Top 3 Objections to EHS Software and What They Get Wrong

The world is increasingly mobile. So much so that 50.3% of all web traffic worldwide was on mobile phones. Clearly, accessing the internet no longer means being tethered to your desk.

But you wouldn't know that by looking at the way some EHS professionals do their jobs.

Many safety professionals continue to be hold-outs in the digital revolution. Unfortunately, that quirk affects how effective they are at ensuring workplace safety. The latest technology allows safety data to be tracked, analyzed, and used in ways that were never possible before. Moreover, real-time communication can also drastically improve preventative and emergency responses, and may well save lives (learn How to use Data to Uncover Trends, Address Gaps, and Improve Performance).

This article will go over the top 3 reasons safety professionals object to using EHS software and how to best respond to them.

1. The Budget Won't Allow It

Not surprisingly, one of the top objections cited by employers is plain old cost. They already have tight budgets and worry that making the switch to digital safety processes and mobile forms will eat up too many resources.

That might have been true a decade ago, but things have changed since then. Mobile technology and advanced software are no longer exclusive to large, high-profit corporations. These solutions are now extremely accessible and have much more affordable price tags.

And that's just the cost of the software itself. It's important to also think of the ways it might actually help you turn a profit. Filling out mobile forms and reports is quick and simple, and that efficiency allows anyone who has to deal with any paperwork to get back to their job a lot sooner. And that boost in productivity can translate into a healthier bottom line.

Mobile forms also reduces the amount of money spent on data entry. The software collects and analyzes the safety data so there is no need to hire additional staff to deal with it. Those reliable processes also increases the quality of the data that is captured.

2. Digital Systems Aren't Secure

Many organizations will cite security issues as a reason not to implement mobile EHS solutions. With all of the sensitive information they collect and house, they are wary of anything that might increase their vulnerability to cyber crime.

Like cost, security is something is becoming less of an issue. As the technology advances, so do its security features. Leading software companies are constantly testing their products for vulnerabilities and developing new measures to prevent information from being accessed and leaked by third parties.

Companies that still worry about security can use EHS software without connecting to the internet. Instead, the mobile devices are connected to a close network (think something like a CCTV system). This allows information to be accessed conveniently by members of the company while keeping it entirely inaccessible to anyone outside the organizations.

3. EHS Software Is Too Complicated and Difficult to Navigate

Many people who aren't especially tech savvy worry that they simply don't have the right skill or background knowledge to use EHS software. After all, it records, tracks, and analyzes so much information that it might seem reasonable to assume that it will be extremely difficult to use it unless you've had extensive IT training.

Once again, that may have been true of the earlier predecessors of today's safety software, but current offerings have been designed with the user in mind. Gone are the days of spending months being trained to use the new system. Modern safety software have simple and intuitive interfaces that allow anyone to get comfortable using them in no time.

Multi-platform solutions also improve ease of use. These software systems can be used with any operating system, including iOS, Android, and Windows. Safety professionals can use the software on whatever platform they're already familiar with and don't have to spend time getting used to whichever one the software happens to run on. This also reduces expenses because users can use the devices they already have, rather than needing to purchase new ones.