Software can be a great tool for managing aspects of business. Nearly every specialty has a 
management software package suitable to run most businesses in that industry. Do you get the feeling business is over-managed and under-lead? Risk management programs need leadership first to create a culture of corporate safety. These software programs are tools, not decision-makers.
Some packages have excellent incident management tools: checklists, timelines, procedures. Some have safety meeting models and handouts for topics. Most have compliance tools to assure government regulations and industry standards are completed. Risk management surveys are popular.
Management is a process by which other processes and operations are measured, changed and rewarded. It’s the head of the operations.
Leadership is the big idea, the dream, the heart of the operation. Leaders decide if employees come first and production second; or if bottom line dollars trump everything else. Management then decides key performance indicators, measuring strategies, and standard operating procedures.
The strength of these software packages is in the management role. The weakness is in the inability to translate the KPI mentality to the cultural setting of the business. The software is like receiving a mathematical explanation of the Declaration of Independence.
Managers need to take the useful tools, and interpret the data into the company jargon. Enlightened company leadership treats safety as an employee benefit. Safety reports should not just list the failures in the system, the injuries and damaged property.
Communications should include the investigations of close calls which sparked some change in procedure and reduced the likelihood of future claims. Industry average loss rates should be compared with your company loss rates. Is management doing a good job?
Safety software tends to concentrate on incidents or canned meeting topics. Then, a summary report is generated. Good information. But risk management depends on implementation of a safety culture, not just incident reduction or accounting.
Use the tools, but accept leadership responsibility and move employees to enlightened safety awareness.
