Man connecting safety gear

The primary goal of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) is to work collaboratively to promote and enhance environmental, health, and safety compliance in the workplace and beyond. Comprehensive aspects of environmental protection, occupational health and safety, and disaster prevention are assessed through state and federal environmental code compliance, the Occupational Health and Safety (OSH) Act, National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), and integrated facility-specific approaches to EHS operations.

Another focus is hazardous materials safety and waste management. Applicable agency standards, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), OSHA, NFPA, and local ordinances are integrated to eliminate redundant compliance activities. By evaluating all EHS issues, it is possible to streamline and reduce the overall compliance burden on facilities, thereby preserving available resources. The goal is safe hazardous material management, incorporating all areas of storage, use, and disposal. Staying in line with this prevention focus, EHS encourages the reduction of hazards and risks through the use of non-hazardous or lesser hazard material, re-use or recycling of materials/wastes, and lastly, appropriate disposal if no other options exist.

EHS facilitation encourages continued awareness and promotion of improved EHS throughout the workplace. The goal is risk reduction and loss prevention in the form of accident and disability avoidance (occupational illnesses/injuries and negligence liabilities), and prevention of environmental degradation through all media (air, water, and land). All of these efforts have resulted in significant cost savings whether in the form of reduced Workman’s Compensation claims, insurance premium costs, or cleaner drinking/surface waters, land, and air.