Why Safety Processes Cannot Wait Another Year to Be Improved
Invest in Operational Safety Excellence already in 2024
As the new fiscal year approaches, manufacturers worldwide are busy setting their budgets for the upcoming year. While various departments and initiatives are vying for financial resources, one area that should take top priority is the digitalization of safety processes.
It is hard to believe how much paperwork is still involved in managing safety processes, though we all know that paper-process means lost opportunities. In this article, we will explore three critical aspects of safety that demand investment in digitalization in already 2024 and why waiting another year to get rid of paper is not an option.
Waiting another year to address these issues has costly repercussions.
Invest in People Engagement and Knowledge Exchange
To address the challenge of an employee shortage and an aging population
The job market in the 20s is increasingly competitive, making it difficult for industrial organizations to attract and retain qualified talent. Manufacturers are grappling with a significant challenge: an employee shortage and an aging population.
The aging population means that a considerable number of experienced workers are nearing retirement. One side of it is that when employees leave, they take with them valuable institutional knowledge. Losing their knowledge and expertise without proper succession planning can result in an increased risk of accidents. Another aspect is that access to expert knowledge becomes even more challenging.
Therefore, it is crucial to prioritize people engagement efforts by promoting internal knowledge exchange and a positive safety culture by involving all the team in safety topics. Shared digital storages of knowledge, lessons learned captured, templates and standard flows, and intuitive, easy-to-navigate libraries could address this issue.
Invest in Leaner Processes
To address operational waste that eats away at your budget
Inefficient processes and operational waste are relevant for safety processes just as for any other manufacturing flow and not only hinder productivity and profitability but also pose a threat to safety.
Waiting another year to streamline and optimize safety processes can result in a continued drain on both financial and human resources.
Lean principles contribute to safety as they help identify and eliminate wasteful activities, reducing the chances of accidents and injuries caused by unnecessary steps or time pressure.
By investing in process improvement initiatives today, you can identify bottlenecks, implement standardized procedures, leverage automation to streamline operations, improve the quality of planning to avoid last-moment preparations, etc.
The Operational Safety Excellence domain supports this approach, and the Unite-X implementation methodology allows us to get visible, measurable results already after 90 days of implementation.
Invest in Getting to Zero
To address and manage the hidden risks, the sooner, the better
Waiting another year to address potential risks and hazards is a gamble no industrial organization should take.
We all know that if you have zero incidents for 2-3-4 years, it doesn’t mean that you are fully safe, and it definitely doesn’t mean that there is no need to improve safety. In fact, the longer an organization goes without incidents, the higher the likelihood that an incident will eventually occur if the underlying risks are not properly addressed.
Working with plants all over the globe, we at Unite-X still see situations where not all hazards are captured in working permits, and not all necessary control measures are applied. Incidents happen triggered by hidden risks; our goal is to uncover them as early as possible.
Evaluating the process of risk assessments, hazard identification, and proactive safety measures should be an ongoing process. As addressed in the first two chapters, digital tools greatly help spread safety culture. They establish hurdles to making errors and support people in making the right decisions.
Waiting another year to address these risks means unnecessarily prolonging the potential for incidents and increasing vulnerability.
Invest in Data
To address the lack of overview in the decision-making process
Investing in data is essential for improving safety processes in the manufacturing industry. Organizations can gain valuable insights to make informed decisions and drive continuous improvement by collecting and analyzing relevant safety information.
Data-driven risk assessments and management help organizations prioritize safety measures and allocate resources effectively. Furthermore, data insights enable organizations to identify areas for improvement and implement targeted corrective actions.
Ultimately, investing in data empowers employees, fosters a proactive safety culture, and ensures a safer working environment in the chemical manufacturing industry.
Invest in Going Digital
Digital tools provide a range of benefits that directly improve employee engagement, foster safety processes, enhance the safety domain and support data-driven decision-making.
Digitalization promotes better communication and collaboration among stakeholders and teams, both within the organization and with external partners.
By automating routine tasks and data collection, employees can focus more on proactive safety measures, such as conducting safety inspections, participating in training programs, and engaging in risk assessments. The ease of access to safety data and guidelines empowers employees to make informed decisions and take ownership of safety practices.
Cloud-based platforms and mobile applications enable the seamless sharing of safety-related information, incident reporting, and hazard identification. This enhanced communication facilitates timely response and corrective actions, ensuring that safety concerns are addressed promptly.
Embracing digital solutions enables organizations to revolutionize their safety management systems and mitigate risks more effectively. Waiting another year to embrace digital solutions for safety means missing out on opportunities to improve safety outcomes and falling behind competitors who have already integrated digital solutions into their safety processes.
Conclusion
Organizations cannot afford to neglect safety improvements for another year in the competitive business landscape. Prioritizing safety measures not only protects employees but also safeguards the reputation and long-term success of the organization. By investing in people engagement, leaner processes, proactive risk management, and digital solutions, businesses can create a safer working environment and achieve sustainable growth in the years to come.
If you want to learn more about how Unite-X can support your continuous improvement journey in 2024, contact us today.