The acronym EHS stands for environment, health, and safety, representing a multidisciplinary field focused on studying and implementing measures to preserve the health and safety of workers. This area of knowledge also works on environmental preservation by identifying and mitigating potential hazards.
EHS efforts take on even greater dimensions for government agencies, which must address the health and safety of entire populations. Additionally, regulatory agencies must use health, safety, and environmental knowledge to ensure companies comply with strict sustainability standards.
Professionals in this field generally work to prevent accidents, injuries, and illnesses and avoid negative environmental impacts such as pollution and improper waste management.
Stay with us to learn all about EHS, its pillars, and how to implement a health, safety, and environmental management system in your organization!
What are the pillars of EHS
The field of EHS encompasses three interrelated disciplines, each focused on a distinct area. To better understand its pillars, we need to go back a few decades.
One of the first EHS management plans in history was developed in 1985 by representatives of the Canadian chemical industry. One of the main influences for its creation was the disaster in the city of Bhopal, India, which occurred in 1984 at the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) factory.
Considered the worst industrial tragedy in history, it involved the release of methyl isocyanate gas—a highly toxic compound used as an intermediate in the manufacture of carbamate insecticides. According to the government of Madhya Pradesh, 3,787 people died immediately upon contact with the toxic gas, with an estimated 16,000 more dying from diseases related to the incident.
Shortly after the tragedy, the Canadian Chemical Industry Association (CIAC) created a voluntary initiative called Responsible Care, aimed at improving the safety, health, and sustainability performance of the companies involved. The initiative grew rapidly and today includes 96 of the world’s 100 largest chemical companies.
This initiative was responsible for creating the first Health, Safety, and Environment management system. However, a study by New York University and another published in the Journal of Regulatory Economics show that Responsible Care’s efforts did not result in better sustainability or safety performance by participating companies.
Environment, Health, and Safety – EHSM:
Avoid incidents, reduce costs, and ensure
compliance with management software
that integrates all processes.
In any case, it was this alliance that resulted in the pillars you see below:
Health
The first component focuses on promoting the overall well-being and health of stakeholders and communities related to the organization. This part requires the company to address public health concerns, conduct health risk assessments, monitor epidemics, and implement health promotion programs.
In general terms, this is the pillar that deals with any factor that can negatively affect the health of the people involved. This includes monitoring air contaminants, biological agents, radiation, and other hazards that can lead to diseases or health problems.
Safety
Another important pillar of EHS management is occupational safety. This is the area that deals with protecting workers’ health within the workplace.
A good EHS plan will help identify and mitigate potential hazards that could cause injuries, illnesses, or accidents. To achieve good safety standards, it is necessary to ensure the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), conduct inspections, implement mitigation measures, and properly train employees.
Environment
The last component to complete the acronym is environmental protection. It focuses on preventing pollution and the degradation of ecosystems near the industry.
To achieve this goal, it is necessary to monitor and control factors such as air quality, soil contamination, waste management, and water purity. Environmental management measures serve to reduce the negative impact of human activities on ecosystems, wildlife, and natural resources.
Importance of EHS in organizations
The presence of an EHS department brings great value to medium and large organizations, as it allows them to operate sustainably and with the protection their employees deserve.
Having an effective health, safety, and environmental management plan is especially important in highly regulated industries. After all, it is what will help your company comply with the legislation of the region where it operates.
Consider the case of industries considered dirty but necessary for the economy at a given time. Good EHS management allows them to operate with the minimum possible social and environmental impact—minimizing air, water, and land pollution in areas near factories.
At the same time, the “safety” component serves to protect employees from workplace hazards. Different countries have different legislations aimed at ensuring the physical integrity of workers. Check out some examples below:
- United States. The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act 5) requires employers to protect employees from hazards that could cause death or serious physical harm.
- Spain. The Occupational Risk Prevention Regulation (Law 31/95) is responsible for regulating work risk prevention in Spain. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (INSST) provides technical guidance and conducts research to improve working conditions in the country.
- France. The French Labor Code allows employees to notify their employers about threats to their health or safety. It also requires employers to implement measures to protect workers’ physical and mental health, including environmental risk assessments.
- Brazil. The Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT) determines that employers must ensure a safe work environment, preventing accidents and occupational diseases. The Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE) establishes Regulatory Norms (NRs) to detail companies’ obligations regarding occupational health and safety.
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How to implement an EHS management system
The process of managing EHS involves implementing policies, procedures, and practices that will ensure the well-being of your employees and help protect the environment. Additionally, it allows your company to comply with labor and environmental regulations in the region where it operates.
So, follow the next sections to learn how to implement an Environmental, Health, and Safety management system.
1. Develop an Environment, Health, and Safety policy
The initiative should come from top management, which should create a list of objectives for the company’s EHS management plan. These items should be aligned with the core values of the organization.
In other words, no new values or vision should be created from the Environment, Health, and Safety plan. Instead, it is necessary to look at the existing corporate culture through the lens of EHS.
When faced with a decision in the relevant areas, your employees should be able to look at this list of goals and have an idea of what their choice should be. Remember that an Environment, Health, and Safety policy is a product of continuous improvement, which should always be evaluated.
2. Integrate EHS guidelines into daily operations
Once top management has created its policy, it is time to identify risks and assess the capacity of your company’s current control measures. Start by checking the legal requirements of the cities and countries where your organization operates.
Next, create a process to review this legislation with the help of experts—whether from an internal legal team or external consultants. Set a deadline for achieving full compliance and appoint a person to lead the initiative.
Choose a method to track the initiative’s progress, but don’t forget to ensure that the responsible person has standardized processes in place to document everything. Develop an organizational structure to communicate the plan to all internal and external stakeholders.
3. Measure the performance of the management system
You should have a mechanism to gather the necessary data to understand how the system is working in practice. Take advantage of key performance indicators (KPIs) to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your implementation.
KPIs should be a mix of metrics to assess your company’s success in the EHS area based on past results and future performance projections. This performance should consider your achievements in the coming months and years with the maintenance of the new EHS system.
Take this moment to find direct opportunities to fix areas that need corrective actions.
4. Promote continuous training
Create education and training programs to help your employees more easily meet protocol requirements. Additionally, the knowledge will enable them to better identify areas for improvement—as well as greater confidence to communicate what needs adjustment.
The entire organization should work together for growth, with top management creating a safe environment for employees. They should feel free to make suggestions and file complaints about current protocols.
5. Analyze EHS results
Top management should regularly reassess Environment, Health, and Safety policies. It will become clear that improvements are needed if deficiencies are found in meeting legal requirements or achieving internal goals.
To get a good sense of the current state of your EHS management, your organization should seek feedback from stakeholders, as well as conduct internal and external audits. Elements that help provide a more complete view of your management system in this area include:
- Clear objectives. Setting specific and measurable goals will help guide the team’s efforts and monitor progress. You will find it easier to communicate your expectations and evaluate the results achieved.
- Good implementation strategy. A well-planned strategy will ensure that all necessary steps are followed efficiently and effectively. This will help identify potential obstacles and develop solutions to overcome them.
- Reliable measurement tools. Use accurate tools to correctly assess the performance of your EHS management system. They will allow you to monitor the impact of corrective actions.
- Engaged employees. Committed employees will find it easier to follow EHS guidelines, contributing to a safer work environment. Their engagement promotes a safety culture where everyone is responsible for collective well-being.
Read more: Environmental indicators: How to simplify sustainable management and avoid surprises
Conclusion
Implementing an EHS (Environment, Health, and Safety) system is essential for companies that seek not only to meet legal requirements but also to promote a culture of care for their employees and the environment. Throughout this article, we explored the fundamental pillars of EHS and the practices that organizations can adopt to mitigate risks and minimize environmental impacts—protecting both their workers and society in general.
In a world where sustainability and occupational well-being are becoming increasingly important, EHS has become a competitive differentiator and an ethical imperative. By developing effective policies and integrating these guidelines into daily operations, companies can build a safer and more sustainable work environment, as well as strengthen their image with society and regulators.
Thus, EHS management is not just a reactive compliance practice but a proactive strategy that protects people and ecosystems, promoting sustainable development. Investing in EHS is investing in a safer and more responsible future, where the company and all its stakeholders can thrive.
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