HSE Reporting System

However safe we try to make our workplace, accidents will still happen. The important part is learning from our experiences. This system was built for a client to monitor and report on its safety performance.

The existing system required filling in an Excel spreadsheet and emailing it to the Health & Safety co-ordinator. These spreadsheets were then stored and referred to when required.

The first task was to re-design the spreadsheet using lookups to make the data as consistent as possible, and also to ensure that mandatory data was completed before it was sent to the co-ordinator.

The second task was to create a database to store the data and to enable reporting services to be provided. This was built using Access.

The final stage was to set up folders in Outlook and have all emails containing Health and Safety workbooks attached directed to this folder. The Access database was then programmed to extract the workbook from the email, import the data from the workbook into the database, mark the email as having been actioned and then move it to a separate folder in Outlook.

The end result was a system which was easier for both those reporting the incidents, and for those analysing the data.