Maximizing Safety with ISO Safety Management Tools

Management
General
Published on:
March 8, 2024
Read Time:
8
min

Each day, nearly 6,300 people die from work-related accidents or diseases – that’s more than 2.3 million deaths per year.

The burden of occupational injuries and diseases is significant, both for employers and the wider economy, resulting in losses from early retirements, staff absence, and rising insurance premiums.

Moreover, by 2030 there will be an extra 40 million new jobs created each year due to the rise in world population (according to some estimates).

So, to cut the actual deaths from incidents by even a small amount would still be a significant achievement. However, one consequence is that there will be a huge demand for best practice standards to help organizations improve their health and safety performance.

To combat the problem, ISO is developing a new standard, ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems.

ISO 45001 has the same management system structure as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, which will help with the integration of the other management systems.

It will also consider other international standards such as OHSAS 18001, the International Labor Organization’s ILO-OSH Guidelines, various national standards, and the ILO’s international labor standards and conventions.

We have done extensive research and compiled all the information you will need about safety management tools. Go through these insights on the latest ISO safety management methods that will enable you to achieve top-notch safety levels.

Sign up to get expert articles, guides, tips, and inspiration straight to your inbox.
You're in! Look out for our emails in your inbox.
Oh no! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Our Top Picks
#1
Xenia
The Workforce Operations Platform for Frontline Teams
#2
#3
Rated 4.9/5 stars on Capterra
Free Version:
Pricing:
Supported Platforms:
Available for up to 5 users
Starter for $99/month for the first 20 users (with free trial period)
Available on iOS, Android and Web
Free Version:
Available for up to 5 users
Pricing:
Premium for $99/month for the first 20 users (with free trial period)
Supported Platforms:
Available on iOS, Android and Web
Download Xenia app on

Understanding 45001 

ISO 45001:2018 is an International Standard for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OH&S).

It provides a framework that companies can use to identify and control hazards, reduce risks, and improve their health and safety performance. Developed in conjunction with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), it enhances workplace safety proactively.

ISO Safety Management Tools: An Overview

ISO Safety management tools simplify the complexity of occupational health and safety management.

These tools include a plethora of resources, such as software solutions, templates, checklists, and training materials designed to help organizations achieve compliance with ISO 45001 requirements.

ISO 45001 also incorporates a series of tools that can enable an organization to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of its risk mitigation strategies.

These include mechanisms for conducting internal audits, managing corrective actions and preventive actions, establishing performance indicators, and monitoring the progress of the organization’s OH&S program.

The centralization of data, and the automation of the processes these ISO 45001 tools perform, also improve an organization’s ability to deliver optimal occupational health and safety performance.

Key Features of ISO 45001 Safety Management Tools

Comprehensive Environmental Data Management

Managing your environmental data can be a challenge. ISO 14001-compatible EMS software can centralize your environmental data for you by creating a one-stop shop for your environmental data including; emissions, waste management, and resource consumption.

This will enable data retrieval and analysis by applying best practices providing you with sound information that allows for well-informed decisions for proactive environmental management.

Automated Compliance Tracking

Another significant challenge in environmental management is keeping track of changing environmental laws.

On that note, an EMS software simplifies this process by automating the tracking of compliance.

The software is set up to keep track of regulatory changes and updates and keeps your operation in line with what is taking place with national and local environmental laws and standards. This will help you avoid fines, lawsuits, and bad press.

Documentation Efficiency 

The software will have built-in document management tools to help you easily create, manage, and store your required documents and records.

This can be anything from your environmental policy, procedures, audit reports, corrective action plans, etc. By having a central location for all of your documents and version control, you can bet your internal and external audits will go much smoother.

Performance Monitoring and Analysis

Monitoring how you are doing regarding an environmental goal is a key component of ISO safety management. EMS software allows you to measure, monitor, and analyze your environmental impact much more effectively.

By giving your business the ability to have customizable dashboards, reporting, and data visualization software, you gain insight into patterns and trends of your environmental performance.

Benefits of Safety Management Tools & ISO 45001 Type of Online Tools

Improved Environmental Performance and sustainability

EMS software improves data accuracy, analysis, and reporting capabilities which help organizations to understand its impacts on the environment to enable swift detailed solutions on mitigation of resources and find solutions to minimize waste generated as well as improve upon energy.

Improved Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management

compliance is ensured by the tracking of compliance which is automated as well as their adjustments Moreover, regulatory changes are well monitored and audits are easily carried out with this software.

Due to ISO safety management tools and software availability, organizations can easily cope with different regulatory landscapes.

By working with the software, regulatory requirements, and best practices can be addressed proactively. This will reduce penalties related to compliance and possibly lead to legitimacy crises and litigation.

Be More Data-Driven

With easy access to real-time environmental data- more effectively and quickly make the right decisions faster with powerful, intuitive dashboards, custom reports, and data visualization tools.

With powerful insights fueled by your data, organizations can make informed decisions, uncover trends, and prioritize efforts to drive continuous environmental performance improvements.

Whether that means improving processes, investing in sustainable technologies, or strategically allocating resources, organizations can align their environmental objectives with broader business goals to improve overall operational efficiency and competitiveness.

Practical Application: Using These Tools in Various Industry Scenarios

Manufacturing Industry

In an industry where worker safety and operational efficiency are a high priority, safety management tools play a major role. ISO EMS software enables manufacturing firms to monitor and reduce wastage, optimize the usage of resources and also, and control emissions.

 Automated safety inspections can be streamlined and reports are generated.

Also, apps that aid in monitoring equipment’s maintenance as specified by the machinery manufacturer, enable the users to meet absolute compliance. By making use of these risk mitigation strategies, manufacturing firms can meet the safety requirements at the workplace, effective maintenance of equipment, less impact on the environment, and high operation performance.

Construction Sites

The construction industry and construction sites possess significant safety hazards. ISO safety management software assists construction companies with effectively managing environmental concerns that include noise, air quality, and waste disposal.

 Sustainable risk mitigation strategies aid construction companies in reducing their ecological footprint and limiting adverse effects on surrounding communities.

Furthermore, ISO 45001 conforms with safety management features that include correct identification and the ability to rectify any safety hazards. Construction companies can prioritize worker safety, minimize the risk of accidents, and enhance outcomes with the use of this resource.

HealthCare Facilities 

Healthcare facilities must prioritize patient safety and compliance. With ISO EMS software, healthcare facilities can effectively manage medical waste, energy consumption, and water use, minimizing environmental impact and costs. 

In addition, safety management tools like Xenia help healthcare organizations by supporting safety inspections, equipment maintenance, and emergency preparedness.

By using these risk mitigation strategies, healthcare facilities increase patient care quality, reduce environmental liabilities, and meet regulator demands, ultimately improving their overall performance.

Transportation and Logistics

The transportation, as well as the logistics sector, go through quite several tough challenges. Hazardous substance handling, vehicle safety issues, and environmental pollution are the main examples that take a toll on various transportation industries. Vehicle collisions were the top reason for a worker's death in 2021.

ISO safety management software helps transportation company to control fuel consumption, emissions, and waste generation to maintain sustainable operation from end to end.

Moreover, when it comes to the safety part, safety tools include some crucial functionalities that transport companies use daily to drive fleet productivity around vehicle maintenance, driver safety, and legal compliance that is driven by occupational health and safety requirements. Because by family these tools will ensure fleet efficiency, reduce the environmental impact, and safety & and health for employees and the public.

Customizing Tools for Your Needs: Adapting Tools to Specific Environments

Though ISO safety tools provide thorough solutions, it’s critical to customize them for specific environments to maximize their impact.

By tailoring tools to their unique operational needs, industry regulations, and safety hurdles, organizations can benefit significantly. Here's how organizations can customize safety tools for different environments.

Assess your specific requirements

Before even considering purchasing any safety tools, it is critical to first figure out your specific needs.

This includes which hazards you are most interested in protecting against, what regulations you may be subject to, and what operational constraints you may have in your environment based on what type of facility you are running.

 For example, a manufacturing facility may express a greater interest in equipment safety and hazardous material handling, whereas a healthcare facility may focus more on infection control or patient safety.

Customizing Features and Functionality

After an organization has identified what their safety management software requirements are, they can then tailor the system to best fit their needs.

Tailoring the features and functionality of ISO safety management tools can address their specific safety management challenges. An organization could also customize the checklist templates, reports, and dashboards to address industry standards or regulatory requirements. 

Here’s an example – in a construction context, an organization could customize the safety management software to include inspection criteria for things like scaffolding, fall protection, electrical safety, etc.

Integration With Existing Systems

Organizations can integrate safety tools with existing systems and software platforms to streamline workflows and improve efficiency.

This type, or you could say level, of integration allows for data sharing and communication between different departments and stakeholders to be seamless. 

For example, by integrating safety tools with asset management systems organizations could monitor real-time asset maintenance schedules and safety inspections.

Implement Training and Support

Another important aspect of customizing  ISO safety management tools is implementing training and support for the end-users so that they can use the tools that were made for them effectively in their environment. This includes conducting training sessions on tool functionality and the best practices for safety management, as well as troubleshooting common issues that are faced by users. The organization should have technical support and resources available to the users to follow up on technical queries and user issues.

Wrapping it Up 

According to a recent survey, 75% of workers assert that the safety measures implemented by their employers are unsatisfactory. ISO Safety management is no longer a legal obligation in the new business environment but also a fundamental necessity to ensure the safety of employees and protect assets and general reputation. Having strong safety management performance is necessary for workplace reputation. 

With features including real-time hazard tracking, management of employees' safety responsibilities, tracking of lead indicators, task management, and surveying trends and tracking, Xenia is built for several different industries. Xenia focuses how on the specific area of safety that the employing company must work in and make sure all employees follow the safety regulations that are put in place.

With Xenia's capabilities, businesses can have safer work environments, high operational efficiencies, and sustainable growth capabilities in an ever-changing market giving them an edge over their competition.

Book a free demo today!

Unify Operations, Safety and Maintenance
Unite your team with an all-in-one platform handling inspections, maintenance and daily operations
Get Started for Free

Latest Articles

Frequently Asked Questions

Got a question? Find our FAQs here. If your question hasn't been answered here, contact us.

Illustration for empty FAQ section.
No FAQs Found

Looks like there's no data available in our FAQ section at the moment.