Being a safety manager, dealing with difficult decisions every day is probably something you are already used to. From ensuring employees are up to date on all safety protocol to on-boarding new contractors, chances are your hands are already quite full.
Deciding whether to use software to manage your organisation’s health and safety needs or not, should not be a difficult decision. Technology makes everything easier, including managing your OH&S systems. Unfortunately, many businesses still rely on the traditional method of using documentation. In addition, deciding on how to implement the software in the organisation is also an issue.
While it is easy to be bogged down in details when researching safety management software, it is important to know what it is you need in your organization. This article looks at four critical mistakes safety managers make when deciding to use safety management software so you can avoid it.
Mistake #1 – Failure to determine safety objectives before deciding on safety modules
The number one mistake many safety managers make is not properly outlining their safety objectives before reviewing safety modules on the software they are researching.
Without first being aware of your needs and goals, you will never be able to list out your safety needs.
To do that, you need to ask yourself questions like:
- What improvements do we want to achieve?
- How can we quantify these improvements?
- What is working well at the moment and what can be improved upon?
These questions will help you make clear decisions because now you know what your objectives are, and you only need to look for software (such as Beakon’s) that presents these data in an intuitive way with reports, dashboards, notifications, etc.
Mistake #2 – Failure to present a strong business case for investing in safety management software
Another mistake safety managers make is failing to present a strong business case for investing in software to make their job more efficient. When the case is presented poorly, the approval to migrate to more robust safety management software is often denied.
Either most companies rely on paper records to manage their safety program, or they use software that does not properly cater to their needs. Whichever the case, they will be reluctant to switch to a modern solution. The best way to make your case is to highlight the fact a properly implemented safety plan reduces injury rate, which in turn lowers your “Experience Modification Rate“ or EMR.
Mistake #3 – Failure to design an implementation plan
Finally, another mistake safety managers make is not properly planning an implementation or rollout plan. They assume the hard part is getting management on-board but in fact, rolling out the entire safety program across the entire organisation (and locations) is much harder.
When you fail to outline these steps, poor adoption of your safety program and managerial headache are some of what you can expect. You have two options when it comes to an implementation plan. The first option is to rollout the software once across the entire organization. The other option is to use a phased approach and roll out segments of the program over a period of time.
The following factors will affect your decision:
- The maturity of your organisation’s current safety management program
- Your organisation’s history of adoption and tolerance for change
- The general sense of urgency you are getting from top-level management
These factors will help you make the right decision when trying to choose the perfect implementation plan to use when you start using new safety software for your organisation.
Reducing your organisation’s safety risk is a top priority and using safety management software will make your job a whole lot easier. Take advantage of a free trial of our safety management software today to start enjoying the benefits.
