Ask an Expert: How a proactive management system can help reduce EHS risk and achieve compliance

In this month’s feature, BC’s Nicole Cass-Hausler talks about the environmental, health, safety, and compliance benefits of management systems.

Question: Our facility is looking to reduce our environmental, health, and safety (EHS) risk while also achieving compliance. What kind of approach do you recommend to review our current EHS practices while also identifying areas for potential improvement?

Answer: While every facility or company has specific needs and challenges, investing time, energy, and budget into a management system (MS) is a proactive step towards building business value, effectively managing risk, and creating long-term sustainability.

An MS is a systematic, documented process that empowers organizations to identify and manage environmental compliance risks, streamline operations, measure performance, control EHS or energy related costs, and minimize pollution and incidents — all with the goal of documenting superior performance that meets expectations of customers, shareholders, employees, regulators, and other stakeholders.

MS programs focus on forward thinking and action, improving performance by using a single system across all functions of your organization where possible. MS benefits include:

Regulatory compliance

• Raises compliance assurance while lowering risk levels
• Provides the structure, control, and communication mechanisms that reduce noncompliance
• Demonstrates accountability, building credibility among stakeholders and regulators

Improved operations

• Enhances understanding of how and where environmental impacts, health and safety risks, and energy use affect operations, leading to more reliable and predictable performance
• Facilitates communication of goals, procedures, hazards and risks, impacts, and solutions among various facilities

Cost control

• Reduces EHS incidents and the associated expense of corrective actions
• Improves employee health and safety, resulting in greater productivity and reduced insurable risk

Social benefits

• Creates a common language and approach to EHS and energy issues
• Builds social capital and brand value within the public domain
• Increases positive public perception and relations

Because management systems focus on continual improvement, negative effects of operation are minimized, and compliance with laws, regulations, and other EHS or energy commitments are improved.