Leading organizations adopt a risk-based approach to environment, health, and safety (EHS) management to go beyond regulatory compliance.
Risk assessments are part of an effective EHS management program. But what happens after initial risk assessments are completed? They may be revised after an incident or over time (e.g. every 5 years). However, it’s always important to be proactive about EHS risks.
Here are four examples how EHS software can be used to enable proactive risk management.
Analysis of near misses and employee observations
Employees and contractors are valuable sources of insight when it comes to identifying new hazards and risks. EHS software simplifies the process by enabling them to easily report near misses, hazards, and unsafe or at-risk behaviors or conditions through a mobile app or desktop software.
Once reported, this data is analyzed with EHS software to uncover hazards and emerging risks. Organizations can then proactively implement controls to mitigate these hazards before they lead to incidents. Instead of reacting to problems after they occur, companies can leverage early warning signs or other indications to stay ahead of potential risks.
Evaluation of control effectiveness
Conducting an initial risk assessment and implementing controls is just the first step in preventing incidents. Over time, controls and barriers can weaken, making it essential to continuously evaluate their effectiveness. While risk assessments may be reviewed every five years, controls and barriers require more frequent assessments, ideally ongoing or in real-time.
EHS software provides organizations with tools to enable proactive risk management through the ability to evaluate the effectiveness of controls.
First, an inspections module allows organizations to conduct targeted inspections to verify whether controls remain effective. These inspections leverage software-based checklists, and results can be analyzed within the EHS platform to identify weaknesses or failures.
Second, barrier management capabilities offer a real-time or near-real-time view of barrier health across all operations. Instead of discovering a degraded barrier only after an incident or periodic inspection, plant and safety managers receive early alerts—allowing them to address issues before they become serious risks.
By leveraging these capabilities, organizations can take a truly proactive approach to risk management, ensuring that safety measures always remain strong and effective.
Management of Change
Management of Change (MOC) is one of the 14 elements of OSHA’s Process Safety Management (PSM) standard, but its importance extends beyond PSM alone. MOC should be viewed in the broader context of EHS and operations, as every type of change, whether in personnel, process, equipment, or product, has the potential to introduce new hazards or risks.
To stay ahead of these risks, organizations must evaluate whether a proposed change could lead to problems.
EHS software streamlines this process by providing structured workflows, automated notifications, and audit trails for managing MOC requests. This ensures every change undergoes a thorough assessment, allowing organizations to proactively identify and address risks before they lead to incidents.
Enterprise-wide risk register
A risk-centered EHS platform includes a comprehensive risk register that allows organizations to track and manage risks and controls across the entire enterprise. This is especially critical for companies with global operations, where similar hazards and risks may be present at multiple sites.
For example, if a specific type of machinery or equipment at one facility has the potential to malfunction under certain conditions—leading to operational disruptions or a safety incident—it's essential to know where else that same equipment is used. This enables proactive measures to be implemented enterprise-wide before issues arise.
Likewise, if occupational health risks related to chemical exposure are identified at a particular plant, organizations need visibility into all other facilities where similar exposure risks exist. With this insight, preventive controls can be implemented universally, rather than reacting to issues as they occur.
EHS software provides a holistic, real-time view of all EHS risks and controls across global operations, allowing organizations to proactively mitigate risks enterprise-wide before they escalate into incidents.
Benchmarking EHS software solutions
How can you determine which EHS software solutions include the right features to enable proactive risk management?
The Green Quadrant: EHS Software 2025 report from independent research firm Verdantix is used by leading organizations to compare EHS software solutions. Here’s the current assessment of EHS software vendors:
The report evaluates and scores EHS software platforms on eight technical, 19 functional, and 12 market momentum categories.
For example, in the category ‘EHS compliance & risk management’, which covers risk identification, risk assessment, and risk register, Wolters Kluwer Enablon received a score of 2.8 on 3.0. It’s the highest score among all vendors.
Similarly, in the category ‘Management of Change’, Wolters Kluwer Enablon received a score of 2.7 on 3.0, which is also the highest score among all vendors.
Download your complimentary copy of the Verdantix Green Quadrant: EHS Software 2025 report to explore all scores across all categories.
