SHIELD is the Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Management solution in ESB. It is powered by enviroMANAGER, a modular IT system to record and manage Incidents, Risk, Audit, Law and monitoring EHS data. The solution was launched in July 2014 with the implementation of the Incident module. The remaining modules were implemented during 2015.
The necessity for SHIELD became apparent when a review of safety reporting systems was conducted in 2010. This found that there were 37 separate systems used to manage safety information alone. Many of these systems recorded similar information but in different formats. There was weak oversight and validation of the information. Safety reporting was taking up a significant portion of safety specialists' time. There was little sharing of information between businesses and it was difficult to understand where the significant EHS risks lay.
ESB's goal is to have a consistent and rigorous approach to safety with safety firmly embedded as a value with the overall goal of zero harm. A fit for purpose integrated Environmental, Health and Safety risk management solution is needed to facilitate the business in delivering this key strategic goal.
In determining the business and technical requirements for a single solution the similarities between safety and environment reporting informed a decision to seek a solution for Environment, Health and Safety. The solution would include an IT system and changes to business processes. Following a competitive tender process for a suitable IT system, enviroMANAGER was chosen. It has been developed and is owned by Irish company Scannell Solutions Ltd. Their contract is to supply an integrated IT platform to manage the following key EHS areas:
- Incidents - including personal injuries, near miss incidents and environmental incidents.
- Risk - planning and conducting audits of key risk areas.
- Law - provision of a legal register and compliance tool.
- Data - monitoring tool for statutory compliance and other checks.
The benefits this brings to ESB include: the active management of key environment, health and safety risks, demonstrating legal compliance and consistent and transparent reporting.
This integrated SHIELD solution is aligned to the Safety Leadership Framework by demonstrating leadership through retiring legacy systems and embracing the single solution, Compliance by transparency of information provides assurance on compliance, Competence through Incident Investigation findings, Competency risk assessments and Audits, and Engagement through active consistent use of the solution by all businesses.
The Implementation process involves matching the business requirements to the solution. Where there are gaps then either changing our business processes or making slight modifications to the IT system are undertaken. These are tested both from IT and business use perspectives. End users are then trained on the solution. This involves learning new business processes and how to apply them in enviroMANAGER. Finally, the legacy EHS reporting systems are retired so that only one solution is available for use throughout the company.
For more information on ESB's safety policies and values, click here.