Most companies usually have an EHS department that focuses solely on regulatory compliance. But you may wonder, what is EHS, and why is it a critical aspect in the corporate world? Well, you will learn more about EHS in this guide, who is responsible for it and why it is crucial.
What is EHS?
EHS is the abbreviated form of environmental health and safety. It refers to the laws and regulations that protect the health and safety of employees and the public from the environmental hazards associated with the workplace. As you can see, E stands for the regulations designed to protect and conserve the environment, while H and S stand for the rules meant to protect the safety and health of employees.
It is safe to say that the profession makes up occupational safety and health professionals. Many companies in the corporate world have an EHS department that ensures environmental health and safety compliance. Some companies who find it challenging to maintain an in-house EHS team outsource the role to EHS consultants.
You may also encounter different variations of the term, including SHE and HSE. SHE means safety, health, and environment, and it is used in Britain and other European countries. HSE means health, safety, and environment, and they all mean the same thing. The variations arise in the translations to different languages, but they represent the same concept.
The importance of EHS
It protects the employees.
Environmental health and safety compliance is essential because it protects the employees in the workplace. It prevents the risks of workplace accidents such as injuries, illnesses, or harmful environmental emissions likely to impact the employees’ health.
In the United States, employers must protect their workers from hazards or any risks likely to cause physical harm or death. Additionally, there are some specific regulations that employers must comply with to ensure maximum employee safety.
The EHS laws in different countries may vary, but their basic principle is to keep employees safe in the workplace, and they are a critical part of corporate responsibility. In many companies, EHS departments employ a policy that regulates the company’s approach to EHS sustainability. It may be similar to the human resource policy that the company adheres to. Generally, the EHS policy in the company must comply with EHS laws to make employees feel protected and safe.
It protects the environment.
The other reason why EHS is important is that it protects the environment and enables companies to run in an environmentally responsible manner. In this case, some industries are more affected than others.
Work processes in companies in heavy manufacturing may harm the air, water, and land in the vicinity of where they operate. EHS departments’ role is to ensure compliance with environmental laws that conserve ecological resources for all citizens.
Summary
Environmental health and safety compliance exists to protect employees from workplace hazards and the environment. With the need to protect the environment and reduce the corporate ecological footprint, EHS has never been more important. It plays a crucial role in ensuring corporate responsibility and sustainability.
