The Importance of EHS (Environmental Health and Safety)

At Vision Environmental, our mission is to help our clients meet their waste disposal and environmental compliance goals. That’s why we believe it’s critical to highlight our unique professional support services and environmental disciplines.

As a business owner, you may be wondering, “What is EHS, and why is it important for my business?” To answer this question, we’ll dive into why environmental health and safety compliance is critical for businesses of all sizes and types to thrive.

What is EHS?

EHS (environmental health and safety) is a critical component of protecting employees and one that you should prioritize for your business.

Overall, EHS can be defined as the laws, regulations, and workplace protocols designed to protect workers’ wellbeing. Moreover, EHS compliance refers to what your business must do to align with industry regulations (e.g., OSHA or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration). These state and federal regulations significantly impact the daily operations at industrial and commercial facilities.

EHS compliance isn’t something your business can afford to skimp on. While it may not be your company’s sole concern, it’s a crucial aspect of running your business safely and ensuring its longevity down the line. Your business is legally obligated to identify and correct unsafe work practices to protect its employees. Some ways that your business can accomplish this are by utilizing written safety programs and documented employee training.

How to Become EHS Compliant

At Vision Environmental, we offer many services to help your business achieve EHS compliance, such as:

• Accident/Injuries Requirements (OSHA Form 200)
• Bloodborne Pathogen Requirements **
• Chemical Storage Safety Requirements
• Confined Space Requirements **
• Electrical Safety (lockout/tagout) Requirements **
• Emergency Planning Requirements **
• Fire Safety Requirements **
• Forklift Safety Requirements **
• Hazard Communication Requirements **
• Hazwoper Requirements **
• Hearing Conservation Requirements **
• Laboratory Safety Requirements **
• Personal Protective Equipment Requirements **
• Hazardous Chemical Inventories/MSDS’s
• Hazardous Materials Requirements
• Hazardous Materials Training **

** Indicates that Regulations Require a Written Program and Employee Training

Learn more about our Environmental Health & Safety Compliance Programs on our website.

EHS Considerations: Transitioning from Work-from-Home to Hybrid Office Work

In addition to overall workplace safety, EHS is of primary concern to companies reckoning with the COVID-19 pandemic.

For example, the recent wave of companies returning to the office has many employees feeling worried about potential exposure and unsafe working conditions—particularly those who have not yet been vaccinated.

This sentiment is reflected in their attitudes towards remote work vs. on-site work. When it comes to what employees want post-pandemic, as many as 48% of workers surveyed would like to keep working remotely into the future (EHS Today). The desire for a “hybrid” work arrangement is popular even in industries that typically require on-site work, such as healthcare, construction, manufacturing, retail, and hospitality.

As a result of this transition, OSHA launched a national emphasis program (NEP) on March 12th in response to President Biden’s Executive Order on Protecting Worker Health and Safety. The NEP ensures that OSHA will focus its enforcement efforts on coronavirus-related inspections, penalizing companies that put workers at serious risk of contracting COVID-19 or retaliate against employees who complain about unhealthy and unsafe conditions (EHS Today).

Let Vision Environmental Help You with EHS Compliance

No matter the scale of your EHS needs, we can help. At Vision Environmental, our team can provide your facility with efficient environmental solutions, including hazardous waste removal and disposal, remediation & UST closure, and health & safety compliance. Call us at (732) 589-7085 or contact us online today.