EHS Management Software

What is EHS Software?

Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) software is filling an increasingly important niche in business, and while it's especially crucial in the sorts of industries that require complex regulatory oversight, businesses in a wide range of different fields can benefit from having health and safety standards in place. That's because the sorts of areas that EHS covers are broad and varied. EHS can help you manage the health and safety of your employees, supervise systems for the fields of environmental and waste management, and ensure an overall hygienic methodology for your business. Given the scope and complexity of this software, it's generally best suited for enterprise level companies.

At its core, an EHS platform is fueled by databases, and rather than serving as a singular piece of software, they're generally comprehensive platforms that link together solutions that would otherwise be standalone. With the use of EHS software, you can get access to more neatly collated information, receive a macro view of the big data surrounding health and safety, and share information that would be otherwise regulated across multiple databases. In simpler terms, it allows each department to operate independently from one another while making sure that the information each gathers isn't segregated from the others. These databases are then uploaded to the larger EHS system where they can be accessed and cross-referenced as necessary. EHS software may use its own proprietary software across all departments, or it may support the usage of traditional Excel, Access, or home brewed spreadsheets.

If you decide to incorporate EHS software into your business' overall structure, you'll get access to a broader view of your company's activities. The sort of collation, analysis, and visualization of big data that EHS provides allows administrators and managers to see the big picture in clearer focus, mapping out the trends in their environmental and health policies, and predict future shifts. Most EHS also helps you keep track of federal and state mandated regulation changes, so you can adapt to these trends and make sure that your company is compliant with all expected standards.

A successful EHS platform covers countless different data points, and the features that are relevant to your business will vary depending on your company's needs. In terms of environmental oversight, you can use EHS to investigate incidences and determine the impact of spills or track the footprint of greenhouse gases on your company. In regards to employee safety, EHS can help with everything from making sure you have the proper inventory of personal protective equipment, investigate incidents, and ensure compliance with safety protocol. That said, EHS software typically won't be of much value on its own, but it can be the most valuable resource available to a company's EHS managers.

Implementing EHS Software Into a Business

Since the purview of EHS software is so broad and the needs of enterprise businesses so specific, implementing EHS software that fits your business often requires close communications with an EHS platform provider; and while it's not an overnight process, it can make things far easier for your company's continued performance. EHS managers will want to sit down with their software provider to outline the tools they need and put together a platform configuration that meets their needs. From there, IT will need to install the software and transfer their existing databases into the new system if available. Since EHS platforms typically coordinate data across a large number of departments, putting a robust training system in place is mandatory. But while there may be a decent amount of footwork necessary to get EHS software up and running, that bit of preparation can create a far more efficient and accurate assessment of your company's policies. Software providers are well versed in this sort of training, and they'll be willing to work closely with you every step of the way. These sorts of platforms are fluid, and updates and changes may have to be made as a company continues to grow and change.

The Benefits of Incorporating EHS Software

While software providers will work hard to make the transition as smooth as possible, incorporating EHS software is likely to be an intensive experience that will span multiple departments. But the initial cost of EHS software can pay significant dividends in the long run. Once the software has been integrated into your business model and you have everyone properly trained, the process of entering and accessing the information you need for compliance will be significantly easier. This is a huge boon for businesses that have to navigate complex regulatory rules, but the systems in place for workplace safety alone can be hugely beneficial.

The benefits of this type of software become readily apparent when you consider it as a long term investment. Entering legacy data can be a painstaking task, but the more data you incorporate into your database, the more actionable information you'll have. Your managers can identify trends dating back years or even decades and use them to plot a solvent path for the future. And as new regulations come into place, you'll have the data points you need to make the transitions you need far more smoothly. Many companies have managed to save millions of dollars through the integration of software like this, and the human element is just as important. The type of data gathered with a quality EHS platform can greatly reduce the risk of injuries and potentially save lives.

The Cost of EHS Software

Due to the modular nature of an EHS platform, it can be hard to determine the actual price involved. Each company will need to evaluate the software modules available to them and settle on the components they need for their specific model. The advantage here is that it scales to the demands of individual businesses. Companies can pay for what they specifically need and put aside the rest.

Advice For Choosing EHS Software

When choosing an EHS software platform, determining the modules that are right for your company today is an obvious necessity, but you also have to keep in mind how you expect your business to grow. The real benefits of EHS play out over a business' entire life cycle, and that's why planning is critical when evaluating your needs. Be wary of software providers that lock you into one methodology. Your software needs to adapt with your needs, and changing providers means reliving the intensive process of integrating a new platform. You'll want to take the same sort of long view perspective in terms of licensing. How does pricing scale to licenses, and how many users do you see yourself needing licensed ten years down the road?

General Pros and Cons of EHS Software

The short advantage of EHS software is that it allows a business to stay competitive. As mandated regulations become more complex, simple spreadsheet systems are becoming an ineffective method for keeping a company solvent. And the simple fact is that if your competitors have already incorporated an EHS platform into their infrastructure, they'll be able to undercut you in terms of pricing and effectiveness.

But that doesn't mean that you should jump in bed with a software provider without doing due diligence. EHS spans a wide range of industries, and that means that some providers are a better fit for some businesses than others. Finding the right partner can be a long process, but it's worth it in the end. Since the sorts of databases that EHS oversees often contain sensitive data, some businesses may be concerned about security issues. But those concerns are perhaps overstated. The cloud-based systems on which EHS runs are often more secure than local servers. But vet your provider carefully to make sure that they have security protocol in place that meets your standards.

Companies That Can Benefit From EHS

EHS is some of the most versatile software available, and the sort of functionality it provides can benefit a diverse range of businesses. Industries with high levels of risk to their workers like mining and manufacturing, oil and gas, and construction can create safer environments for their staff will reduce their liability when they use a sophisticated EHS system. EHS can be equally as effective when trying to store the sort of sensitive information prevalent in medical, government, aerospace, and aviation jobs; and restaurants and food producers can maintain more orderly methods for staying compliant with FDA regulations and mandatory audits. In terms of utility companies, EHS provides a better means to monitor the impact that energy providers have on the environment.

The Future of EHS Management Software

An investment in EHS should be made with an eye towards your company's future, but you should also be aware of how the technology will change in the years to come. Shifts in the industry are starting to focus more on end-to-end solutions that track environmental compliance and workplace safety through every step of the process. And as technology in general moves more towards the software as a service model, EHS is following suit as well. That's because of the adaptability of cloud-based systems. SaaS systems mean less investment in infrastructure and less downtime for maintenance and updates. But many businesses are incorporating a hybrid model that pairs cloud-based software as a backup system for more traditional local servers.