What Is EHS Inspection Software: Guide For Beginner Level Managers

Human development comes at a cost, which can be categorized by severe pollution and depletion of resources at a fast pace.

Governments and the private sector are equally responsible and need to realize the importance of the environment, health, and safety.

Did you know that during the 20th century, as industry and consumption grew, there was a significant increase in workplace injuries? 

Not only that but in 1969, a California oil spill incident in the coastal waters caused millions of gallons of oil to pollute the water. 

And then there was the 1976 dioxin leak incident when a plant in the Lombardy area of Italy released toxic chemicals that killed 3,300 animals and called for exterminating an additional 80,000 to completely remove them from the food chain.

Although businesses have become much more EHS compliant nowadays, the sheer expansiveness of most businesses requires efficient EHS inspection software to help streamline the process. 

To build better, safer futures, individuals and businesses rely on environmental, health, and safety (EHS) software. 

Organizations can automate reporting and alerts, keep tabs on accident and incident data, and guarantee compliance with a web of intricate regulatory rules with the help of an EHS platform.

What is EHS Management Software?

The acronym EHS stands for "environmental health and safety," a broad term for safety, environment, and health management. It applies both in terms of managment, and "ehs inspection software" perspective.

Regarless of howyou refer to it, it is a detailed process by which a business minimizes the adverse effects of its operations on its workers and the environment.

By standard definition, this might refer to everything having to do with minimizing hazards to worker and environmental health, including procedures, training, safety, and methodologies.

Businesses are mandated to have an EHS management system in place in several countries, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom; however, there is no universally accepted framework for this kind of management. 

Although they vary from one another, there are shared characteristics and more similarities than differences. Despite the similarities, international criteria are addressed after national or regional ones by each organization. Moreover, businesses will often comply with most regulations if they are efforts to guarantee the welfare of their employees.

This includes specifics like establishing an incident management system; in the case of an incident at work, there will be a procedure for responding to the situation, documenting what happened, and reporting it. 

When it comes to larger enterprises, it also involves choosing the correct EHS inspection software, which may help with a lot of things including incident reporting, training for employees, danger assessments, inspections, and more. These are just a few examples; environmental, health, and safety (EHS) management is complex and calls for many different approaches.

Why Is EHS Important?

Environmental, health, and safety (EHS) should be a top priority if you care about people's well-being. The lives of people—your workers, clients, suppliers, contractors, neighbors, and members of the community—are at stake if you ignore EHS.

Today’s 2019 State of the Industry: EHS Program Trends report found that the companies with higher-than-average injury and incident rates are the ones that don’t prioritize their EHS programs.

To be fair, you don't have much of a choice. Your business must adhere to certain guidelines and standards for the safety of your employees and the environment set out by federal and state agencies including OSHA, EPA, DOJ, and others. 

Not doing so may get you in hot water with the law and hefty fees. An OSHA infraction, for example, might result in fines of more than $13,000. There are situations where you might face criminal prosecution and perhaps prison time. You must demonstrate that you are complying with the regulations in order to be in good standing with the law.

In addition to being the morally and legally correct thing to do, management teams should prioritize EHS investments because of the positive impact on the bottom line. Environmental health and safety (EHS) can additionally be seen as a kind of loss or risk management. 

Depending on the situation, the danger might be anything from a ladder fall to a forklift accident, fire, pandemic, or another calamity.  Whatever the case may be, EHS aims to eradicate the danger and forestall the loss, or at the least, provide a swift, comprehensive, and economical solution to the problem.

Always remember that any risk related to environmental, health, and safety can also pose a financial risk. 

The onus for any untoward incident involving a worker's health or safety on the job rests squarely on the shoulders of the employer. Furthermore, substantial costs might result from such an occurrence, including:

• Claims for workers' compensation
• Employee absenteeism rates and turnover
• Decrease in productivity
• Legal actions, including lawsuits
• Penalties and fines from regulatory bodies
• Equipment losses
• Material losses
• Negative publicity and damage to reputation
• Erosion of customer/client trust

Why is Your Role as an EHS Manager Important?

The individual in charge of an organization's environmental, health, and safety (EHS) initiatives is known as an EHS manager. 

The individual in this role is accountable for making sure the business follows all applicable rules and regulations at the federal, state, and local levels, as well as for preventing or reducing hazards to workers' and the environment's health and safety.

What is the Role of EHS Software in Compliance?

People who deal with complicated and distributed operations utilize EHS inspection software since the old way of managing health and safety isn't cutting it anymore. 

The software allows users to record, save, and arrange data and processes in a way that proves compliance and keeps tabs on insights.  

Incorporating safety into routine operations is as simple as putting powerful, user-friendly technology in the hands of every employee. Workers would prefer not to be cooped up all day filling out paperwork if they can help shape the company's future.

Professionals in the field of safety will be able to make fast, data-driven choices with the help of the most feature-rich EHS inspection software solutions. 

Making sure third-party contractors are competent, keeping track of training progress and asset inspections, documenting and investigating occurrences, coordinating follow-up activities, and capturing risks and mitigations are all part of this. With this information readily available in real-time, teams can work together more efficiently, and employers can be certain that workplace safety is their priority.

Types of EHS Inspection Software

There are two basic kinds of environmental, health, and safety software: on-premise software and cloud-based software. Even though they're functionally equivalent, their deployment and feature sets are different. Allow us to go more into both of these choices:

On-Premise EHS Software

With an on-premise EHS management system, businesses can set up the EHS inspection software on their own server and have it overseen by their in-house IT staff.

Although they gain full command of their data and systems, it can turn out to be an expensive and time-consuming continuous investment. Maintaining, updating, customizing, and staying up-to-date with the newest technologies may also be a demanding and taxing task. 

Cloud-based EHS Software

On the contrary, a service provider owns and maintains EHS inspection software that is hosted in the cloud. 

Through the use of cutting-edge technology and seamless integration with the most recent upgrades, it provides businesses with unmatched adaptability, accessibility, scalability, and security. 

On top of that, this system provides growth-inducing models and platforms that are compatible with mobile devices! 

Organizations of all sizes may benefit from the efficiency and cost-effectiveness offered by SaaS-based EHS software.

Who Needs EHS Software?

Using technologies to monitor workplace safety is beneficial for many sectors since they are deemed high-risk. Several sectors need EHS software, including the following:

• Construction: Workers in the construction business must adhere to strict EHS protocols since their profession has the highest reported fatality rate. By streamlining reporting and risk management, the correct tools may equip construction teams to make safer choices.‍
• Energy and Utilities: An EHS management platform can assist with reducing hazards in the mining and oil and gas industries via improved investigation, documentation, and reporting.‍
• Manufacturing: An EHS solution is necessary for every segment of the industrial manufacturing business. It is crucial to be able to monitor and react instantly to injuries, near-misses, and dangers in these high-risk areas.‍
• Chemical Processing: Maintaining a safe working environment free of harmful chemicals is of the utmost importance in the chemical production sector. They can readily find the causes of injuries and illnesses as well as workers' training histories with the aid of EHS inspection software, which tracks data in real-time.‍
• Transportation and Logistics: Injuries and accidents can be decreased by effective safety management. When it comes to improving safety on a large scale for truckers, warehouse workers, and distribution center staff, logistics organizations that have EHS management systems have a leg up.‍
• Food and Beverages: Ensure compliance with food safety regulations, track hygiene standards, and manage risks associated with production processes, safeguarding consumer health and brand reputation.‍
• Automotive: Supporting sustainable operations and employee well-being, EHS software makes it easier to conform to environmental standards, minimizes occupational health hazards in manufacturing, and improves workplace safety measures.‍
• Oil and Gas: EHS inspection software monitors and mitigates environmental impact, ensures safety in hazardous work environments, and tracks compliance with complex regulatory frameworks, reducing incidents and liabilities in the oil and gas sector.‍
• Medical: Ensuring patient safety and regulatory compliance in healthcare settings is the primary goal of EHS software, which also controls biohazardous waste disposal and improves worker safety standards.‍
• Retail: By managing chemical handling processes, keeping tabs on employee health and safety training, and ensuring that retail spaces are safe for consumers and staff, EHS software helps businesses satisfy legal standards and creates a secure atmosphere.

Key Modules in EHS Inspection Software

A number of essential modules make up EHS inspection software, and they are all tailored to handle different parts of health, safety, and the environment. Commonly included modules in HSE software are:

Incident Management

Organizations can keep tabs on, handle, and report issues with the help of the incident management module. It makes it easier to record events, investigate their causes, and devise plans to stop them in the future. Possible features include the ability to monitor incidents in real-time, provide thorough reports, analyze underlying causes, implement remedial measures, and report to OSHA. Might utilize a smartphone app to record incident details.

Audit and Inspections

You can schedule, prepare for, and carry out inspections and audits with the help of the tools provided by the audit and inspections module. It is useful for keeping tabs on results, overseeing remedial measures, and making sure compliance and safety are always becoming better. Scheduling, automatic reminders, and monitoring of remedial actions are some of the features that may be available. It is possible to enter audits and inspections using a mobile app.

Compliance Calendar

A single platform for managing all tasks, deadlines, and events connected to compliance is provided by the compliance calendar module. This helps businesses remain on top of their compliance responsibilities, which in turn helps them avoid fines and keep their good standing with regulatory agencies. Possible features include the ability to monitor deadlines, set up automatic reminders, and manage tasks related to compliance.

Compliance Reporting

When it comes to keeping different levels of legislation in line, the compliance reporting module is vital. It has features that help you keep track of deadlines, maintain thorough records, and generate reports that are up to code. Automatic report production, user-defined report templates, and methods for alerting users to compliance issues are all possible additions to this module.

Safety Observations

In order to assist detect potentially dangerous activities or situations, the safety observations module allows for the collection and monitoring of safety observations. It helps keep the workplace safe by allowing for the rapid implementation of fixes. Recording observations, identifying hazards, and managing remedial actions are some of the key characteristics. Could potentially record safety observations via a mobile app.

Safety Bulletins

With the help of the safety bulletins module, businesses can swiftly educate their employees of critical safety updates, procedures, and information. A culture of safety can be fostered when personnel are kept informed about developments and practices related to safety. Possible features include the ability to create and monitor bulletins, as well as their dissemination and employee acknowledgement. It is possible to receive and evaluate safety advisories with a mobile app.

Safety Meeting Management

The safety meeting management module is useful for organizing and running both planned and unannounced safety gatherings. Agendas, attendance, minutes, and action item tracking are all made easier with its help.

Safety Training Delivery and Management

Organize, distribute, and monitor online safety training for staff with the help of the training management module. A safe working environment is guaranteed and the likelihood of mishaps is reduced when all workers get thorough training on safety regulations and procedures. Training scheduling, progress monitoring, and regulatory compliance are some of the key aspects. Oversee both the initial (NEO) and continuing (COC) training for new employees. You may complete the training using a mobile app.

ESG Sustainability Tracking

With the sustainability monitoring module, businesses can keep tabs on their ESG sustainability initiatives and share the results with stakeholders. It has tools for monitoring key performance indicators, and sustainability measures, reporting on performance, and managing sustainability projects.

These modules, when integrated into an EHS inspection software system, provide a holistic approach to managing the many aspects of health, safety, and environmental sustainability in the workplace.

Significant Benefits of EHS Management Software

1. Centralized Data Management 

Data management, data collecting, and recording are essential for the complicated nature of management and safety rules. Data gathering, organization, storage, administration, and automation are all areas where EHS inspection software shines. This helps in the organization-wide standardization of procedures, which in turn increases productivity, saves time, and facilitates compliance monitoring.

2. Robust Reporting 

Secondly, the EHS inspection software can quickly and accurately analyze data and provide complicated reports. On top of that, it may use data collected in real-time at the source to create personalized reports tailored to the required information, providing timely data, reducing risk, and aiding in the making of educated choices.

3. Data Analytics 

Afterwards, EHS software's sophisticated dashboard gives managers relevant and up-to-date data, letting them see patterns and make changes quickly. Organizations may significantly improve their quality and safety standards by evaluating these insights and indicators.

4. Boosts Overall Efficiency 

Finally, using EHS inspection software solutions greatly improves the overall efficiency of the business. The overall process is accelerated by pre-configured processes, staff morale is uplifted by improved safety standards, and communication is clear and seamless across several departments, among other aspects.

Step-by-Step Guide to Implement EHS Software in Your Organisation

Step 1: Needs Assessment

As a first step in installing EHS inspection software, you should assess your current situation and determine your immediate needs. In this stage, you must attend to the following four details:

1. Identifying Organisational Needs

Gather all the parts of your business that affect the well-being of your employees and the environment, and make a list of them.

2. Understanding Compliance Requirements

The next step is to study the rules and regulations that apply to your business on a regional, state, and federal level. If you are well-versed in these regulations, you can be certain that the EHS safety software you choose will efficiently oversee adherence to EMS regulations.

3. Goals for Sustainability

For the business's environmental sustainability, set targets that are both clear and attainable.

4. Conducting a Gap Analysis

Last but not least, find out where you can make improvements by doing a gap analysis. Check your present EHS procedures against the benchmarks you want to achieve.

Step 2: Choosing the Right EHS Inspection Software

To ensure the effectiveness of your safety management strategy, it is crucial to choose the appropriate EHS safety software. When shopping for software, make sure it has a full suite of features for reporting incidents, assessing risks, managing audits, and recording remedial actions. Keeping a proactive stance in health, safety, and environmental management requires these elements.

Also, make sure the EHS inspection software has good data analytics so you can make smart decisions. No EHS safety software can outgrow your company. Your safety management system should be scalable so that it can adjust to your growing company without requiring a major redesign.

When EHS management is seamlessly integrated with your current systems, such as HR and operations software, it becomes an integral part of your organization. This connection improves the precision of data and simplifies operations.

Choose solutions that have easy-to-understand layouts and navigation. Your EHS programs will be more successful if you employ software that is easy for everyone to use for safety management.

Step 3: Planning and Preparation

Preparation and planning are key to a successful EHS inspection software implementation for environmental health and safety management.

Assemble a committed project team as a first step. Members of this team should come from different departments so that they may better understand your organization's safety requirements and the specific difficulties you encounter.

From preparing the EHS inspection software and migrating data to training employees and carrying out the actual installation, your project team should detail all of the important steps. The project will remain on track if each phase has clear objectives and due dates.

Another important step is to get your organization ready for change. One aspect of change management is informing staff of the software's advantages and how they will enhance their work routines as a result of its implementation.

Step 4: Implementation Process

Following a systematic deployment strategy is crucial to ensure a seamless distribution of your EHS software. Before releasing the program to the public, it is recommended to test it in a controlled setting first.

The next critical stage in the process of installing EHS software is to provide staff training. Provide in-depth training sessions that go over everything from the software's interface to its more complex capabilities.

Careful planning is required for data migration to ensure the safe transfer of current safety records into the new system. To make sure everything works well with what you already have, you should collaborate closely with the software developer.

Step 5: Monitoring and Evaluation

Constant monitoring and evaluation of the efficacy of your EHS safety software is essential after implementation. To begin, your organization should develop a set of safety, health, and environmental-specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Make it a habit to check in on the software's progress towards your goals regularly. This involves going over the software's collected information for patterns, improvement opportunities, and achievements.

Collecting input from software users inside your organization is equally crucial. Their opinions may shed light on software strengths and weaknesses, feature requests, and usability problems.

Step 6: Making Adjustments and Improvements

The next step, after an evaluation using the EHS inspection software, is to implement any required changes or enhancements.

Consider resetting these settings or asking for further training for your staff if you find that certain features are underutilized or failing to meet expectations.

Prioritize areas of risk or non-compliance for rapid correction if data discloses them. To keep your software and processes in compliance with regulations, it is vital to stay updated on any changes in safety rules or regulations.

Keep in mind that progress must be continual. Check the performance of your software on a regular basis. Look for methods to make things easier, safer, and more efficient. Your EHS plan will adapt to your organization as it grows thanks to this proactive approach.

How To Pick EHS Software

When selecting the best EHS (Environmental, Health, and Safety) software, consider these essential factors for an effective choice:

Customization

Every workplace operates differently. Your safety measures should be seamlessly integrated with the proper EHS inspection software. You can modify workflows and procedures, automate mundane chores, and add modules to meet your unique requirements.

Scalability

When your needs expand, the limited resources of traditional or on-premise EHS solutions may not be enough. Choose a system that can grow with your company, giving you access to a wealth of resources whenever you need them, so you're never limited by capacity.

Accessibility

The ability to move about freely is essential in modern workplaces. On-site incident reporting, digital checklist audits, and real-time risk assessments should all be made easier using EHS software. Better and faster decision-making is possible with the help of cross-device connection, which simplifies data exchange.

Pricing

Uncertainty about EHS solution prices in lengthy contracts and unused functionalities is a common problem for many companies. You can prevent surprises by paying only for what you use using a pay-per-use approach, which guarantees transparency.

Usability

An EHS software must be user-friendly. A user-friendly design, simple onboarding, and accessible support resources are essential features. Since users may simply report occurrences or get essential documents, engagement in your safety program can be greatly enhanced.

Data Storage

A SaaS-based EHS solution is better in this day and age when digital improvements are outpacing manual EHS operations. Data synchronization in real-time, automatic processing and flexible connection are all features it provides. Thanks to its adaptability and strong security features, your EHS data is kept current and available at all times.

The Future of EHS Management

The complexity of EHS management is rising in the modern, globalized economy.

The necessity to deliver safety information in additional places and languages, as well as the growing number of EHS laws, are rising in tandem with the globalization of businesses. An organization's bottom line can gain from EHS management's emphasis on efficiency and cost-cutting measures, while the company's top line can expand thanks to EHS management's ability to entice investors and consumers with innovative strategies.  

The gap between EHS and ESG is starting to close as more and more businesses pay attention to ESG. Ensuring the safety of workers, neighboring communities, and the earth has traditionally been the emphasis of EHS operations. This includes company services, products, and procedures.  

How Xenia Supports EHS Inspection 

Maximum safety, improved quality assurance, simplified asset inspections, and regulatory compliance are all possible with Xenia's dynamic mobile-first EHS inspection software solutions - they are designed to keep frontline staff safe.

It is the primary responsibility of every company owner to ensure the well-being of their workers and to adhere to all applicable legislation. That's why Xenia and other safety auditor systems are game-changers for reaching operational excellence and tranquillity.

With this ehs management tool, business owners can make use of a full safety auditing solution that includes features like configurable checklists, real-time data gathering, extensive reporting, and a real timecollaboration module. 

Get started right now with a free trial. Get your hands on effective safety management, simplify compliance, and make your workplace safer for everyone. 

FAQs

1. How much does EHS software cost? 

Forecasts indicate that by 2024, the worldwide market for EHS software will have grown to $2.9 billion. The most rapid expansion is taking place in the mid-risk corporate sector, which is characterized by a lack of specialized contemporary software services.

In most cases, the features, level of sophistication, and demands of the business will determine the final cost tag for environmental, health, and safety software.

Consider not just the initial investment but also the total cost of ownership when making your decision. Is the solution flexible enough to meet your evolving demands, or is it too tailored and customized, leading to exorbitant expenses for future upgrades? Your chosen solution must carefully consider the available money for purchasing and licensing the system while also including essential safety measures.

2. What is the difference between an EHS manager and an HSE manager?

There is no distinction between EHS, HSE, and SHE. All of them are concerned with the company's EHS management. Examples of these include the following: environmental compliance, risk assessment, and waste management.

3. What are the different types of EHS?

• Occupational Safety and Health Regulations
• Environmental Protection Regulations
• Transportation Safety Regulations
• Product Safety Regulations
• Fire Safety Regulations