Over the last 30 years or so, EHS (environmental, health, and safety) has adapted from a pen-and-paper-based process to one that is far more modern. Advanced technology can now be leveraged to complete an assortment of duties within an organization. This adaptation, partly driven by better technological capabilities, is a response to new types of risk associated with modern work environments and facilities.
EHS is now a zero-tolerance issue and has defined employee well-being and workplace safety. However, that isn’t all. Natural disasters, pandemics, and climate change are all concerns that drive organizations. EHS regulations are constantly changing and leaders should be constantly looking for ways to future-proof their practices. It’s essential in our changing political landscape.
The simple risks and challenges of standards and compliance still apply, but the EHS of the future must be robust and capable of adapting based on changes in the world. This article will delve into this topic and provide you with tips for future-proofing your organization so you have the best possible chance of success.
For an organization that is high performing, increases in regulations don’t have to be a challenge. Sometimes they can be a trigger for growth. Regulations let businesses expand quicker, grow faster, and protect their interests at the same time. Having an EHS program that focuses on compliance can be a huge advantage over your competitors.
Below we will talk about a few ways you can future-proof your own business and make the most of a world that is always on the cusp of change.
As regulations continue to stack up, your organization needs a strategy and vision that focuses on the important things, such as a culture of safety and the ability to immediately address high-risk situations. At the same time, it’s essential to make all EHS processes less costly, more efficient, reliable, and simpler.
The most successful companies have a program that aligns with their goals and vision. The focus can be on streamlining workflows while bringing technology, processes, and people together. Changing the culture around compliance is the best way to get started.
Driving successful ventures in business requires ahigh-performance EHS program. This ensures stakeholders understand the risks in all decisions, such as mergers and acquisitions, which is important since a lot of money may be involved.
With insight into risks and regulations, it’s easier to determine any challenges that might come up and how to alleviate them. This includes integrating ethics into the company, monitoring culture, and paying attention to behavioral risks.
Implementing a risk-based approach to EHS means prioritizing and building programs that are focused on the highest risks to the company. The focus should be on providing resources in the areas of the largest concern. This can help create better efficiency and optimal resource distribution.
This requires integrating regulatory requirements into internal policies. This alignment helps determine which processes or locations might be impacted by a new regulation. It also gives you a chance to create an action plan to avoid as many risks as possible.
An EHS program should have an approach that looks to the future, with less focus on what has happened in the past and more on what is coming later. Spotting warning signs of risks and anticipating what is coming down the pipeline is more important.
Data is an essential aspect of this process. Most businesses have tons of data that provides important intelligence about current and future risks. Monitoring and analyzing unstructured and structured data can cut down on risks. There are also compliance tools that help correlate risks and determine compliance problems early.
Engaging leaders, auditors, and regulators in EHS programs gives organizations more confidence in their abilities and ensures no effort is unnoticed. You’ll have extra assurance that you are protected from many non-compliance issues, which benefits employees, clients, and others.
Many top organizations take an additional step by sharing the finding of audits and assessments both internally and externally. This can help to drive improvement across an entire industry.
Don’t keep spending time staying on top of monitoring compliance. Being able to thrive with regulation changes requires a high-performing EHS platform that fits your roadmap and vision.
To future-proof your organization, you need to be aware of compliance struggles and how they could impact your company. The most important thing you can do is to position EHS to have a continual strategic impact at all levels of your organization.
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