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INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE companies moved from a spreadsheet to a software program that was specifically designed to manage the tasks being performed. The core issue is that IH is still often done in a vacuum. There is not enough management reporting, corporate metrics or stakeholder visibility across the enterprise. This leads to an IH program that is underappreciated and predictably underfunded. It is no wonder the majority of IH departments struggle to justify investing in an enterprise IH software system. What Can We Do? We need to make our profession and IH programs more visible, well-understood and appreciated. The best IH programs I’ve seen over 35 years in the field have a strong software system driving standardization, effectiveness and visibility with stakeholders. We need to follow the lead of other successful EHS departments. How did your environmental or safety team justify their software project? How have they built the business case to support investment in their software systems? One option to consider is partnering with a third party to help identify and select the software that fits your budget and requirements. If you can’t afford a software consultant, reach out to peers, IH laboratories or IH consultants for recommendations, or contact a software research firm for advice. While an IH software system can help you significantly advance the maturity and effectiveness of your IH program, simply implementing a software system alone is not a silver bullet. Program success depends on a strong commitment to stick with and fully utilize your IH software over the long term. It can take some time, but I’ve seen first-hand how a commitment to accurate and consistent data collection can ultimately give users the ability to more quickly access that data, perform statistical analysis and complete their risk assessments. This is typically the inflection point for most users. Their data analysis and reporting become much easier, and they begin to truly see the fruits of their labor. Final Thoughts Attendees were polled during a VelocityEHS virtual conference, and 57 percent reported having no on-staff IH professionals employed within their companies. This is unfortunately consistent with a larger industry trend towards fewer in-house IH professionals, with IH programs lacking the resources and expertise necessary to responsibly manage all the requisite IH tasks. We will not be able to grow as a profession until we can show the value of a well-managed IH program, and it’s hard to communicate the value of your IH program if you’re still relying on paper and spreadsheets. IH software is the key to breaking this cycle and driving sustainable improvements in your IH program. Dave Risi, CIH, CSP, is a Solution Executive at VelocityEHS, the global leader in cloud environment, health, safety (EHS) and sustainability software. To learn more, visit www.ehs.com/health. TEST/ACTIVATE EMERGENCY SHOWERS AND EYEWASHES “The Gobbler has totally changed the way we test safety showers.” TELESCOPING FUNNEL • Double Productivity • Eliminate The Mess • Avoid OSHA Problems • Test Water Clarity, Flow, Temperature And Spread EYEWASH TESTING SOLUTIONS greengobblersafety.com Sol􏰀 􏰁y Increase Company | 920-691-2496 | Sales@IncreaseCompany.com 16 Occupational Health & Safety | APRIL/MAY 2023 Untitled-83 1 www.ohsonline.com 5/3/22 12:534 PM