Organizations and industries of all fields and sizes are often required to take responsibility for occupational health and safety. On top of legal consequences, there can be substantial financial penalties for not doing so.
The good news is that managing these can be streamlined and simplified. Today, many options are available to businesses looking to ensure worker safety for their daily operations.
What are Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Systems?
An occupational health and safety (OHS) system is an excellent tool for ensuring employee safety and enforcing safe practices. At their core, they outline and detail the best procedures and steps to reduce risk and improve productivity.
While various systems have their differences, they all have the following in common:
- Planning – OHS systems let organizations create a solid plan for implementing their health and safety policy.
- Policies – Health and safety policies must set a clear direction for the company and meet stakeholder expectations.
- Implementation – OHS systems should encourage staff to improve company health and safety.
- Performance Measurement – Management systems should be able to monitor safety on top of access to training and competency records.
- Auditing and Review – Auditing and performance reviews let companies report how well they meet their workers’ health and safety.
Why are OHS Systems Important for Businesses?
Industries present many types of safety hazards for their employees. These hazards range from bad ergonomics and workloads to more physical dangers like fires and explosions.
To address this, many companies often consider investing in a lone worker safety app to assist in enforcing safety protocols. However, these protocols and practices need to be backed by an efficient OHS system. So why are OHS systems crucial? Aside from reducing worksite injuries and accidents, these are the reasons why:
#1. They Attract Investors
Companies that invest in safety and well-being are more likely to succeed long-term because they attract talent and investors.
Willingness and interest to invest in employees can be seen as a commitment to minimizing risk. As a result, investors tend to see them as well-managed and more likely to see growth.
#2. They Help Improve Employee Morale
Having regular safety monitoring and training programs prevent worksite accidents or injuries. They not only ensure safety but also increase morale among workers, which increases job satisfaction.
Employees are more likely to stay in companies with comprehensive health and safety programs. On top of this, these companies will also attract more quality candidates.
#3. They Offer Occupational Safety and Save Money
Companies can incur many operational costs without a well-maintained occupational health and safety program.
Costs like employees’ health or life insurance, repairs or replacement parts, and downtime all factor into revenue and profit. Comprehensive worker safety and health programs reduce these and ensure productivity.
What Makes OHS Software Different from Paper-Based Systems?
As technology advances, OHS systems must also adapt and change to meet them. Software for these programs has since focused on being streamlined and efficient.
Today, OHS software has many elements that allow safety officers and managers to enforce safety programs properly. The following is what makes them a vast improvement compared to paper-based systems:
- Cloud-Based Storage – Cloud-based storage and systems make it easier to compile, organize, and share compliance data company-wide.
- Cross-Platform Availability – An app for desktop and mobile devices that allows safety officers to access and edit documents on the go.
- Integrated Processes – Integrated processes streamline health and safety management documentation, making compliance and task completion more straightforward and accessible.
- Ease of Use – Tech support for front- and back-end users is less stressful when the software is user-friendly.
The Takeaway
Effective occupational health and safety systems are critical to the successful operation of a company. They provide clear and detailed steps employees, and managers can take to prevent worksite injuries and accidents.
While there are many ways to improve worker safety, proper documentation and incident logging is one of the best. OHS software provides the means to streamline these functions, making them essential tools.
