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Developing and Implementing a Global Safety Management System

Shirley Parsons successfully designed and implemented a scalable and sustainable Safety Management System (SMS) for a global engineering simulation software company, enhancing their compliance, safety, and sustainability.

Background

A global engineering simulation software company, with over 50 years of experience in providing predictive simulation across multiple industries, aimed to bolster the growth and innovation of their products and services. With approximately 6,500 employees spread across 90 offices worldwide, the company faced a significant challenge—they lacked a global Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) management system.

To address this, they sought the expertise of Shirley Parsons to design, develop, and implement a fit-for-purpose, scalable, and sustainable Safety Management System (SMS).

Implementation

The development of a company-wide global SMS was a comprehensive process that required a strategic and systematic approach. This was executed through five key stages:

  1. Getting Management Leadership & Employee Participation: Ensuring that both management and employees were actively involved and committed to the development of the SMS.
  2. Planning the Safety Management System: Detailed planning was conducted to design a system that would meet the company’s global needs while ensuring compliance and safety across all locations.
  3. Implementing & Operating the Safety Management System: The SMS was implemented across the company’s global operations, with a focus on seamless integration into existing processes.
  4. Monitoring, Evaluating, and Correcting the Safety Management System: Continuous monitoring and evaluation were carried out to ensure the SMS was functioning as intended, with corrective actions taken as necessary.
  5. Management Review of the Safety Management System: Regular reviews by the management were conducted to assess the effectiveness of the SMS and to make any necessary adjustments.

 

These five stages were condensed into two key phases:

  • Phase 1: Risk Assessment and Gap Analysis
    • Immediate risks were identified, and a gap analysis of the current SMS was performed.
    • A Legal Compliance Register was developed for 12 global locations, as outlined in the company’s real estate spreadsheet.
  • Phase 2: Design and Implementation of SMS
    • A scalable and sustainable SMS was planned, designed, developed, and implemented to meet the company’s global needs.

Outcome

The project delivered several key outcomes:

  • Risk Identification and Remediation: Individual summary reports for each site identified immediate risks and hazards, along with recommended remedial actions.
  • Operating Model Development: A workable and sustainable SMS operating model was developed, tailored to the company’s specific needs.
  • Assessment and Evaluation: A thorough assessment and evaluation of the existing H&S systems, policies, and procedures were conducted. Gaps and duplications were identified, and a comprehensive summary report was provided.
  • Legal Compliance Risk Register: A complete and accurate Legal Compliance Risk Register was created, with a suitable template for the remaining global office locations.
  • Implementation Plan: A fully costed implementation plan for the future state of the SMS was presented to the Board, ensuring a clear roadmap for continued success.

 

This case study highlights the importance of a well-structured and systematically implemented Safety Management System in ensuring a global company’s compliance, safety, and sustainability goals.

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