Workplace safety is an important facet of running a business across industries. While there are details that can certainly vary by sector, every employer is at least subject to federal, state, and local regulations related to workplace safety, such as those enforced by OSHA. It can be a lot to oversee and manage, even with the best of intentions and skilled professionals in place, and that’s why EHS Insight was developed. Because good intentions aren’t enough when someone gets sick or hurt at work.
EHS Insight is an environmental, health, and safety (EHS) software solution from StarTex Software. It leverages the insight of industry experts to empower EHS leadership in more effectively managing assessment, monitoring, compliance, and reporting. As a leader in the field of workplace safety and compliance, the developers of EHS Insight deliver right-sized solutions tailored to industry needs. A recent meeting with Gary McDonald, the President and CEO of EHS Insight, illuminated how EHS Insight was developed and why, and some of his thoughts on the workplace safety, compliance, and EHS software.
There are a lot of companies out there with varying EHS needs. How does EHS Insight effectively support them all?
When coming up with a wish list for this software product, we explored the diverse workplace safety and compliance requirements related to core industry standards, including occupational health and safety, quality, training and competency, regulatory compliance, and risk management across industries. We also looked at what industries needed this kind of data collection, monitoring, and assessment, including automotive, building and construction, chemicals, logistics and transportation, machinery, maritime, oil and gas, and beyond.
We looked for industries where there was commonality across needs, and areas that were unique to each industry. By integrating those elements into a versatile and dynamic solution, we created EHS Insight.
We help companies meet industry challenges while managing expectations, competition, risk, regulation, standards, and sustainability. Each industry has unique facets and EHS Insight is configurable to address specific needs and concerns, offering a truly customizable solution.
There are already several EHS software applications and programs out there. Why create another?
Safety isn’t the place to be unsure or use guesswork to assess workplace policies and procedures or compliance. Neither is it the place for patchwork solutions. Silos inadvertently create unwanted and unsafe gaps in training and compliance. We wanted a tool that could be rolled out company-wide, and that made real-time reporting possible for better and faster decision-making, someplace where information is centralized for ease of access, and where some automation of routine tasks can be integrated, freeing up staff for more complex tasks.
EHS Insight helps provide a safe workplace for employees while minimizing the risks to companies that result from expenses associated with workplace illness and injury. Our software assists EHS leadership prepare for OSHA inspections, compliance, quality management, and other enforcement and oversight standards and regulations.
Trusted software developers crafted a solution that can be integrated, scaled, and otherwise customized. EHS Insight works well with other software solutions and is robust enough to incorporate varied EHS needs for a single solution. As creators of the product, we are committed to customer service and satisfaction every step of the way. This isn’t an off-the-shelf solution, it’s a tailored approach to meeting the challenges faced by businesses to carry out workplace safety and compliance programs with finite resources.
What makes EHS Insight stand out?
EHS Insight is a resource-driven solution that promises sensible value, rapid installation and set-up, and responsive, engaged on-going customer support. In fact, we were the first to offer cloud-based EHS software with a full-suite mobile application and offline capabilities. Our centralized solution provides rapid implementation and response, empowering customers to rollout EHS Insight seamlessly. Robust functionality delivers a comprehensive and well-rounded approach to addressing workplace safety and compliance. The user-friendly and configurable dashboard provides data at your fingertips, from KPIs to custom and pre-built reports.
What are the challenges that businesses face when it comes to implementing EHS protocols? In what way can EHS Insight mitigate these challenges?
EHS protocols and regulations are constantly changing and keeping up to date can be difficult. Similarly, ensuring the entire organization is aware of, and following the policies can be challenging. EHS Insight helps companies automate many processes related to regulatory and company requirements. Data collected can be analyzed to ensure nonconformances are being identified and resolved.
How can EHS software help a company’s bottom line and improve its company culture? Why is EHS compliance pivotal to a company’s success?
Automation in EHS processes reduces the effort required to enforce the majority of requirements. This saves money on headcount and the burden on non-EHS personnel (e.g. operations personnel). Additionally, reducing fines obviously saves money. Finally, safer companies do better at keeping workers healthy, avoiding unnecessary lost work time and the related expenses. This can also have a beneficial impact on employee turnover.
When employees submit data (e.g. filling out forms) and never see the results, they feel disconnected from the initiatives. Instead, good EHS software provides feedback and visibility, so employees know the company is acting on the information, not just collecting it and archiving it.
Without EHS compliance, companies are taking huge risks. Lost time, high workers compensation premiums, and employee’s perceived fear are negative influences that limit success. Environmental disregard is becoming a hot-button issue for many younger workers, but also remains an important factor for some older workers as well. Nobody wants to work at a company that doesn’t do its best to keep the environment healthy and clean.
Can you share your thoughts on the outlook of the workplace safety and EHS software industries in the near future?
These are fast-moving industries that must be responsive to regulatory and other constraints, like insurance and legal concerns. For EHS leaders to stay on top of them, it can be time-consuming and overwhelming to manage, especially for organizations and industries facing additional challenges. Despite this, workplace safety still a critical priority, and EHS software is a desirable solution.
It’s hard to say, given the current political landscape at the local, state, and national level, how regulatory oversight might change in the near future. It could certainly become more relaxed or more stringent, and chances are good that industries will have widely varying experiences. EHS Insight is committed to companies regardless, because global industry standards and legal liabilities may not change as much.
As workplace safety continues to be of vital importance, with or without increased regulations, proven solutions are imperative. Adaptive solutions provide greater responsiveness as regulatory, compliance, and legal needs change. Instead of having to invest and re-invest, companies can have confidence in one robust solution that can grow and evolve with them and support them in the long term.
