EHS 4.0 is upon us. Many companies are leveraging technology to facilitate, organize and grow their Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) programs. The influx of technology and EHS information management systems have made it more convenient than ever before for companies to collect and store EHS related data. However, it is one thing to collect data, but it is quite another to use data to make positive change.
As information gathering becomes more convenient, it is important to remember that information is not communication. This is a catchy slogan, but also a great reminder of an obvious truth. Without established communication pathways, the detailed EHS information that you work so hard to collect is doomed to wither away in a labyrinth of database tables. For the information to be useful, as a positive change agent, you need to develop a feedback process for communicating the information to the right people in your organization. Creating an effective feedback loop will help turn your data inputs into actions for improvement, unleashing the valuable insights from the information that you work so hard to collect. To develop an effective feedback loop, you need to focus on the “4-Ws” of data planning: why, who, what, and when.