We live in a world that is rapidly changing from one day to the next. Whereas in the past, the traditional office model was the norm, this has now been replaced with the work from home model to keep workers safe during the novel coronavirus pandemic. This has been a time of transition, and as some countries begin to relax restrictions domestically, some workers have begun to return to the office. This return to the workplace poses its own complications, and safety regulations that must be met in order to keep employees as safe as possible.
Monitoring safety measures, instituting new environmental, health and safety plans, and maintaining compliance all need to be taken more seriously than ever before. That is where EHS software can help.
Going Digital
A lot of organizations have moved from a paper-based health and safety management system, in which incident reports are filed away in boxes, to a digital one involving software. With organizations and businesses generating large amounts of data, it is no longer possible to use a paper-based system to monitor employee health and wellness, along with maintaining health and safety regulations.
Using EHS software to create employee profiles, which detail all of their health information, along with their shift rotations, and the communities they are based in is extremely important during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As soon as workers return to the office, the amount of people they come into contact with will increase exponentially, which does put them at risk for contracting the novel coronavirus. However, this risk can be reduced with strong safety procedures implemented and shared via EHS software.
Heading Back to the Office
Before workers head back to the office, all employee profiles should be updated on the relevant EHS software platform. Once this is done, workers who may be more at risk of contracting the virus may need special accommodations to work safely, and these can be noted in their profile. Workers who are eligible to return to work can be provided with online modules detailing the new safety measures in place to ensure that they both know the new rules, and why they have been instituted.
While there will still be a need for in-person hands-on training, technology has the power to easily teach the theory behind safety measures. As restrictions continue to lessen, safety measures and procedures can also be amended in the system as the needs for certain personal protective equipment, and physical distancing measures will change.
While this is a difficult time for everyone, health and safety must continue to be at the forefront of every occupational health managers’ mind. Management needs to make it clear that their workers’ health is important, and that if someone should begin exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 that safety measures are in place to protect them.
By utilizing the right kind of software and streamlining safety protocols everyone will be able to begin to get back to work. The new normal is one that involves personal protective equipment and maintaining physical distancing within the workplace.
Interesting related article: “What is Software?“