Over the years we have seen a huge variety of applications for our action tracker - Although it originated in the world of HAZOPS which are typically very high governance with multiple review stages our clients quickly realised that just about anything they wanted to track could be accommodated. We've described a few scenarios here: ( Note - none of them involve a Filofax or sticky notes!)
Actions are everywhere - (for a handy guide to the basics of action tracking check our Tips)
Multiple Uses for Action Tracking in Business
Action tracking is often thought of as a simple way to manage to-do lists. In reality, when used properly, it becomes a powerful tool for improving accountability, visibility and performance across an organisation. From health and safety to operations, projects and governance, action tracking supports the follow-through that turns decisions into results.
In most businesses, actions are created every day. They come out of meetings, audits, inspections, incident investigations, reviews and improvement initiatives. The challenge is rarely identifying actions, it's ensuring they are owned, completed, reviewed and closed properly. This is where structured action tracking makes a real difference.
Action Tracking in Health, Safety and Environment (HSE)
One of the most common and critical uses of action tracking is within HSE management. Safety actions are generated from audits, inspections, near misses, incidents and risk assessments. These actions often relate directly to controlling hazards and preventing harm.
Without a robust way to track them, safety actions can be delayed, forgotten or closed without proper verification. Effective action tracking ensures that safety issues are followed through, evidence is captured, and recurring risks are identified. It also provides clear audit trails, which are essential for demonstrating compliance and due diligence.
For HSE teams, action tracking is not just administrative support, it's a core control that underpins safe operations.
Incident Investigations and Corrective Actions
Incidents and near misses are valuable opportunities to learn, but only if corrective actions are implemented properly. Action tracking helps ensure that recommendations from investigations are translated into real changes, rather than remaining as report findings.
By assigning clear ownership, setting deadlines and requiring evidence of completion, organisations can be confident that corrective and preventive actions are genuinely addressing root causes. Over time, this reduces repeat incidents and strengthens overall safety performance.
North Star Shipping adopted our ATMS action tracker to help them manage incidents across their global vessel fleet
Audits, Inspections and Compliance Activities
Audits and inspections almost always result in actions. These may relate to compliance gaps, procedural weaknesses or improvement opportunities. Action tracking provides a structured way to manage these outcomes and demonstrate progress.
Centralised tracking makes it easy to see which actions are open, which are overdue and which have been completed. This supports internal governance and reduces the stress of preparing for external audits, as evidence and status information is readily available.
Project and Programme Management
Action tracking is equally valuable outside HSE. In project environments, actions arise from planning meetings, design reviews, risk workshops and progress updates. Tracking these actions helps keep projects moving and prevents issues from being overlooked.
Clear ownership and visibility across teams reduce delays and improve coordination. Action tracking also supports accountability by ensuring commitments made in meetings are followed through and recorded.
Operations and Maintenance
Operational environments generate actions from maintenance activities, asset inspections, reliability reviews and operational incidents. Tracking these actions helps organisations prioritise work, manage risk and improve asset performance.
Action tracking provides a clear view of outstanding work and helps prevent minor issues from becoming major failures. It also supports better communication between operations, maintenance and management teams.
Continuous Improvement and Change Management
Many organisations use action tracking as part of their continuous improvement programmes. Improvement initiatives often involve multiple actions across different teams and timescales.
Tracking these actions centrally helps organisations measure progress, identify bottlenecks and understand where improvements are stalling. It also supports change management by providing transparency and structure during periods of transition.
Leadership Oversight and Governance
For senior leaders, action tracking provides confidence that decisions are being implemented and risks are being managed. Rather than relying on anecdotal updates, leaders can see real-time status information and trends.
This visibility supports better decision-making and strengthens governance. It also helps organisations demonstrate that issues raised at board or management level are being taken seriously and addressed systematically.
Collaboration Across Teams and Organisations
Action tracking supports collaboration by providing a shared view of responsibilities and progress. This is particularly important in organisations that work with contractors, partners or multiple business units.
A structured approach helps align expectations, reduce misunderstandings and ensure that everyone is working from the same information. Controlled access and clear ownership prevent confusion while maintaining accountability.
From Task Lists to Organisational Insight
When action tracking is managed digitally and consistently, it becomes more than a list of tasks. Over time, it generates data that can be analysed to identify trends, recurring issues and systemic weaknesses.
Organisations can see where actions are frequently delayed, which types of issues generate the most follow-up work, and where processes may need improvement. This insight supports proactive management rather than reactive firefighting.
Finally..
Action tracking has many uses across a business, but its true value lies in consistency and discipline. When actions are clearly defined, owned, tracked and verified, organisations improve execution, reduce risk and strengthen accountability.
Whether supporting HSE management, operational control, project delivery or governance, action tracking helps ensure that decisions lead to outcomes, not just intentions.
