1. Environment, health, and safety

Environment, health, and safety designate a methodology for risk control and business management in hygiene, health/safety, and the environment. This methodology makes use of specific standards repositories, the application of which may be the subject, on a voluntary basis, of a certification process with various competent bodies.Depending on the organization and the size of the companies; environment, health, and safety protocols can be carried out internally or externally (consulting firm) by an environment, health, and safety manager (senior technician or even engineer) who establishes the objectives and methods, and which ensures their application, in particular about compliance with the regulations in force and their evolution.As a strategy aiming to anticipate and reduce risks (particularly in terms of occupational accidents and environmental nuisances) but also to promote empowerment and well-being at work.

2. The standards that govern the environment, health, and safety methodology

2.1 Health and Safety

The reference text in terms of hygiene and health/safety is that of the BS OHSAS 18001 standard. And will be replaced in the long term, by the international standard ISO 45001 based on an equivalent reference system.

2.2 Environment

For environmental criteria, it is the ISO 14001 standard, which provides its reference for the managerial measures of the company concerned.

3. How the environment, health, and safety protocol works

The EHS management of a company is first and foremost based on an exhaustive audit of the situation and current practices. It is to assess any shortcomings and define and schedule a set of actions in the short, medium, and long term. As with many protocols related to CSR issues in the broad sense, the preferred method is that of the Deming wheel in four phases, each cycle enriching the previous one:a. Plan: based on the company's situation about the issues involved, identify the objectives to be achieved and schedule an implementation schedule.b. Carryout: implement the EHS management process in accordance with the established plan.c. Evaluate: analyze the results obtained or not using a table of relevant indicators.d. Anchor / improve: validate and consolidate the acquired knowledge, adjust and correct the strategies for the complete achievement of the results during the acquisition, establish additional objectives according to the new situation.Related: Environmental engineering, definition, tasks, and importance

4. Environment, health, and safety engineer

4.1 Functions

He analyzes the development project for a production site and defines the objectives in terms of environmental risk prevention according to the regulatory context. It provides operational support to the design office in terms of regulatory standards and makes recommendations to the various departments concerned by the changes.He negotiates the human, technical, financial resources, and the necessary deadlines and writes a study report which summarizes the environmental data with the different scenarios of risk situations.He designs and implements specific awareness-raising tools, measurement tools, and indicators, and checks the facilities and their compliance. He carries out statistical reports on industrial activity and compares the results with the analysis grids defined upstream. He presents the client with a summary of the actions and results, and he communicates internally on the progress of the mission.He designs and runs internally training actions and the network of external partners. He responds to requests from regulatory authorities, examines authorization and authorization requests from public bodies and authorities.He carries out a permanent regulatory watch on safety, environment, and sustainable development.He participates in the implementation of a safety policy the aim of which is to reduce industrial accidents, industrial risks (pollution, fires, etc.) And also to improve quality within the establishment, in the case of the QSE engineer (Quality Safety Environment) or the QHSE engineer (Quality Hygiene Safety Environment).

4.2 Qualities

He has excellent knowledge of environmental protection regulations and has good technical knowledge in his sector. He masters project management and planning, standards, and risk analysis techniques.He is a person of integrity with a great capacity for analysis and synthesis and good communication and listening skills. He has a certain commercial sensitivity and ease in negotiation.He has the strength of proposal and conviction; he is rigorous and responsive. Finally, he has good writing skills for drafting files and certifications.

Originally published on Live Positively.