Redefining Safety Metrics with Leading Indicators

Advances in technology now allow a broader scope of connectivity than ever before. Most processes are driven by data-driven metrics. Yet despite these improvements workplace safety has by and large not been transformed as part of Industry 4.0. Even companies that pride themselves on digital advancement still approach safety programs with top-down, incident-based information that's gleaned from lagging safety indicators. In other words, there is less real time response and fewer proactive, predictive safety measures than could be achieved by accepting new technologies into safety programs

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"Old" safety programs still approach some things the right way, but in many organizations improvements to safety statistics have plateaued. This means overall safety rates are getting worse. In 2016 OSHA reported a 7% increase in workplace fatalities. This is the highest rate since 2008. Something has to change.

As the concept of a connected workplace takes root in industry, safety needs to become an important part of this digital equation. Nowadays operations move at an increasingly rapid pace. Historical data and lagging indicators can't be the backbone of safety programs without negatively affecting productivity.

Right now the technology exists to deliver real time safety data that can help organizations re-shape their safety programs into a more predictive and proactive model. Industry needs to embrace innovation and a new set of metrics that allow for technology-enabled, next-generation safety programs. These new metrics should center on:

• Hazard Exposure
• Individual Risk
• Incident Profiles

Before we can dive deeply into metrics, though, we need to examine how each person at every level of an organization will engage with and utilize the data. The absolute backbone of a successful connected safety program is the worker.

To learn more about how worker engagement and leading indicators allow individuals at all levels to make better safety decisions, download our new executive brief Redefining Safety Metrics for Industry 4.0.