EHS TODAY ROUNDTABLE: Economics, Regulations, Connections and Mentoring

What are some of the significant issues coming up next year or in the future for your organization?

Jim Lastowka: As an attorney representing companies on OSHA issues, the most significant issues faced will be those presented by the promised aggressive enforcement by the “new sheriff in town.” There is a need and a place for strong enforcement when and where it is deserved. But a commitment to bring major enforcement actions to “send a message” that does not also include a focused and objective effort to sort out the truly bad actors from those companies that actually do commit resources to safety is misguided. OSHA must be careful to not sacrifice the reputation of a company that makes substantial safety efforts to a perceived need for a dramatic headline to demonstrate its toughness and leverage its enforcement clout.

Tom Krause: Life-altering injuries and fatalities will continue to be a primary concern for industry. Maintaining and improving the systems that reduce the probability of serious injuries and fatalities is the right thing to do and it also has cultural impact.

Many organizations, particularly in good times, suffer from spending too much time on low energy/low potential events. An incident with high potential for severe injury (such as a near miss associated with a failure in the lockout/tagout system) will get the same level of attention as an incident with low potential for serious injury (such as a minor sprain).

Dan Shipp: EPA's noise rule revision that changes the way hearing protectors are labeled. NIOSH's examination of a possible wider role in PPE testing and certification. Continuing international cooperation leading to more harmonization of PPE standards and designs around the world, and expansion of markets for PPE in emerging industrial economies. Understanding the promise and hazards to workers from new materials, using new materials to enhance protective technologies, and designing PPE to protect workers in industries where these new materials are manufactured or processed.

Zack Mansdorf: With occupational injuries and illnesses continuing to decline over the last decade, more attention has been going to issues related to sustainability. Energy conservation (and subsequent reductions in GHG emissions), water conservation and waste are the major issues of the future.

Cathy Cole: For AIHA, we have a strong desire to address the issue of the outdated OSHA PELs and occupational exposure limits in general. It is unclear if this administration has any intention on moving forward in addressing the issue of the outdated PELs. Some may say that the agency does not have the resources to update the PELs, but we don't believe that is an acceptable answer.

Carl Heinlein: We are hearing about and seeing more mergers and acquisitions. As a result, a common issue to address is the blending of two possibly different safety cultures and what works best for the newly merged organization as it moves forward.

If you had advice to offer someone starting out in EHS, what would it be?

Tom Krause: Fundamentally, I would say that having an impact in today's changing business climate requires more than technical expertise.

EHS professionals increasingly need to be change agents, which requires leadership skill and organizational savvy. A change agent is in the business of advancing performance by identifying how to get there and enlisting others in that endeavor. Change agents in safety do not leave their technical expertise behind; they simply leverage it to develop strategies for sustainable, high-level performance.

Mike Blotzer: Hone your communication skills. The ability to communicate complex data in a way that is understood by diverse groups is probably the single most important skill in EHS.

Maintain high standards. Strive for continual improvement in yourself and your organization. Build partnerships and collaborate in a way that adds value to your organization.

Practice mindfulness. Don't let the demands and pressures of the moment keep you from taking time to understand and reflect on the problem and issues so that you make the best decision. You may not have all the time you'd like, but use the current moment to your best advantage and think.

Carl Heinlein: Never quit learning. Get involved with your EHS-related associations, such as American Society of Safety Engineers, National Safety Council and American Industrial Hygiene Association. Work toward achieving a para-professional or professional EHS certification, such as the certified safety professional (CSP), cccupational health and safety technologist (OHST) or certified industrial hygienist (CIH).

In addition … many of our future EHS leaders will most likely be “wired” to social media … remember that these are all valuable networking tools, but must always be used in a professional manner.

Frank White and James Nash: Learn how to connect EHS performance with the business objectives of your organization. At a minimum, this means that in addition to developing EHS expertise, you must understand the “language of finance' spoken by CFOs and CEOs. It also means working to relate EHS with broader corporate objectives, such as corporate responsibility and sustainability.

How can we nurture future leaders in the profession?

Mike Blotzer: Be a mentor to a young professional. Encourage active membership in our professional societies. Young professionals should volunteer to serve on a technical committee where they can contribute to the advancement of the profession and gain valuable contacts that will serve them throughout their careers.

Dan Shipp: Encourage them to take responsibility, to innovate, to look for new solutions and ways of doing things. Reward results and initiative, even when they challenge entrenched assumptions about “the way things work.”

Cathy Cole: Invite them to take on leadership roles, no matter how small. Engage them.

Chris Patton: We just had a very successful Future Safety Leader Conference for about 120 ASSE student section members. We hold this event every year in an effort to prepare students for entering the workplace. Not only do they get to hear from, and network with, working professionals, but they also get to create lifelong contacts among their peers.

Carl Heinlein: We must keep reminding our future EHS leaders what a wonderful and rewarding career path they are embarking on! We can never quit mentoring, coaching and advising our future leaders, and we must, as importantly, listen to what they have to say.

For the complete text of these interviews, see the full transcript.