Systems and processes can help businesses stay on the front foot

While smaller organisations may not have the same funds to invest in
software systems and processes as large global organisations, they shouldn’t
shy away from making an investment altogther, says Louise Perryman

During 2010-11, there were 200,000
reportable workplace injuries in the
UK (three days absence).

Without fail, every large global
organisation has considered its
position when it comes to health and
safety, and they will have all
identified the need for effective
health and safety processes. Can the
same be said for all businesses?
Louise Perryman, sales and
marketing director at Elmstone
Systems, experts in producing health
and safety ( health and safety)
software, comments: “It isn’t
uncommon to still see paper-based
systems in place, and even if there is
some kind of computer system, it
usually involves endless printed
documents.

“In today’s working environment,
everyone should be working in a safe
and compliant manner – and there
should be systems in place to help
move the process forward and support
continuous improvement. Everyone
gains – audits can be successfully
completed, costs are progressively
driven down and most importantly
incident and injury levels are reduced.”
Perryman believes that smaller
companies don’t need to invest at the
same level as global blue chips, but
they should still be working towards
using an online system, one that
encourages pro-activity. She adds:
“Systems and processes help
businesses to stay on the front foot;
detailed data analysis helps them to
plan for the future and review trends,
making adjustments before a serious
incident occurs, not after the event.

“As an example, construction
companies are continually looking to
enhance their health and safety
procedures across multiple project
sites. This, compounded with the
constant change of site personnel as
the project progresses, creates a real
challenge in ensuring standards and
behaviours are maintained and
continually improved upon. Having
an online, real time health and
safety system available to everyone
can help facilitate communication,
improve productivity and reduce non
added value administration tasks.”
Perryman also considers it vital that
staff at all levels buy into health and
safety. She comments: “It’s a cultural
issue. Employees need to get involved,
whether they’re office-based or maybe
an engineer working off site. Routine
reporting of ‘near miss’ incidents can
potentially save lives if they trigger the
necessary corrective actions. Good
health and safety software must make
it easier for companies to close the
loop between identifying an action
and getting it done – correctly.”
Many companies have lost their
good reputation and been fined
through avoidable accidents. In late
2011, the HSE issued a press release
about a manufacturing firm that was
fined after a worker’s hand was
crushed in a metal press, requiring
two skin grafting operations. Worst
case scenario – a company could go
out of business.

Here Elmstone Systems offers its
top health and safety tips:
Support people to proactively
engage and help to create the
health and safety System
Make sure your health and safety
process is easily accessible and
simple to use
Encourage people to make health
and safety part of their lives – both
at home and in the workplace. Be
Incident and Injury Free.

Promote the benefits and rewards
of successful health and safety
behaviours
Certify equipment is fully tested,
up to date and compliant
Ensure the appropriate and correct
procedures are in place
Provide visual metrics and
reporting so people can the
understand and identify
opportunities to reduce incidents
and injuries
Conduct regular risk assessments
and audits as a team to identify
potential issues and to support
hands on training and health and
safety awareness