NHS Bradford

With EcoOnline’s Sypol platform, NHS Bradford has transformed its COSHH management from a continual backlog to a connected, proactive approach.

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Case Study

September 4, 2024

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NHS Bradford Case Study

Explore how NHS Bradford achieved COSHH Compliance through effective digital management and team empowerment

NHS Bradford is a leading UK teaching hospital with over 6,000 employees, providing essential healthcare services and training for student nurses. COSHH compliance is mandatory, but it is
up to NHS Bradford how they handle it.

They have chosen to be strategic and efficient with the help of EcoOnline’s Sypol software, rather than overwhelmed by manual checking with teams and day-long assessment building. This
approach has led to significant improvements in compliance and safety culture.

With EcoOnline’s Sypol platform, NHS Bradford has transformed its COSHH management from a continual backlog to a connected, proactive approach.

Talk to an expert

100

dedicated COSHH assessors now in place

75%

decrease in out-of-date assessments

100%

issues resolved when EcoOnline support

The Challenge

“Before I started at NHS Bradford, leading the hospital’s COSHH compliance was a daunting task, but it hasn’t needed to be because of Sypol,” said Andrew Crowther, Health and Safety
Advisor & Sypol Coordinator at NHS Bradford.

With diverse teams and functions ranging from wards to maintenance and gardening, NHS Bradford faced the challenge of maintaining consistent COSHH compliance across the hospital.
They had Sypol for a while before Andrew joined, but it was his arrival and advocacy for the software’s potential that truly optimised their COSHH compliance.

“The main challenge was ensuring visibility and consistency across all the hospital areas. We needed a system that could give us that single overview and help us to act quickly based on
the insights.”

Andrew Crowther, Health and Safety Advisor & Sypol Coordinator, NHS Bradford

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The Solution

Under the leadership of Andrew Crowther, NHS Bradford has harnessed the possibilities of EcoOnline’s Sypol software. Key features and benefits utilised include:

Overview for Managers: At any given moment, Andrew and the team can go in and see which function’s assessments are up to date and where they are behind. This can be
done all from his laptop rather than needing to walk around and talk to each function. Andrew can then focus on necessary functions that are behind and either coach them or jump in
to help himself. In addition, the speed of seeing everything in one place means Andrew can focus on other more critical incidents or tasks related to his wider health and safety
role.
Ease of Use: The user-friendly interface ensures everyone can manage COSHH effectively, from staff in their 70s to those in their 20s. This ease of use makes it
straightforward to train new team members on the system.
Expert Support: Whenever NHS Bradford encounter a problem they can’t solve themselves, they receive quick answers and effective solutions from EcoOnline’s support
team. “If there’s something I can’t figure out, I just send an email to the EcoOnline support team and within a day or so, I get a response with a solution. Their support has always
been excellent,” said Andrew Crowther.

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The Results

NHS Bradford’s proactive use of Sypol software has delivered substantial benefits:

Up-To-Date Assessments: NHS Bradford reduced the number of overdue assessments from 4,000 to just 500. Recently, this number increased to 1,000 due to a change in
supplier, which is the natural ebb and flow of COSHH compliance.
Speed of Work: New risk assessments now take a matter of minutes using Sypol, rather than days, as they usually would with manual efforts.
Proper Infrastructure and Team: From zero, when Andrew joined, NHS Bradford now have 100 dedicated COSHH assessors in place, allowing them to maintain compliance
much better than before. The intuitive workflows of Sypol mean that with any team turnover or onboarding, it’s easy to get new COSHH assessors up to speed and working. Similarly, as
change occurs—whether regulatory, staffing or suppliers—NHS Bradford now has the right infrastructure to adapt quickly.
Easier Audits: As a hospital, NHS Bradford is subject to regular COSHH audits. While these audits were painstaking before, they have become
much easier and frictionless with the overview and impact of Sypol.

Find out how EcoOnline’s Sypol Solution can help your organisation

“To all who are still managing COSHH compliance manually… Get Sypol! I’ve been there, spent the days on one single assessment—don’t do it alone. The software frees you up to focus on
other things, like inspections or investigations beyond just COSHH,” advised Andrew Crowther.

NHS Bradford’s experience with Sypol software, highlights their dedication to maintaining high standards of COSHH compliance and operational efficiency. By leveraging digital tools and
building an adaptable team infrastructure, they have significantly improved their compliance processes and overall workplace safety.

Find out what our software solution can do for your organisation.