Environment (E), health (H) and safety (S) (together EHS) is a discipline and specialty
that studies and implements practical aspects of environmental protection and safety at
work.
In simple terms it is what organizations must do to make sure that their activities do not
cause harm to anyone.
Commonly, quality - quality assurance & quality control - is adjoined to form the company
division known as HSQE.
From a safety standpoint, it involves creating organized efforts and procedures for identifying
workplace hazards and reducing accidents and exposure to harmful situations and substances.
It also includes training of personnel in accident prevention, accident response, emergency
preparedness, and use of protective clothing and equipment.
Better health at its heart, should have the development of safe, high quality, and environmentally
friendly processes, working practices and systemic activities that prevent or reduce
the risk of harm to people in general, operators, or patients.
From an environmental standpoint, it involves creating a systematic approach to complying
with environmental regulations, such as managing waste or air emissions all the way to helping
site's reduce the company's carbon footprint.
Regulatory requirements play an important role in EHS discipline and EHS managers must
identify and understand relevant EHS regulations, the implications of which must be communicated
to executive management so the company can implement suitable measures.
Organisations based in the United States are subject to EHS regulations in the Code of
Federal Regulations, particularly CFR 29, 40, and 49.
Still, EHS management is not limited to legal compliance and companies should be encouraged
to do more than is required by law, if appropriate.
== Other names == Notwithstanding the individual importance
of these attributes, the various institutions / authors have accented on the acronyms differently.
Viz in successful HSE programs also include measures to address ergonomics, air quality,
and other aspects of workplace safety that could affect the health and well-being of
employees and the overall community.
Another researcher transformed it as SHE in 1996, while exploring the "concept of “human
quality ” in terms of living standards that must follow later than the health…..[as
per the] paradigm of SHEQ, ….raising up the importance of environment upto the “safety
of people as a prime consideration".
It is because "Safety First" is called in for the commitment to transform the safety
culture of [countries].Quality is 'fitness for purpose', and without which each and every
endeavour will be futile.
. Besides ESH, SHE, HSE, SHEQ, a few more are also in vogue
== Regulatory agencies ==
=== United States === Federal / international
Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Mining Safety & Health Administration (MSHA), etc.
European Union (EU standards) – Health & Safety At Work Act
State Safety & Health Council of North Carolina,
Massachusetts Nuclear Regulatory Commission, etc.
Local Municipal fire departments (building code
inspections) Environmental Management Agency (EMA)
== General categories == EHS guidelines cover categories specific to
each industry as wells as those that are general to most industry sectors.
Examples of general categories and subcategories are:
== Specific categories ==
== History ==
The chemical industry introduced the first formal EHS management approach in 1985 as
a reaction to several catastrophic accidents (like the Seveso disaster of July 1976 and
the Bhopal disaster of December 1984).
This worldwide voluntary initiative, called "Responsible Care", started by the Chemistry
Industry Association of Canada (formerly the Canadian Chemical Producers' Association - CCPA),
operates in about 50 countries, with central coordination provided by the International
Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA).
It involves eight fundamental features which ensure plant and product safety, occupational
health and environmental protection, but which also try to demonstrate by image-building
campaigns that the chemical industry acts in a responsible manner.
Being an initiative of the ICCA, it is restricted to the chemical industry.
Since the 1990s, general approaches to EHS management that may fit any type of organisation
have appeared in international standards such as:
The Valdez Principles, that have been formulated to guide and evaluate corporate conduct towards
the environment.
the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS), developed by the European Commission in 1993
ISO 14001 for environmental management in 1996
ISO 45001 for occupational health and safety management in 2018, preceded by OHSAS 18001
1999In 1998 the International Finance Corporation established EHS guidelines.
Supporting the initiative, Thareja concluded that over exploitation of mineral resources
has made auto repairing of 'environment - society system' more difficult.
For rejuvenation.
He emphasized three stages [defined by AUM] beginning from Alignment for SHEQ (safety,
Health, Environment, Quality), Utilization for new efficiencies or products and Metamorphosis
for new awakening at cultural level.
He argued Mostly teachers worked at utilization and failed to stand to SHEQ and social system
requirements .
== Example == As a typical example, the activities of a
health, safety and environment (HSE) working group might focus on:
exchange of know-how regarding health, safety and environmental aspects of a material
promotion of good working practices, such as post-use material collection for recycling
== Publications == Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(United States) American Society of Safety Engineers
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS)
EHS Today Safety+Health Magazine – National Safety
Council Environmental Leader
EU-OSHA ISHN
NIOSH OH&S
== See also == Occupational safety and health
National Safety Council Robert W. Campbell Award, an Award for Business
Excellence through EHS Management.
Safety engineering