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In 2023, Dow Terneuzen was looking for a comprehensive platform to centrally manage all safety aspects across their 15 manufacturing sites. Or as Robin Spoor (Sr. EHS&S Delivery Specialist Dow Benelux) puts it: “One platform with which we can ‘operate’ Safety at Dow.” Dow Terneuzen has now been working with the Safesight safety management platform for over 2 years – time for a retrospective with the project team.
One central place where it all comes together
Guido Vinke (EH&S Delivery Leader Dow Benelux): “We were looking for a platform to easily register, monitor, and handle all reports, observations, and inspections related to safety at our location and in the factories. One place where everything comes together – including reports from our subcontractors.”
Spoor continues: “It was important that all data could be translated into clear – custom – dashboards. Our data was available at several different locations, and thus we spent too much time collecting, consolidating, and creating our own dashboards. That had to change.”
Additionally, the organization was looking for a way to provide the various safety professionals on site with (safety) information in an accessible manner. Think safety standards, floor plans, toolbox talks, and safety plans. All in all, quite a wish list and therefore a significant challenge.
Starting Step-by-Step
Marcel Gokke (EH&S Specialist Dow Benelux): “At a trade fair, we saw Safesight and the simplicity and user-friendliness of the platform immediately appealed to us. After several presentations and – jointly – developing a plan of action, implementation could start.”
The platform was implemented in 3 phases. Spoor: “We started with a small focus group and used those results as the basis for phase 2. In phase 2, we added the safety leaders from the 15 different factories, external companies, and Dow contractors to the platform. Then, during several plenary sessions, we explained the ‘how and why,’ and then we got to work.”
Both Spoor and Gokke emphasize that it’s important not to try to force your existing way of working – which you actually want to change – into a new platform. Spoor: “We have a tendency to do that too sometimes. For instance, we wanted to copy the existing inspection lists 1-to-1 into the app. That wasn’t practical at all and it eliminated precisely that much-praised user-friendliness. So use these kinds of tools as they’re built – don’t try to customize them too much.”
Spoor continues: “Just start with the tool and make sure you inform all stakeholders in a timely manner and involve them when necessary. That sometimes leads to early hesitation, but there are often good ideas in that feedback. And with Safesight, fortunately, we have a partner who listens to that feedback and is willing to implement certain adjustments to the platform.”
More Reports, Better Overview, Fewer Incidents
Gokke: “During the second phase of implementation, we received a lot of positive feedback – again about the user-friendliness of the tool. Creating a report is organized by topic, is very practical, and takes little time. And of course, it’s good that photos can be added to a report or finding.”
“Moreover, it’s convenient that an action with an action owner is directly linked to a report. This makes it easy to track reports —both for the reporter and the person responsible for the action— and means they are much less likely to be overlooked,” says Gokke.
Due to the low threshold for creating a report, the organization receives many more reports. Spoor: “As a result, we as a safety organization are better able to identify trends and can resolve them faster. This way, we actually prevent incidents.”
“The fact that Safesight also provides us with a clear Power BI dashboard is a huge plus,” Spoor continues. All data comes together in this custom dashboard – for the entire site, but also per department or specifically per company. Spoor: “We now have a real-time overview and can —per topic — follow trends, define actions, and engage in dialogue with those involved. The transparency that this brings works extremely well — it means we are trully ‘operating’ safety at our location!
Vinke: “In the short term, we will replace all existing systems for documenting observations and inspections with the Safesight platform.” According to Vinke, it’s important that each individual department works with the data themselves. That they look at their weak points as well as their strong points. And then initiate improvements based on that. Vinke continues: “This must be a continuous process – in other words, ‘operating Safety,’ as Robin so nicely puts it.”
Support During Turnarounds Too
After an extensive pilot phase and a phased implementation, Dow Terneuzen is making Safesight available throughout the entire plant. The final step is posting QR codes at various locations – then everyone can easily contribute to a safe working environment.
And it’s not just the regular safety organization working on the platform. The project organizations for large and small Turnarounds are also supported by Safesight. For this purpose, separate – temporary – project environments are set up, with their own project information, their own topics, and their own user groups. A uniform way to safequard safety at the plant.
Tips for Other Users
Any tips for others considering working with Safesight? Spoor: “Just get started with it and let the tool and its implementation grow with the needs from your stakeholders. Don’t try to achieve the perfect picture all at once – as you go along, things will come up that you didn’t think of beforehand and that you still need to respond to.”
Spoor continues: “And roll out the tool in phases – depending on the size of the organization. Start with a small group, continuously expand it, and take your time with that. Do assign a dedicated project manager who deals with the challenges that arise. And who can invest time and energy to make working with the platform a success. That’s what we did and it worked out excellently for us.”
Want to know more?
Want to know more about how you can improve mutual cooperation and save time and budget? Perhaps a demo? Please contact Edo at edo@safesightsafety.com or on +31 (0)6 14 83 35 36.