How can you track important safety metrics in your management system?

1 Define your goals and indicators

The first step to track safety metrics is to define your goals and indicators. What are you trying to achieve with your SMS? What are the key outcomes and impacts you want to measure? How will you know if you are making progress or not? These questions will help you set SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) goals and indicators for your SMS. For example, you may have a goal to reduce the number of injuries by 10% in a year, and an indicator to measure the injury rate per 100 workers.

2 Collect and organize your data

The next step is to collect and organize your data. You need to have reliable and consistent sources of data that can provide you with the information you need to track your safety metrics. These may include incident reports, audits, inspections, surveys, feedback, observations, and training records. You also need to have a system to store, manage, and access your data. This may involve using a spreadsheet, a database, a software, or a cloud-based platform. You should also ensure that your data is accurate, complete, and up-to-date.

3 Analyze and visualize your data

The third step is to analyze and visualize your data. You need to use appropriate methods and tools to process, interpret, and present your data. This may involve using formulas, functions, charts, graphs, dashboards, or reports. You should also use relevant and meaningful metrics that can help you understand the patterns, trends, and relationships in your data. For example, you may use lagging metrics, such as incident frequency and severity, to measure the past performance of your SMS, or leading metrics, such as hazard identification and corrective actions, to measure the proactive actions of your SMS.

4 Communicate and share your results

The fourth step is to communicate and share your results. You need to have a clear and effective way to communicate and share your safety metrics with your stakeholders, such as managers, employees, clients, regulators, and partners. You should also tailor your communication and sharing methods to suit the needs and preferences of your audience. For example, you may use a newsletter, a meeting, a webinar, or a website to communicate and share your safety metrics. You should also highlight the key findings, insights, and recommendations from your data.

5 Review and improve your process

The fifth step is to review and improve your process. You need to have a regular and systematic way to review and improve your safety metrics tracking process. You should also evaluate the results and impacts of your safety metrics on your SMS. You should ask yourself questions such as: Are your safety metrics aligned with your goals and indicators? Are your data sources and methods reliable and consistent? Are your analysis and visualization tools appropriate and useful? Are your communication and sharing methods clear and effective? How can you improve your safety metrics tracking process?

6 Learn and adapt from best practices

The sixth and final step is to learn and adapt from best practices. You need to keep yourself updated and informed about the latest trends, developments, and standards in safety metrics tracking. You should also benchmark and compare your safety metrics with other organizations or industries that have similar or better SMS. You should also seek feedback and suggestions from your stakeholders and experts on how to improve your safety metrics tracking. You should also be open and flexible to change and innovation in your safety metrics tracking process.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?