Building a Safer Future: Trends in EHS Software
Last month, we examined how trends at the intersection of safety culture and EHS mobile technology are enabling companies to fully leverage their EHS systems and enhance the safety of their facilities. Particularly, we focused on updates providers are making to their EHS mobile applications.
This month, we are expanding on this topic, discussing trends in EHS safety features, to continue building a comprehensive picture of modern advances in EHS safety and mobile technology.
In 2024, Verdantix compiled research on current EHS practices and company priorities moving forward. Using this information, they made predictions for the future of EHS technology. Many of these predictions focused on improvements in and the broadening of safety features.[1]
One of these predications was that organizations will broaden the definition of safety and begin to focus on psychological safety, as well as psychosocial factors in human performance and health. This shift to better support total worker health will help promote a stronger sense of workplace safety.
Harvard Business School’s Amy Edmondson coined the term “psychological safety,” which describes the belief that one will not be reprimanded for raising a question or issue. In an EHS context, this means that workers in facilities containing potentially hazardous equipment or substances not only have access to report safety concerns or questions but also feel encouraged to do so.
The Verdantix study predicts that EHS systems will continue to prioritize worker usability and increase their emphasis on supporting workers’ desire to report potential liabilities. As discussed last month, EHS mobile applications can promote workplace interconnectivity and information access, making them a key focus area for EHS system providers when considering improvements to workplace psychological safety.
A 2024 Global Corporate Survey found that 24% of respondents listed safety culture as their most important concern.[2] While developing a safety culture is not always straightforward, the current movement to a holistic view of safety certainly helps.
Physical safety concerns also remain at the core of EHS system goals. The 2024 Corporate Survey found that reducing serious injuries and fatalities are the two most listed priorities for survey respondents who use EHS systems.
To assist companies in this goal, EHS providers are investing in further incorporating safety management software into their systems. These improvements include expanding safety training options, using predictive analytics, and leveraging AI for risk mitigation.[3]
In the past, EHS software has mainly focused on compliance. However, in line with the trend towards prioritizing safety culture and psychological safety, EHS providers are working to help facilities achieve zero-incident workplaces.[4]
Several Chemical Safety Software (CSS) modules support this goal, specifically CSS’s risk assessment capabilities, which focus on detecting potential hazards and providing information to prevent accidents proactively.
The system monitors chemical compatibility (alerting your workers when incompatible chemicals are stored together or quantity limits are exceeded), facilitates workplace audits, and collects employee comments and reports. Features like these not only contribute to building a zero-incident workplace but also produce a culture that stresses the importance of safety.
Next month, we will examine one of these features, auditing capabilities, and discuss the four auditing features every safety manager should use.
[1] Verdantix, Ten Predictions for EHS Technology in 2024, January 2024.
[2] Verdantix, Global Corporate Survey 2024: EHS Budgets, Priorities, and Tech Preferences, August 2024.
[3] Verdantix, Technology Innovation Will Help Grow the Safety Management Software Market to A $1.7 Billion Industry in 2026, June 2021.
[4] Verdantix, The Predictive Safety Revolution is Accelerating Safety Management Software into a New Era, October 2021.