Page 39 - Occupational Health & Safety, January 2018

Sensors on vehicles, on equipment, and through wearable technology stream a wealth of useful information that can be used to predict loss with a high degree of accuracy.
sources of leading indicators. Attitude surveys that are traditional in the Human Capital departments are finding their way into use, with safety professionals looking to capture individual or cultural attitude toward risk appetite, which may be a precursor to injury.
Volumes of new data are coming to us from other sources, too. Sensors on vehicles, on equipment, and through wearable technol- ogy stream a wealth of useful information that can be used to pre- dict loss with a high degree of accuracy.
“Big data” tools and modern analytics allow us further help to predict injuries by combining the multiple data feeds. Through the use of these advanced tools, we can develop some very sophisti- cated leading indicators, and present them in a way that is as ac- tionable in the field as it is in the boardroom. Data once hidden in filing cabinets or complex programs can easily be mined for other purposes and integrated with safety management systems.
An accurate assessment of safety performance requires a move away from the traditional ways of using only historical loss data. To create a unique and personal approach, consider the following workplace safety tips:
1. Engineer programs that identify and mitigate the specific risks present on your projects. The formal job safety analysis pro- cess is instrumental in preventing workplace injuries.
2. Ensure that your focus follows the 80/20 rule—80 percent of your focus relates to active tasks; the other 20 percent includes historical problem areas.
3. When they see low incident rates, especially when nobody is hurt, many organizations see this as a reason not to do anything to reduce workplace injuries further. Don’t fall into this trap.
4. Measure success by selecting a few key indicators to ensure you are always addressing the correct workplace safety topics.
5. Stop and celebrate all of the achievements that have made the workplace safer.
Where Is Your Focus?
What are you focusing on, and how will your approach in the next year get you greater results? These are real questions to consider if your goal is to drive processes that mitigate risk sus- tainably.
Nick Goodell is a Process Improvement Leader with Predictive Solutions who is responsible for implementation of the SafetyNet software for new clients and helping existing clients use technol- ogy to benefit workplace safety. He has 20 years of experience in software and risk management.
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JANUARY 2018 | Occupational Health & Safety 33 11/27/17 6:01 PM
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