What Is Benchmarking?
Traditionally, a benchmark is a reference point used in the process of surveying. But, that’s not all it is. Now, benchmarking has developed into a useful business improvement tool that can be applied to any area of an organisation’s work – including safety management.
By encouraging analysis of your business, and by close examination of other businesses’ methods, processes, procedures and performance, benchmarking can reveal where you’re excelling – and where you could improve.
As you can see, it is a really useful tool for assessing the best way to keep your team safe when they are out completing their work.
Do You Need To Benchmark?
We think that benchmarking is a must-do for your business. Here’s why.
It’s just as important to manage safety as it is to manage things like production, finance or customer service. Often, these are the areas that a business will have already completed some benchmarking work. But, they aren’t the only areas to focus on. Benchmarking safety can deliver tangible advantages.
You can:
● Improve your internal and external reputation – this is important in an increasingly transparent business world when trust is vital for customers and recruitment.
● Learn from others – save time, money and avoid mistakes. No need to reinvent the wheel!
● Develop relationships with customers, suppliers and your competition. Become better together.
● Find out where you stand – are you the best, or is there room for improvement?
● Save money – think reduced insurance premiums, increased productivity and reduced staff turnover.
● Improve overall management of health and safety and reduce risks to employees.
What’s In It For You?
Being seen as the best in your industry is an attractive prospect! Benchmarking can help you achieve this. But it can also help you meet your safety responsibilities in a much more effective, efficient way.
Start with desired outcomes. Imagine the benefits of benchmarking. Do you want to:
● achieve recognition from safety authorities?
● better understand effective safety management systems?
● overcome complacency about safety at work?
● build and bolster commitment to improve safety management?
● achieve great leaps in safety performance?
● identify, understand and implement best practices?
● develop a shared vision for safety among your people?
Benchmarking can help you do all of these vital things, and more. So, how do you get started with this tool?
1, 2, 3 Your Way To Better Safety Management
Ready to make improvements? Then it’s time to get started! A general process for benchmarking safety management will look like this.
Analyse where you are at present.
Select partners to collaborate with: be they competitors, stakeholders, or clients.
Work together to compare and share.
Reflect on your findings.
Put your findings into action.
Point #5 Is What Will Lead To Real Improvement
Benchmarking is not just about comparing data or copying your competitors. It’s about continuously learning – and then acting on the lessons learned.
Benchmarking is a means to an end, not an end in itself.
It’s a powerful tool for continuous improvement in safety management at your enterprise. Your findings may also lead you to decide to purchase new equipment, allocate more resources to training, or improve monitoring practices.
Benchmarking can also emphasise that safety is everyone’s responsibility, and always central to business operations. Sharing your findings with key stakeholders can facilitate positive change in company safety.
Find Your Benchmark
Now that you know all about the benefits of benchmarking, it’s time to get started.
Are you ready to gather information and improve safety for your team?
While powerful, benchmarking can be a time consuming task. Especially if you aren’t really sure where to start or which tools will help you find the information you seek.
With our safety devices and health and safety planning for lone workers, Direct Safety can support you in your safety benchmarking journey. Get in touch with us to discover how we can help.