Your ultimate guide to balancing safety, efficiency and performance

Following the global pandemic, a significant trend emerged across various industries: a large wave of resignations. Particularly pronounced in sectors such as manufacturing and security, it marked a profound shift in employee values and priorities. Workers, who had previously accepted potentially hazardous work environments as the norm, began to reassess their choices.

The pandemic forced them to reconsider their work conditions and the impact on their well-being. Consequently, issues like employee satisfaction, talent attraction, and retention have assumed a more prominent role. All while businesses grapple with cost control and improving profits. Additionally, the spotlight has turned towards the cost of inefficient business operations and breakdowns, where every minute of downtime can translate into millions in losses.

As organizations navigate the post-pandemic landscape, two imperatives have emerged: workplace safety and operational efficiency. The importance of real-time communication and notification systems has become abundantly clear in addressing these challenges. In this article, we examine a complete approach to improving workplace safety, operational efficiency, and situational awareness. Ultimately, creating a safer and more productive (and profitable) work environment.

Prioritizing workplace safety is critical

Workplace safety stands as one of the most critical aspects that organizations must tackle. Shockingly, statistics reveal that 25% of all employees experience some form of harassment during their careers. Also, when an employee is injured on the job, the consequences impact both the individual and the business as a whole. This is where alarm management systems come into play, serving as a crucial tool for identifying and addressing risky situations, whether through manual or automatic interventions. More about workplace safety

Protecting lone workers

Consider, for example, lone worker protection. In certain organizations or settings, the nature of the location or process makes working alone unavoidable. This may be due to a specific function or operational efficiency requirements. However, when someone works alone, they are naturally more vulnerable to risks, such as sudden illness or accidents. Therefore, organizations must assess whether they employ lone workers and, if so, implement protective measures to ensure their safety. More about for lone workers.

Managing risky environments

Many organizations inherently have environments or circumstances that pose significant risks to staff. This includes security establishments like prisons and police stations, as well as locations housing valuable assets that may be targeted by intruders. Similarly, large manufacturing sites with complex production lines and processes require security. These situations often involve guard rounding or security personnel working overnight, rendering them potentially vulnerable to unwelcome guests. Safeguarding these employees is a top priority in ensuring workplace safety. Read ore about managing risky environments.

Improving operational efficiency: the numbers matter

In today's highly competitive landscape, organizations are tasked with achieving more with fewer resources. This often means deploying fewer mobile staff who have to assume greater responsibilities. Achieving operational efficiency and safeguarding critical processes and equipment require a coordinated approach that includes task management, response times, and maintenance procedures. More about improving operational efficiency.

Digitized task management and swift breakdown response

Traditional methods like whiteboards or paper-based systems slow down task organization and execution. Digitizing task management offers a streamlined solution that not only simplifies task recording but also allows for the inclusion of notes and photographic evidence, greatly improving efficiency and accountability.

During equipment breakdowns, time is of the essence. Downtime can result in substantial financial losses, ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions per minute, depending on the nature of the business. To minimize these losses, organizations need to use location and mobilization technology to maximise their breakdown response.

Digitizing scheduled maintenance tasks rationalizes processes, enabling organizations to distribute tasks more efficiently to a mobile workforce. Moreover, it simplifies record-keeping, reduces downtime, and reduces unnecessary costs associated with equipment failures. To put it bluntly, effective management of scheduled maintenance is essential to operational efficiency. More about managing breakdown response.

Increasing situational awareness through data

In the pursuit of performance and efficiency gains, most industries and sectors are experiencing increased digitalization and automation of processes. This trend generates a wealth of valuable data that can inform better decision-making:

Integrating Internet of Things (IoT) sensors provides your organization with invaluable data that can significantly improve operational efficiency. This data enables you to identify deviations and breakdowns in real time, allowing for earlier intervention and smarter decision-making. Harnessing the power of IoT sensors can completely revolutionize how organizations respond to operational challenges. More about IoT.

Choosing the right technology: tips for success

To address workplace safety, operational efficiency, and situational awareness requires a multifaceted approach that encompasses a range of devices, technology choices, infrastructure, and software solutions. To ensure a comprehensive and effective strategy, organizations can follow these three essential tips:

Choose consolidation: When addressing these critical aspects of workplace management, it’s extremely beneficial to consolidate various solutions from a single provider. This approach not only offers functionality but also ensures accountability and compatibility among different systems.

Recognize existing solutions: Many organizations fail to fully capitalize on the potential of the technology solutions they already have. It’s essential to analyze all functionalities within existing solutions to uncover additional problem-solving capabilities. This proactive approach can significantly improve the employee experience and overall efficiency.

Easy to use means better results: Solutions must be user-friendly, dependable, and operational when needed. To achieve this, incorporating customer feedback, needs, and specifications into the research and development process is essential.

A compass for safer workplaces: In this new era, where employees increasingly value their well-being and organizations continually seek to optimise processes, the strategies discussed can serve as a compass for creating safer, more efficient, and adaptable workplaces. By embracing technology-driven solutions, organizations can mitigate risks, empower their workforce, and excel in an environment where safety and efficiency are leading. 

Read more about Ascom Enterprise Solutions.