Norwegian software provider awarded American grant

BERGEN, Norway - Aug. 18, 2016 - PRLog -- "HSEQ Free" is an app used by workers in companies around the globe in order to create a safer working environment and to avoid injuries and accidents in the workplace. Mellora AS released the first version of the app in 2012 and it was in 2013 voted the best work product in the Norwegian safety magazine "HMS Magasinet". Customized versions of the app are used by small, medium and large organizations worldwide and now the support of L & I gives Mellora AS the opportunity to reach out to businesses in the United States in an even broader and more unique way.

L & I is a government agency that maintains the health and safety of Washington's 2.5 million workers. They have 19 offices spread around Washington and employ approximately 2,800 employees exclusively working to help employees have a safe and secure working environment.

L & I share, through the "Safety & Health Investment Projects (SHIP) Grant Program", annual funding for innovative measures to reduce the risk of injury to workers. The SHIP program is under the "Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH)" whose purpose is solely to work actively to achieve zero-vision concerning work accidents. Mellora's financial support will go to develop and promote an L & I version of the app as well as for JW Shervey & Associates to develop educational videos in risk reduction measures and Near Miss (almost accident) reporting.

"Being awarded this grant is a confirmation that the work that we have done to demystify and simplify HSE reports worldwide really has helped," says the enthusiastic founder, owner and CEO of Mellora AS, Trond Hansen.

Well-known companies such as Marine Harvest, Schneider Electric, Johnson Controls, HeidelbergCement and Saint-Gobain already have their own, customized and branded versions of the app. Now Mellora can grow further in a market where growth potential is naturally very large.

JW Shervey & Associates is the point of contact with Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L & I). John Sherwey, who owns the company that offers educational and training work within HSE, contacted Mellora when he came across the product through one of Mellora's American customers that has a customized version of the app.

"I realized right away that this would be a very good, user-friendly and innovative tool that more US workers and businesses would benefit from," says Shervey. "In the US, reporting of accidents and incidents is a cumbersome process that many workers will steer clear of. This means that companies miss a lot of important information that would have been able to prevent serious incidents. This in turn leads to huge costs for companies that may already be struggling financially. By simplifying this work, enterprises and society in general could save a lot of money, but most importantly, many of the injuries and deaths among American workers can be avoided," says Shervey.

Trond Hansen of Mellora knows that the opportunity that has opened up is a "once in a lifetime" opportunity.

"We take one step at a time and keep our feet planted firmly on Earth, but it is undeniably very exciting and at the same time a bit surreal that what started as a coincidence in 2012 suddenly became large 'over there'," said Hansen.