Safety Management programs stick to the same old script.
Every safety professional I know is busy. I mean really busy. It might be the most frequent statement I hear at trade shows, and it’s always spoken with equal parts pride and exhaustion. I know firsthand how little time and energy safety folks have to spare on making meaningful, long-term improvements to the workplaces they oversee. That’s why I’m sad to see so many safety managers spending way too much time chasing marginal gains.
Most companies do a decent job of meeting compliance standards. There are still recurring issues but, by and large, they’ve got the basics covered. But when it comes to solving those recurring issues—like slips, trips and falls or habitual PPE noncompliance—too many health and safety programs stick to the same old script. Companies buy more wet floor signs or purchase new PPE that is slightly more comfortable. All of this may bring about minor benefits. But there are much bigger improvements left on the table.
One of the things I like to encourage safety professionals to do is to set aside half an hour a month to consider the Pareto Principle. It’s a well-known rule that 80% of results come from 20% of the effort. When most people take some time to consider it, they quickly realize that the time they spend trying to enforce better compliance with regulations isn’t going to lead to dramatic improvements in results.
In fact, what’s currently happening with most safety pros is the flip side of the Pareto Principle: they’re getting the last 20% of gains and it’s taking 80% of their effort—or at least it feels like it.
A recent survey conducted by BLR showed that the three biggest challenges facing safety folks today are employee engagement, getting supervisor participation in safety programs, and employees taking shortcuts or ignoring rules. Will what you’re doing now effectively deal with 80% of the problems related to these issues? If not, then it’s time to consider what will. Personally, I’ve seen a positive, awareness-based focus on human error reduction have a tremendous impact. It addresses all three of these issues (not to mention a host of other problems) on a number of levels—in short, it gets the most for relatively little effort.
But regardless of what specific solution you have in mind, a new approach will almost definitely be required. Because doing what you’ve already done can’t take you much further than where you’re at now.
IMEC Technologies provides Safety Management Software to increase worker safety and aid compliance. IMEC’s Safety Management Software will manage inspections and audits, provides hazard identification, incident reporting, management of corrective and preventative actions from generation to closure. IMEC provides lock out tag out software solutions that will allow users to create lockout tagout procedures using an intuitive Mobile App and Manage Lockout Tagout Procedures, also the Review and Execution of those Lockout Tagout Procedures using the Mobile App. Annual Lockout Tagout Procedures audits are conducted using a Mobile App. The Mobile Inspection App allow users to perform inspections and audits, for example the system can be used as a Fire Extinguisher Barcode Inspection Software system to manage monthly fire extinguisher inspections and general fire safety inspections and also to record safety observations and manage corrective actions, anywhere and anytime. The solution can be used as a fire extinguisher barcode inspection software system or life safety inspection system to aid compliance in Higher Education, Healthcare, Industrial and Commercial Organizations. Benefits from a Fire Extinguisher Barcode System include the elimination of paperwork and reducing the burden of compliance with regulations such as NFPA, The Joint Commission. The Incident Reporting App allows users to easily and quickly report incidents, hazards and near-misses, these are then sent to the appropriate people for action and are managed to closure. Web Apps provide features such as, setup, management, scheduling tools, analysis, reporting and dashboards etc with the ability to report incidents to government bodies such as OSHA and RIDDOR. HazMat T&T is a hazardous waste management software solution designed for Environmental Service Companies and companies who generate a large quantity of hazardous waste. The solution tracks hazardous waste from cradle to grave aiding compliance, providing accurate waste inventory, increasing waste handling efficiency, reducing risk and also helps manage waste costs. HazMat T&T Hazardous Waste Management Software can be deployed in a number of deployment scenarios, from Large Hazardous Waste Generators, tracking their hazardous waste at their site to Environmental Service and Waste Management Companies using it track and manage hazardous waste at transfer and disposal sites. For more information visit our website www.imectechnologies.com