Web-based systems that facilitate graded application of fully integrated risk management

The management of Health, Safety, and Environmental (HS&E) risks is multifaceted and involves several functional management elements including HS&E, Quality Assurance, Legal and Insurance, Contracts, Technology, and Human Resources. To be complete and effective, HS&E risk management requires that all elements be addressed. To be efficient and cost effective, these elements should be addressed through an integrated process. If the task of bringing these and other functions to bear were not daunting enough, at CH2M HILL there is the additional challenge of meeting the needs of a globally distributed staff with different levels of understanding, experience, and risk tolerance who face an array of new delivery models and service packages for activities with a wide range of risk and complexity. This paper describes the implementation of HS&E risk management processes in a web-based wide area network (intranet) environment to support systematic recognition, assessment, and management of HS&E risks associated with project operations. The combination of both traditional and innovative HS&E risk management tools with web technologies on our company network resulted in an effective platform for achieving our company's risk management objectives. The web platform provides central management and control while allowing flexibility to scale processes up or down as dictated by the risk management issues. The common intranet environment also facilitates firm-wide data access and integration with the historically independent components of corporate risk management. This approach facilitates consistent response to a range of HS&E risks in a manner that is effective, appropriate, and affordable, and that adds value to the work and the work force.