Barriers Getting in the Way of Mobile EHS Application Usage

Organizations face numerous challenges when it comes to adopting mobile technologies, according to a new survey from Verdantix and Intelex.

The reasons for this are a lack of company-provided devices (82%), the saturation of other applications (80%), and connectivity issues (76%).

“Our research shows that mobile devices are still used primarily for compliance, despite their vast potential to drive transformational safety project,” Melissa Hammerle, president of Intelex, in a statement. “There is a critical need for a shift from mere compliance to a more engaged and proactive safety culture. Mobile EHS applications are key to this – providing real-time data and fostering better communication between frontline workers and EHS professionals. “Organizations that successfully adopt mobile tools see improved safety engagement, streamlined processes, and a stronger overall safety culture.”

The research also highlighted that mobile devices are primarily used on a reactive basis to streamline compliance and reporting, meaning untapped potential to drive safety transformation through increased engagement and culture.

Although 70% of organizations have centralized digital tools, 18% still rely on inefficient traditional methods such as paper and spreadsheets. Only 12% have fully embraced advanced digital safety tools.

According to the study, incident reporting (54%) and audits and inspections (30%) were the most widely deployed mobile EHS processes, primarily focused on streamlining compliance efforts.

Easy access to risk assessments (100%), emergency alerts (96%) and permits and procedures (90%) were found to be critical components in mobile applications for managing safety – enabling organizations to respond promptly to emergencies, ensure proper authorization for various activities, and evaluate potential hazards.

For mobile tools to be widely adopted, respondents said that an easy user interface (64%) was the most essential requirement, followed by configurability (30%). An intuitive user interface ensures that employees can easily navigate the tools without extensive training, while configurability allows organizations to tailor tools to specific needs, enhancing effectiveness and usability.

Looking to the future, the research indicates that AI has the potential to significantly impact EHS processes by providing user support (34%), predicting risks (27%), and organizing data (20%). By leveraging AI, organizations can proactively identify potential hazards, stay updated with regulatory changes, and offer real-time assistance to users, thereby improving overall safety and compliance.