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What is EHS support? The EHS meaning is a simple one: Environment, Health, and Safety. But what is EHS? The EHS definition covers three separate topics which are still interrelated and which relate directly to the organization’s overall impact. EHS support systems can include an EHS management system, EHS professionals, an EHS department, or an entire EHS compliance company which can help with regulatory compliance and management.
When it comes to the traditional EHS definition, it encompasses environmental protection, occupational health and hazards, and general occupational safety. These are things companies need to deal with both by proactively managing risks and actively mitigating incidents that occur. EHS support can be a full-time job for a company. There are reporting requirements for companies that possess or work with potentially dangerous chemicals. There are also requirements for what a company has to do if an incident occurs.
Because EHS support is such a full-time job, many companies either outsource it or invest in platforms that can make it easier to manage. Companies are able to manage their EHS documents on centralized systems and have a dashboard that alerts them to both deadlines and documents that need to be filed. Companies can also have a dashboard that tracks incidents and ensures that every incident is properly logged, investigated, and closed. Even with this EHS support, it’s the company’s own responsibility to understand what it needs to do to maintain compliance.
Compliance has changed significantly over the last few decades. Companies today have more reporting and regulatory compliance needs than ever before. This can lead to companies feeling overwhelmed. Still, compliance is mandatory. Companies can improve their compliance by engaging in a system-wide audit. An audit of safety and environmental protection can help a company determine what it needs to manage.
An EHS course can clarify responsibilities in workplace safety and environmental protection, ensuring companies have the know-how and resources to meet their EHS safety responsibilities and to develop out their EHS department and EHS services. An EHS company can provide a third-party look at how the organization is doing in terms of EHS, provide training, or offer a liaison who can help the organization maintain its environmental standards. EHS environmental regulations can be quite complex. An EHS hotline can help.
Companies may want to develop their EHS roles and responsibility matrix first. This matrix is a simple way to outline those who are accountable for tasks within the EHS purview. Companies are able to directly identify those who are responsible not only for completing tasks but also ensuring that those tasks have been completed. This reduces the chances that something could be missed while also offering a paper trail in the event that an incident is investigated.
EHS safety is everyone’s responsibility. EHS support can be used to create an EHS department from the ground up or to train EHS professionals. EHS platforms can be used to make the job much easier. EHS platforms make it easier for employees to track their own responsibilities, and ensure that everyone is updated when issues need to be mitigated or otherwise addressed. But this all again begins with the RACI matrix or the responsibility assignment matrix.
Companies may be able to manage their own EHS department for the most part but may still need incidental EHS support. This is where the EHS hotline can come in. Companies should also work closely with government agencies to make sure they’re following not only the known regulations they’re subject to but any additional regulations that may have been implemented.
To be properly proactive with environmental health and safety, companies often need to work with a multitude of different organizations. Any of these organizations can change reporting requirements. Some government entities, for instance, will only accept paperwork through specific platforms. Companies need to be aware of this if they’re going to be able to turn documents in on time. Other entities might change the forms that are required. On a federal level, it’s possible that reporting requirements may change. Thus, companies do need to refresh their own knowledge from time-to-time and make sure their EHS professionals are as current and up-to-date on standards as possible.
Companies can use the EHS hotline to report something that isn’t an emergency, if they’re unsure who to contact, if they want to remain anonymous, or for any other reason. The EHS hotline is there for those who have relevant concerns and it’s available at 919-515-5445. Employees of companies who may not be following regulations can call the hotline, and the hotline can also be called if there are major concerns about how the company is meeting compliance or whether the company needs to take specific action to meet compliance.
Now let’s take a look at some EHS services and energy examples across the world. The EHS meaning in Hindi is the same but government regulations can vary so companies should work directly with the EHS teams in every company. EHS services LLC will be able to tell companies what regulations they need to follow depending on the countries they’re in. EHS policies in other countries are usually very similar but an EHS professional can help.
There are EHS professionals in every country. Some companies operate in many countries, like Duke Energy. The Duke Energy Safety Manual could vary depending on the local environmental regulations. Duke Energy environmental processes will also be influenced by these different regulatory bodies. Because EHS regulations do vary, someone who is a professional in one country may not be able to maintain their professional status in another.
All companies should be engaging in as many EHS programs as is required by their country. Otherwise, they could meet substantial fines and penalties. Furthermore, improving safety and processes in one country can naturally lead to improving those processes in the next. These EHS programs can vary depending on their thrust; some may be for employees, some maybe for the EHS department, and some may be for key stakeholders who need to learn more.
What’s the easiest way to get into an EHS program? Contact an EHS professional. EHS professionals have often outsourced professionals who are able to audit a company’s current EHS processes and management. They’ll be able to tell an organization whether they really need additional training or whether they should just outsource their entire EHS management. Companies can get an EHS audit to see where their areas are for improvement. The more they’re able to recognize their areas of improvement, the more likely they are to mitigate risk.
Every organization is going to have some level of EHS management and mitigation. No company is able to absolve themselves of danger and risk, but companies are able to proactively protect their employees and their environment by reducing their risks overall and helping their employees do the same. With the right EHS software, companies are able to even better reduce their risks and manage their businesses.
There are many online EHS programs and EHS software which can be used together to create comprehensive environmental health and safety protocols. Companies today can get a single EHS login that governs all their EHS documents, regulations, and programs. This can also run hand-in-hand with training and programs to further improve the organization’s readiness, alerting, and reporting. When an incident does occur, the organization will thus be able to react as quickly as it possibly can to mitigate any damage or injury to the environment or its employees. Again, every company is different and every EHS program and policy will need to be based on the company. EHS certification, EHS roles, and responsibilities matrix can help.
If you’re interested in how Encamp helps EHS managers deliver consistent processes and first-rate compliance programs, request a demo.