The Age of Automation or the Plow and Shovel?

The Age of Automation: From Manual Labor to Digital Solutions in HSE

The digitalization of HSE processes is not just a passing trend, but an objective necessity for large enterprises with a complex structure. When the staff exceeds several thousand people and departments are scattered throughout the region, manual management of PPE provision, medical examinations, and training becomes inefficient and resource-intensive. Under these conditions, automation allows not only to reduce the labor costs of HSE specialists but also to minimize the risks of penalties, as well as to optimize the company's budget.

In this webinar, Anatoly Storozhenko, an HSE specialist at Bashkirenergo, shares his practical experience of implementing an automation system based on the 1C platform. The speaker analyzes in detail the stages of transition from paper document flow to electronic accounting, focusing on the real results and difficulties the team faced during the project implementation.

Stages of Automation: From PPE Accounting to Comprehensive Management

The automation process at Bashkirenergo was divided into several key stages, which allowed for the systematic implementation of changes and adaptation of business processes. The speaker demonstrates by example how a consistent approach helps avoid chaos and achieve measurable results.

Optimizing the Provision of Workwear and PPE

The first and most large-scale stage was the automation of accounting and planning of personal protective equipment (PPE). Before the system's implementation, planning was carried out manually on-site, which led to excessive purchases and the formation of significant warehouse balances. The introduction of electronic issuance cards and automatic generation of requests based on wear periods allowed to:

• Reduce warehouse balances by almost half: from 50 million to 25-26 million rubles by involving unused inventory.
• Increase the level of personnel provision: the system allows real-time monitoring of the provision percentage (a rate of about 97% was achieved) and prompt response to a decrease in indicators.
• Eliminate duplication of norms: when combining professions (for example, an electrician and a slinger), the program automatically assigns only the necessary norms, eliminating the duplication of items.

Automation of SAWC and Medical Examinations

The next step, which the speaker analyzes in his presentation, was the automation of the processes of the special assessment of working conditions (SAWC) and the organization of medical examinations. Transferring these tasks to a digital environment solves several problems at once:

• A unified approach to workplace numbering: confusion and duplication of numbers when working with different contractors are eliminated.
• Automatic generation of the contingent for medical examinations: the system independently determines the need for periodic or extraordinary examinations when the staffing table or working conditions change, eliminating the human factor.
• Centralization of contract activities: interaction with contractors and control over the fulfillment of obligations are simplified.

Time Redistribution: From Paper Routine to Real Control

One of the main effects of automation emphasized by Anatoly Storozhenko was a radical change in the working time structure of HSE specialists. Before the system's implementation, the lion's share of time was spent on routine tasks: PPE planning, generating lists for medical examinations, and preparing documents for SAWC. Only about 16% of the time was left for direct control over compliance with HSE requirements.

Automation made it possible to reduce planning time by almost half. The freed-up resources were directed to on-site inspections, workplace audits, and preventive work with personnel. Increasing the time for practical control by almost three times directly contributes to reducing the injury rate and improving the safety culture at the production facility.

What you will learn from this webinar:

• How to reduce PPE warehouse balances by half using automated accounting?
• How to avoid duplication of workwear issuance norms when combining professions?
• How automation helps minimize the risks of fines for admitting untrained personnel?
• How to redistribute the working time of an HSE specialist in favor of practical on-site control?
• What difficulties can be encountered when integrating HSE modules with corporate accounting systems?