Each chemical onsite is documented with an MSDS, which provides information on how to handle the chemical during normal operations and in the event of an emergency. The data sheets which are cumbersome at best when stored on paper must be accurate, up to date and easily accessible to employees. When maintained properly in an automated system, MSDSs promote worker safety and build morale by demonstrating the organization's commitment to safety. The major elements of OSHA compliance involve exposure monitoring, injury and illness tracking, worker training and medical surveillance. Together, these tasks comprise a network of vital activities that protect the workforce and promote corporate sustainability.
Many corporations use multiple systems to manage worker health and safety.
However, this arrangement not only creates extra information technology support costs and redundant data entry, but also introduces the risk that vital safety information may fall through the cracks. It is virtually impossible to implement corrective actions without tracking the data. Compliance management tracking is also a job for an effective information system because it enables the organization to use more-efficient strategies to address regulatory strictures. A well-managed compliance effort also helps to keep an enterprise within an ISO 14000 global environmental planning system. Web-enabled revolution Effective information systems are powerful enough to address activities throughout the entire organization and flexible enough to deliver components based on specific organizational needs.