Dolese transforms Safety and Compliance with Novara Flex
"With Novara Flex, we've transformed our safety culture. The ability to track and manage workplace exams digitally has been a game-changer for us." – David Finley, Director of Health, Safety, and Environmental
Customer Profile
Dolese
Dolese is an employee-owned construction materials company based in Oklahoma, with operations in Oklahoma and Texas, employing about 1100 people. Specializing in aggregate and sand facilities, Dolese also operates over 400 DOT vehicles in their ready-mix operations.
Challenge
Dolese’s journey toward improved safety and compliance was marked by several critical challenges:
- Dolese relied on a cumbersome, paper-based system for workplace exams, which often resulted in misplaced paperwork and citations despite their compliance efforts. This not only increased the risk of non-compliance with IMSHA regulations but also created inefficiencies and administrative burdens that hampered the overall safety program.
- Tracking safety incidents and exams manually was both inefficient and error-prone. The lack of an automated system made it difficult to maintain accurate records, leading to potential oversights and delays in addressing safety concerns. This inefficiency necessitated more user-friendly reporting mechanisms to effectively engage both leadership and frontline workers.
- Encouraging employee participation in safety programs and reporting near misses proved challenging. Many employees were hesitant to report safety concerns, either due to a lack of understanding of the process or fear of repercussions. This reluctance hindered the company’s ability to proactively identify and mitigate risks.
- Securing leadership buy-in for safety programs and goal setting was essential but challenging. Without strong support from leadership, safety initiatives lacked the necessary visibility and resources to drive meaningful change. Leadership needed to be convinced of the value of investing time and resources into robust safety programs.
- Previous EHS software systems used were inflexible and could not be customized to meet the company’s specific needs. This lack of customization limited the effectiveness and adoption of these systems among employees. The inability to tailor the software to address unique challenges and requirements resulted in suboptimal safety performance.
- Identifying and tracking the right performance metrics to drive safety improvements was a key challenge. Dolese needed to establish clear, actionable metrics that could provide insights into safety performance and highlight areas for improvement. Without the right metrics, it was difficult to measure progress and hold employees accountable.
Solution
By transitioning to Novara Flex’s digital platform, Dolese ensured that all workplace exams were documented, stored, and easily accessible, reducing the risk of citations and improving accountability.
Key solutions included:
- Comprehensive Data Management: The comprehensive data management capabilities, including mobile-friendly forms, real-time notifications, and detailed reporting dashboards, streamlined data collection and analysis, making the entire process more efficient and effective.
- Mobile App for Better Reporting: The mobile app feature made it easier for employees to report near misses and safety concerns, significantly increasing participation and engagement. Dolese’s executive team set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based (SMART) safety goals. Regular reporting and visible commitment from leadership ensured ongoing focus and accountability in safety initiatives.
- Configurable Forms: The highly configurable platform of Novara Flex allowed Dolese to tailor forms and processes to their unique requirements, addressing specific challenges and continuously improving their safety programs.
- Improved Safety Culture: By setting and tracking SMART KPIs, including both leading and lagging indicators, Dolese was able to monitor safety performance, identify areas for improvement, and celebrate achievements. Leadership’s active involvement and the use of SMART goals ensured continuous focus and improvement in safety initiatives.
Results
The company saw a reduction in IMSHA citations as workplace exams became more consistent and accessible. The efficiency of safety incident tracking and reporting improved dramatically, enhancing the overall safety culture within the organization. Employee participation in safety programs increased, fostering a proactive approach to safety.
Dolese’s ability to customize the Novara Flex platform to meet their specific needs led to better adoption and effectiveness, ultimately driving substantial improvements in safety performance and compliance.
“One of the biggest things was just the ability to configure forms to exactly what we needed and we’re able to only ask the questions we want.”
“It really helped us be able to keep people accountable and get them to see how easy it is to buy in and fill it out in the first place,” said David Finley, Director of Health, Safety, and Environmental.
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