Maintenance teams can improve workplace safety with CMMS. It’s very likely your organization has to follow safety protocols from numerous organizations or regulatory agencies. Beyond those legal requirements, however, maintenance managers are responsible for creating a safe work environment for all employees—whether they work in the maintenance department or not.
Maintenance work affects the entire organization—whether it’s on a production line or in a building. That’s a lot of responsibility. And maintenance technicians often work in environments that can be hazardous.
Regular Maintenance Maven readers will remember our friend Troy, who was facing an OSHA investigation after a workplace accident. Vic, another MPulse customer, reminded me there’s a lot more to workplace safety than OSHA regulations.
“OSHA documentation is important, Steve,” said Vic, a facilities manager for a large university. “But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. My team is responsible for their own safety on the job, but they also contribute to the safety of our building occupants and visitors. We’re constantly on alert.”
How to Improve Workplace Safety with CMMS
Safety in the workplace requires a lot of documentation, particularly for creating procedures and recording maintenance activities. And, I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: there’s nothing better at documenting those tasks than CMMS software.
Vic agrees. “We’ve had some staff changes here, but the transition has gone more smoothly than I thought it would,” he said. “That’s because my team spent the time to thoroughly document our maintenance procedures. So when someone else needs to do the task next, they have custom checklists, resources like repair and preventative maintenance manuals, asset history, and safety procedures right there with the work order.”
And best of all, much of that documentation is automated. Once it’s set up, your maintenance team is ready to go.
“The biggest advantage I’ve found with our MPulse Software, Inc is the automated alerts,” Vic told me. “I know when our safety inspections are due. I can see who has had what safety training, and what certifications are going to expire. Plus, I don’t even have to remember to look for the information—the reminder pops up exactly when I need it.”
How CMMS Helps Improve Workplace Safety
Vic’s maintenance team uses MPulse CMMS software to…
- Update safety procedures
- Document safety training
- Publish safety data as a reminder to employees
- Standardize checklists for scheduled inspections
- Create a paper trail showing preventive measures
- Detail emergency procedures in case of a natural disaster or other incident.
“We are definitely scheduling and tracking our maintenance and safety-related tasks and information, including those tasks required by law,” Vic said. “But it’s not just about protecting ourselves in an audit. It’s in our best interest to be proactive about our employees’ health and safety.”
I couldn’t agree more. Contact us with your questions about maintenance’s role in workplace health and safety. Or get a free trial.
