Importance Of EHS In Various Industries

Table of Contents:

• EHS In The Manufacturing Industry
• EHS Management In The Construction Industry
• EHS In The Energy Sector
• EHS In Healthcare
• EHS In Agriculture
• Why EHS Matters
• Conclusion

Every industry faces unique challenges. For instance, the Manufacturing industry often faces labour shortages, the Energy sector struggles with sustainability, and even the Healthcare sector faces issues with patient care and integration of new technologies. But do you know the one common challenge that all these industries face? It is providing a safe and healthy workplace for all the people involved. The importance of EHS can only be understood by looking at the role it plays in the betterment of these sectors.

In this article, we will take a deeper look at the health & safety concerns across different industries and how EHS addresses them.  

EHS In The Manufacturing Industry

When we talk about EHS Management, we need to understand both the environmental aspect and the employee safety aspect of it. The Manufacturing industry deals with raw materials, waste, as well as release of pollutants when creating new products.

Environmental health and safety guidelines help you understand the proper handling of raw materials as well as toxic waste. It ensures that the environment is not being contaminated while also ensuring the safety of the employees working with hazardous materials. Proper industrial safety training helps employees protect themselves.

EHS Management In The Construction Industry

Construction sites are inherently risky due to working at heights, heavy equipment, and exposure to harmful elements. EHS professionals implement safety measures, ensure proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and manage hazardous materials like Lead and Asbestos.

Proper EHS training can ensure workplace safety in Construction by educating employees on risk management and ways to protect themselves in dangerous work environments. When employees are better trained, there are fewer chances of accidents in the workplace.

EHS In The Energy Sector

The energy sector, including Oil and Gas, Nuclear, and Renewable Energy face EHS concerns around spills, leaks, and emissions. What might seem like a small issue at first, might turn out to be a disastrous situation later, as seen in the Chernobyl and Bhopal Industrial disasters. 

EHS regulation focuses on the safe handling of materials, minimising environmental impact, and ensuring worker safety during maintenance and operations. Employees are trained and prepared to address even the smallest issues around leaks or spills. EHS professionals on site are responsible for maintaining a healthy work environment and ensuring compliance to legal safety standards in the Energy sector.

EHS In Healthcare

Hospitals and other healthcare facilities prioritise patient care, leading to oversight waste disposal, radiation safety, and containing contaminations. This is why the role of EHS becomes important to maintain the health and safety of employees.

EHS plays an essential role in preventing infections, managing medical waste, and ensuring staff safety. EHS training makes it easier to tackle unsafe working conditions. Hospital employees are trained on the proper use of protective equipment, ways to dispose of infectious waste, and more. This is why you will often find different bins for normal and medical waste in hospitals!

EHS In Agriculture

Farming has become technologically advanced now. That means working with new equipment and new chemicals, not all of which are safe for the environment or the people. Therefore, studying the EHS guidelines will help you pick the right pesticides and fertilisers for your farms. It ensures that you are aware of the toxins you might be exposed to, and how you can protect yourself from them.

Similarly, Agricultural EHS also focuses on proper storage and disposal of agricultural waste in order to prevent soil and water contamination.

Why EHS Matters

EHS matters because it helps to:

• Protect employees’ health in the workplace.
• Ensures environmental safety and adherence to EHS regulations put forth by the government.
• Reduce the risk of accidents and injuries.
• Protects the organisation’s reputation before stakeholders and the public. 
• Save avoidable medical & insurance costs to the company.
• Ensure a smooth running business, with little to no interruptions due to unsafe working conditions.
• Fulfil the organisation’s legal and ethical obligations towards sustainable and mindful consumption of natural resources. 

Conclusion

While employee safety is one of the top priorities in the EHS guidelines, that is not all that there is to the EHS domain. The importance of EHS Management is evident across industries and if you want to equip yourself with this knowledge, you can explore the Diploma In Environment Health And Safety Management. This is a free course that can be completed in about 2 weeks. Begin your journey in Environment, Health, and Safety with UniAthena.