Many compliance business initiatives associated with environmental, health, and safety (EHS) require substantial time, money, and staffing. 

 

After all, robust programs don’t just appear out of thin air. They require solid planning, consistent execution, and attentive continuous improvement. Resources fuel these program-building endeavors. Yet, an EHS compliance program does not always need an overhaul. 

 

Sometimes, a tweak or two can breathe new life into a facility’s efforts, supporting improved performance. Concentrating on proactive, leading activities, like the seven (7) items covered below, promotes the attainment of quick yet valuable wins with minimal additional budget or staff. 

 

 

EHS Compliance Business Tip 1: Lead by Example

 

Leadership can make or break an organization’s EHS efforts. Top management sets the vision and tone for the work environment. The strongest leaders are champions of EHS, cultivating teamwork and promoting fairness. Doing so makes it easier to enforce program provisions and meet goals. 

 

Therefore, senior leaders should hold themselves accountable to the same internal EHS compliance business rules and protocols as the general workforce. Additionally, top leadership must demonstrate a firm commitment to EHS to nurture a strong culture. These leaders should discuss EHS often with the workforce, participate in training and initiatives, and invest in program improvements.

 

Pro Tip: Leading by example doesn’t just apply to executive managers. More tenured employees often act as mentors to less experienced workers. All employees in positions of influence should be mindful to set a positive, fair standard of EHS behavior.

 

 

EHS Compliance Business Tip 2: Increase the Frequency of Communications

 

Information sharing is vital to the enhancement and maturity of the EHS program. More frequent messages regarding environmental, health, and safety metrics, lessons learned, and best practices reinforce training. Subsequently, employees gain deeper EHS awareness and understanding, which can spur greater ownership.

 

Companies can efficiently utilize readily available channels like email, bulletin boards, text, regular team meetings, toolbox talks, etc., to communicate EHS messages effectively. Moreover, matching message formats to the audience’s preferences will raise engagement. Businesses should also employ creativity in an EHS compliance business communication strategy, including storytelling, visuals, and humor.

 

Pro tip: Design a quarterly communication plan for EHS, highlighting the organization’s current challenges and examples of innovative solutions to drive employee impact and value. 

 

 

EHS Compliance Business Tip 3: Solicit Employee Feedback

 

Receiving and acting on constructive feedback presents one of the quickest avenues to lasting improvement. Moreover, who will give the organization better insight into its EHS program than the workers who operate within the program’s provisions daily? As a bonus, feedback solicitation offers employees a voice in the program, strengthening ownership and morale. 

 

Instituting this EHS compliance business tip can be as easy as putting up a suggestion box or inviting workers to use an open-door policy to communicate concerns. If an anonymous feedback method would garner better engagement, consider collecting comments through an accessible online interface like Google Forms or Microsoft Forms.

 

Pro Tip: Companies should clearly state that program improvement is their only reason for soliciting feedback. Reinforce to employees that the information collected will not be utilized to target workers for retaliation or discrimination. 

 

 

EHS Compliance Business Tip 4: Do More Walkthrough Inspections

 

Want to demonstrate a genuine commitment to EHS compliance management? Spend more time walking through your operational areas to identify possible issues. Best-in-class programs view frequent inspections and audits as foundational to their efforts. Additionally, this action builds a resilient EHS culture. 

 

Businesses should look at their current inspection frequency and aim for a feasible frequency increase of 5%-10%. Furthermore, invite employees to participate as you implement this EHS compliance business tip to promote faster results. Organizations should also use an environmental or safety checklist to standardize results for straightforward data collection and future analysis.

 

Pro Tip: Encourage all participating in these inspections to correct any discovered issues when possible. Also, stress the importance of this hazard/risk identification activity in your communications to help prevent these examinations from becoming pencil-whipping exercises.

 

 

EHS Compliance Business Tip 5: Supercharge Behavior-Based Safety (BBS) Observations

 

Most injuries start as a decision, with the subsequent action(s) leading to the adverse event. Without an emphasis on employee behavior, even the most well-crafted EHS program may fail to produce desired results. Thus, no EHS compliance business tip list would be complete unless BBS observations are included.

 

Now, this tip assumes your organization already knows what BBS observations are and has implemented them. However, you can take these reviews to the next level by offering incentives to promote more participation. Alternatively, businesses can complete a deeper investigation of the data collected to direct training, communication, and process improvement efforts.

 

Pro Tip: BBS can be streamlined for supervisors and managers by integrating these observations into their direct reports’ routine performance checks. Moreover, leaders should always take the time to coach employees who display unsafe behavior, concentrating on the personal benefits of a safe work environment and taking a constructive, balanced approach. During such conversations, highlight both the safe and unsafe acts observed.

 

 

EHS Compliance Business Tip 6: Complete Timely Follow-up on Identified Improvement Opportunities

 

Few things are more detrimental to EHS culture and employee morale than a lack of follow-up on suggestions, reported issues, and submitted concerns. If employees are putting forth the effort to help the organization improve, the company should repay that trust with timely actions and status updates.   

 

As items are reported or received, the receiving supervisor or manager should ensure each one is logged and then forwarded, if needed, for additional action. Doing so may entail getting a voiced concern on the safety committee’s agenda, submitting a work order, or presenting feedback to senior leadership. Moreover, every item’s status should be tracked, with the progress toward resolution shared with employees.

 

Pro Tip: Consider using an action item matrix (AIM) or task manager to track the status of individual items. Additionally, integrate progress reports on outstanding matters into your regular EHS meeting agendas. Be as transparent as possible with workers and manage expectations around potential changes well.

 

 

EHS Compliance Business Tip 7: Consult an Expert

 

Last but not least, our catalog of EHS compliance business tips would be lacking if it did not include procuring expert assistance. External environmental and health and safety consultants can often provide objective insight into what steps to take next to enhance your program.

 

Furthermore, many experts offer free or low-cost consultations to answer questions, brainstorm solutions, and help outline action plans. They are an excellent resource for a business’s toolkit, as consultants can help clarify regulatory requirements, offer feedback on how they design compliant programs, and share lessons learned from their experiences.

 

Pro Tip: Companies should always review a consultant’s credentials before seeking services. Inquire about the academic history, work experience, and licenses/certifications of the individual(s) who will share their expertise.

 

 

Other Articles Related to EHS Compliance Business Tips

 

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16 Quick Items for a Timesaving Environmental Walkthrough Inspection

 

Dear Noncompliance: Meet the Quick 16 Safety Walkthrough Inspection

 

Final Thoughts

 

Execution determines results. As such, every organization should strive to implement well in every function. The EHS compliance business hints discussed above can transformatively impact your current program with minimal stress, little additional effort, and marginal costs. So, try one or all of them to take one step closer to your EHS goals. 

 

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7 EHS Compliance Business Tips to Implement Today for Quick Wins Starting Tomorrow