Is there a correlation between safety managers that have confidence in their program and how engaged their workforce is in that safety program? That was one of the things we aimed to uncover in this year’s State of the Industry Survey.

It’s not one person that can be the driving force and impact change within a business, it has to be the business as a whole. So we asked EHS practitioners about safety program engagement in their organization.

Survey findings show a strong correlation between the use of EHS software and increased employee engagement. 

EHS software allows for more frequent, streamlined communication with employees, enabling companies to continually reinforce their culture of safety.

Employee engagement in company safety programs was rated as “good” or “excellent” by 49% of EHS software users, compared to 40% of non-software users. That being said, respondents who communicate with employees daily about safety topics are far more likely to rate employee engagement as “good” or “excellent.” EHS software users are more likely to take part in daily communication with their workforce, with nearly double the number of software users reporting daily communication.

Communication from the top-down…from communicating safety goals to communicating issues as they arise, fosters an environment of “everyone being in the know.”

It is important to note that although constant communication is important, it is equally important to use software and technology that helps the company save useful time and energy in the communication process. Communication with employees is streamlined with the use of EHS software, as companies who use software take advantage of reaching employees via email specifically.

Increase employee engagement through consistent and efficient communication

EHS software users serve as evidence to illustrate that when companies orient investment in EHS programs as an opportunity for improvement, they can unlock the benefits of a high-performing program.

So, if the results are clear, how do you choose the right EHS software for your business?

Ultimately, the best EHS software is employee-centric. It generates better safety outcomes because it’s easy to use and people have an incentive to use it. In other words, a system needs to be built for your workforce. If it’s too complicated, unwieldy, or unintuitive—if it doesn’t align with their existing workflows—they won’t use it.

To determine if a solution is the right fit for your people, ask the following questions:

1. Are self-guided forms available?
   EHS reporting should take minimal time and effort on the employee’s part.
2. Can every user access forms and an information library?
   If the system creates silos, it’s hardly better than a spreadsheets-and-binders approach.
3. Is the solution mobile-ready?
   Business today happens on phones. Any employee should be able to quickly pull out their mobile device and enter information at a moment’s notice.
4. Are data dashboards included?
   Any software you purchase should have strong reporting and dashboard capabilities. Again, ease of use is critical. Keep in mind that EHS might not be a user’s only job. When someone’s busy, they should be able to log in and find the exact data information they need, when they need it.

KPA EHS – The Backbone of Your Safety Program