all times.

Streamlined Data Collection and Analysis

Part of the benefit of mobile access is being able to log and view data in real time. Traditionally, many EHS departments rely on checklists and handwritten notes, which may later be logged into another system or simply filed away. It’s an inefficient process at best, and does little to help you generate results over time.

Safety software solutions were designed to combat these and other inefficiencies by allowing you to store data in a central location and retrieve data sets instantly for analysis. Even better, using software allows you access to more thorough reporting and analytics that simply aren’t possible with traditional pen and paper methods.

Reduce Double Entry

By being able to log data on the go, you’re able to eliminate the time it takes to transfer data from paper collection methods to stand-alone systems. It’s a major time saver that allows workers to spend less time on manual tasks and more time on strategy.

Improve Reporting

Most EHS departments already have reporting systems in place, but without an integrated solution, those systems are limited in information. Because modern EHS software solutions are comprehensive, you’re better able to generate reports and insights concerning multiple areas of your department, not just a specific discipline.

Make Real-Time Decisions

Safety software solutions are generally comprehensive and integrated, which gives you the advantage of having up to date data at all times. You can use your data to make informed, real-time decisions that can also benefit other areas of your business.

Maintain a High Level of Compliance

By getting real-time insights into your EHS department, you’re better positioned to stay on top of compliance tasks and see where you need to make improvements. You can assign tasks, set reminders, create digital checklists, and use other tools within the software to ensure important details don’t fall through the cracks.

How to Choose a Safety Software Solution for Your Organization

Keep in mind that not all safety software solutions look and function the same. The only way to know you’re making the best decision is by testing the software yourself to explore its features and benefits. This gives you the best idea of how a solution will work when implemented into your own organization.

Contact us today to take EHS Insight for a free test drive and discover how it can help you improve the way you work.