Gathering safety data, to be honest, is quite rudimentary.

Making sense of it, not so much. The good news is that there are tools and platforms available to assist in closing this gap.

Most organizations do a wonderful job of capturing safety data, which can comprise of good old-fashioned reams of paper or an assortment of digital files and spreadsheets. But few companies are able to effectively distill the collected data into centralized, actionable insight. The million-dollar question is how well can the data be organized and interpreted to make real change. Spreadsheets, at first blush, seem like the best course of action, but re-entry errors lead to spotty information and other inefficiencies. EHS management software provides an efficient alternative as it automatically handles the data and allows for trends, root causes and plan actions to be identified in real time.

 

Safety data analysis is one component of risk reduction, but identification and corrective actions also play a role. Unfortunately, these efforts can be rendered useless in the absence of proper communication channels. In terms of identification, images of hazardous conditions or compliance violations are an integral part of making positive change. Once risks have been identified, the appropriate staff should be notified of the corrective actions currently available and who is responsible for handling the situation. As violations are amended, the ability to help your team validate the adequacy of the Corrective Action and capture visual evidence of safe conditions is a useful tool.

Continuous communication is an effective instrument in keeping individuals and groups accountable for safety. However, effective communication can be both time-consuming and easily bogged down amidst everyday tasks and deadlines. Studies have shown that specific and tailored communication has more sticking power and greater impact. A safety reporting platform can easily automate these communication tasks as well as provide a bevy of additional benefits.

Making sense of your safety data is the first step in driving real change and improvement. Having the appropriate safety software puts processes in place that easily ensures the right information is available to those who need it, when they need it.