Key EHS performance metrics leadership should consider
EHS performance metrics
1. Incident rates
The number and rate of workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities, as well as environmental incidents such as spills or releases.
2. Compliance with legal and regulatory requirements
The percentage of compliance with relevant EHS laws and regulations, as well as the number of inspections and citations received.
3. Employee engagement and participation
The percentage of employees who have received EHS training, the number of employee suggestions for EHS improvement, and the number of employee-led EHS initiatives.
4. EHS management system effectiveness
The percentage of management system elements that are implemented and maintained, as well as the percentage of management system elements that are audited and found to be in compliance.
5. EHS performance improvement
The number and rate of EHS incidents over time, as well as the percentage of improvement in EHS performance from year to year.
6. Return on investment (ROI) on EHS initiatives
The costs and benefits of EHS initiatives, such as the costs of implementing an EHS management system compared to the reduction in workplace incidents and injuries.
7. Environmental Indicators
This includes energy consumption, water usage, waste generated, CO2 emissions, etc.
8. Human exposure and health indicators
Including noise levels, air quality, chemical exposure, etc.
It’s important to note that these are a compilation of possible EHS performance metrics. Leadership should choose the metrics that are most relevant to their unique EHS risks and objectives.
Failure modes
Here are common failure modes that leadership needs to address:
1. Lack of data
Without accurate and reliable data, it can be difficult for leadership to effectively monitor and improve EHS performance.
2. Limited focus on specific hazards
While key EHS performance metrics provide a general overview of EHS performance, they may not fully address specific hazards or risks that are unique to an organization or industry.
3. Insufficient employee engagement
Without the participation and buy-in of employees, key EHS performance metrics may not accurately reflect the organization’s overall EHS performance
4. Limited scope of data
EHS performance metrics may only cover specific areas or locations, and not the entire organization.
5. Lack of actionable information
EHS performance metrics may not provide actionable information for leadership to make improvements.
6. Limited frequency of data collection
Data collection may not be frequent enough to capture real-time performance and emerging trends.
7. Inadequate data analysis
Data analysis may not be thorough enough to identify the underlying causes of EHS issues.
We do think it’s important to underline that safety leaders shouldn’t solely rely on sets of data to make critical decisions. Spending time in the field, and understanding their workers’ needs firsthand is also a key factor in monitoring and improving EHS operations.
