Environmental health and safety (EHS) managers are in charge of a company’s health and safety programs’ development and implementation. They ensure that employees work in a safe manner and that proper safety precautions are taken. They are in charge of ensuring that the company complies with environmental regulations and standards.
An EHS manager is in charge of evaluating a company’s workflow and determining what practices are required to keep workers safe on the job. The EHS manager implements policies for the use of personal protective equipment in collaboration with members of the senior management team. He or she also outlines procedures for potentially hazardous tasks so that employees understand how to do their jobs safely.
EHS managers ensure that all employees receive ongoing safety training and that new employees receive orientation and introductory training. These experts are well-versed in the requirements of regulations that protect workers’ health and safety, and they know how to determine which regulations apply to a specific company or industry. Routine safety meetings are led EHS managers to review new policies or procedures. Staff members can share their observations of safety issues or make suggestions for improvements at these meetings. EHS managers also double-check posted safety information to ensure it is current and correct.
When an employee is injured on the job, the EHS manager investigates the incident. He or she informs senior management of his or her findings and makes recommendations for how the injury can be avoided in the future. If an unsafe act caused the injury, the EHS manager may arrange for retraining for the employees involved to reinforce proper safety procedures.
The EHS manager is responsible for assessing the work environment on a regular basis in industries where employees work in potentially hazardous environments, such as mines and refineries. Air quality, noise levels, and sight hazards are all monitored on a regular basis. The emphasis is on keeping employees healthy. Safety and communication requirements, as well as proper handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials, are taught to employees EHS managers who work in industries that handle hazardous materials.
The EHS manager will maintain and update the company’s plan for preventing spills and the actions that must be taken after a spill for companies that store reportable quantities of hazardous materials. He or she will ensure that the proper cleanup supplies are on hand and that employees have been properly trained on how to use them. EHS managers oversee the required training of employees who package, mark, label, and ship hazardous materials or hazardous waste in transportation companies. They ensure that hazardous materials or hazardous waste shipping documents are properly completed, distributed, and retained.
If a company emits exhaust gas or liquids, the EHS manager will supervise testing to ensure that the emissions are within acceptable limits. The discharge permit for the company determines these limits. In most cases, ensuring compliance with these limits necessitates ongoing or periodic sampling and testing.