Mobile-First Technology that Makes Safety Second Nature
Utilize technology to place health and safety at the forefront of business.
- By Kylie Uvodich
- Dec 01, 2022
The last few years have brought on sweeping changes—and challenges—across workplaces and industries. Many found their roles transformed as health and safety came to the forefront of the decision-making process. Once only relevant to high-risk industries and those working on the frontline, occupational health and safety have become a major priority for all.
Despite this, organizations are still falling short. Recent research by SafetyCulture revealed that one in five (20 percent) workers said they have experienced workplace injury due to inadequate processes or communication, while one in four (25 percent) know a colleague who has. It’s a pressing issue—and it’s important to understand that prioritizing safety involves more than just ticking a box. Ultimately, it lays a foundation that brings out the best in your team, your protocols and your up outputs.
The process of creating and implementing effective safety procedures can seem daunting. It’s often hard to know where to start. The good news is that technology can be used to make quick work of complexity, handling the heavy lifting of process rollout and ongoing practice. Here’s how organizations can utilize technology to transform processes and place health and safety at the forefront of business.
Remove the Danger of Assumption
To build a culture of safety, you first need to evaluate the procedures your organization already has in place. Do standard safety processes currently exist? If yes, do they encompass the entire organization or are they only relevant to specific teams or employees? Do these procedures include all hazards within your industry? Are they known or easily accessible by employees? The assumption that safety procedures exist and are known by all is a dangerous one. Only once you have a clear understanding of current processes can you expand your policy to encompass all potential health and safety hazards.
Be Proactive, Not Reactive
It is common for workplace hazards to only be addressed after someone is injured or becomes sick, an outside inspection finds an issue or a new regulation is put in place. Once again, the danger of assumption arises when broken tools or new hazards are assumed to be known by all, and therefore reported by none. Finding and fixing hazards using a proactive approach, before they cause injury or illness, is the most effective way to keep everyone healthy and safe.
This article originally appeared in the December 1, 2022 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.