Are you considering investing in OHS management software? If so, you’re probably wondering whether the software is worth the money. It’s natural – if you’re going to be investing time and money into a new application, you want to know that it’s going to improve business operations and enable you to offer a safer work environment for your people.

We’re looking at why OHS management software is so effective, and why companies should invest.

What Is The Purpose Of OHS Software?

Businesses invest in OHS software for a variety of reasons. Some want to boost their public image, some want to streamline their safety processes, but for the most part businesses who invest in OHS software cite making their people safer as a main incentive.

The reality is that 3,751 workers were fatally injured while working from 2003 to 2018 in Australia. This is a tragic statistic, and one that proves that businesses have a long way to go when it comes to protecting their employees at work. Within those who have been fatally injured at work in 2020, the majority were working on a site where they managed or operated machinery (8.3 per 100,000 workers) and labourers on sites (2.3 fatalities per 100,000).

This proves that site managers really can’t be too careful when it comes to OHS. Working on sites with labourers and heavy machinery is highly dangerous, and often people can forget the risks as it becomes part of their normal routine. OHS software helps to ensure that doesn’t happen – and that everyone keeps their finger on the pulse when it comes to workplace safety.

Fatalities are the worst case scenario, however they do happen. More often though, sites will encounter scenarios that cause injury or even disability as a result of workplace accidents that should have been avoided. The implications of these accidents are huge, which is why companies of all sizes and in all sectors are keen to reduce their workers’ risks and put a robust occupational health and safety management system in place.

Why Should Companies Invest In OHS Management Software?

OHS management software has a whole host of benefits. Take a look at some of the most compelling ones:

• Keep your people safe by educating them

Whether it’s employees, contractors or visitors that you need to keep safe, it’s crucial that you have the correct processes in place so that they understand the requirements. OHS is useless unless everyone participates in keeping safe, and education is a massive part of that process.

An OHS Management System ensures that all employees have a clear understanding of how to handle key activities, whether it’s reporting an incident, responding to an issue, or working through a problem. With a record of exactly what happens on your site, and processes that every understands and follows, your organisation’s OHS performance will improve.

• Reduce costs associated with accidents 

On the surface, OHS software may seem like an outgoing cost. However, in reality a good OHS management system will save you huge amounts in the event that something goes wrong on your site. Many people go through life with an attitude of “it won’t happen to us/me”, but the proof is in the stats. A 2020 study recently revealed that 27,090 labourers made serious claims in one year. That’s a huge amount considering the stat refers to only serious claims amongst labourers.

When you consider that the average cost of these kinds of incidents on a worker is $51,960 per incident, it soon makes sense why so many businesses are keen to straighten up their risk and safety management procedures. By managing risks and seeking to minimise them, as well as reporting all incidents effectively businesses can significantly improve their OHS procedures. 

This saves huge costs when it comes to staff compensation claims, the cost of hiring temp staff and the cost of a back to work scheme. The goal with OHS software is to reduce incidents altogether by tracking and monitoring the risks and red flags within an organisation. Without this, businesses are leaving themselves open to major financial downfalls.

• Ensure workers feel valued 

When we think about how we can improve the employee experience and boost engagement, we often forget that safety at work is really important to people. Yes people want a good pay check, a nice working environment and a solid management team, but in reality none of those things matter if you don’t feel safe at work.

When people don’t feel safe at work they quit. This means that you could lose top talent in your organisation because they don’t feel that they are being looked after in terms of their safety. OHS software shows your people that you care about their health and wellbeing and are prepared to invest in them.

By improving safety in the work environment, you enable your people to increase their productivity and enjoy their work. No one wants to go to work somewhere they don’t feel safe, and by improving the safety management practices within your organisation you can minimise that risk. This in turn makes workers feel valued, safe and motivated to work hard for a business that puts their safety first.

Want to learn more about workplace safety? It’s time to discover Beakon software. We’re currently running a free trial whereby you can explore our OHS systems. Book your test drive of Beakon software today!