International good practices in health and safety reporting

What to collect and why

When it comes to collecting data, it’s essential to reflect on the organization of the process. This reflection may occur when starting a new project or revising a management system. It’s also necessary to consider improving the system’s performance during the review phase. Sometimes, clients may analyze OHS performance indicators when selecting a contractor for major infrastructure projects. The contractor may be required to produce a report with specific content and well-selected indicators. However, different services may collect or request data without coordination within the contractor’s organization. This can lead to inefficiencies and decrease the authority of the services. Coordinating data collection efforts is crucial to avoid misinterpretation of its importance.

You only live twice: qualification vs working knowledge | HSE People

Globalization has led to the widespread use of Anglo-Saxon terminology in business, including “KPI.” Key Performance Indicators measure process performance and are often analyzed in corporate decision-making. The two main elements for identifying KPIs are:

• that the indicator is measurable;
• that the process is such that it is possible to intervene in it so that the defined indicator shows a variation.

Defining, collecting, and processing KPIs require three implicit requirements. Firstly, the organization must have the means and willingness to intervene. Secondly, the company must perceive the collection of indicators as necessary. Lastly, collecting information should be organized, where departments request the same information differently without proper communication. This confusing process can lead to a negative perception of the KPI collection process.

HSE and technology | HSE People

While Italy has clear standards for defining accidents at work and updating relevant parameters and indicators, international reporting needs more consistency. Most of the world calculates the injury frequency index as the number of injuries per million hours worked. However, North America and other areas that follow OSHA measure it as the number of injuries every 200,000 hours. This has caused confusion and inconsistency, as neither the ISO 2018 standard for occupational health and safety management systems nor related standards specifically address this issue.

Contrary to popular belief, there are well-structured international references that address and regulate this topic organically. It would be beneficial for our organizations to consider them.

The Global Reporting Initiative

The Global Reporting Initiative is a non-profit organization that assists companies, governments, and NGOs communicate their impact on the economy, environment, and society. They aim to develop standards that can be utilized by organizations of any size, type, or location to report on their sustainability performance. The GRI became an independent entity in 2002 and had its principles endorsed by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

Many organizations now publish sustainability reports annually, not just a select few. Some see it as a commercial necessity to stay relevant, while others use it to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable development to various stakeholders. These reports are meant to show transparency and accountability, improve performance, and attract customers and investors. They were first created in the 1980s by the chemical industry to address severe image problems. Overall, sustainability reports should reflect an organization’s dedication to sustainable practices.

The fish rots from the head down – HSE People

According to GRI, organizations that share information about their activities are responsible and transparent to their stakeholders. Reporting helps organizations manage their impact and become trustworthy and sustainable. GRI standards are divided into two levels.

• universal standards, relating to the foundations of their use, to general explanations, identifiable as series 100 (101, 102, 103) and the management approach, series 200 (from 201 to 206);
• specific standards for certain topics, divided into the environment (from 301 to 308) and economy and society (from 401 to 419). The standard for worker health and safety reporting is 403.

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