Regulations, policies, and plans will never cover every contingency, and it is important for these different groups to communicate with each other to ensure that new situations can be handled appropriately. Though it is the responsibility of each individual researcher to ensure that work is performed in a prudent and safe manner, achieving a safe laboratory environment is a cooperative endeavor between management, EHS personnel, and laboratory personnel. All contractor personnel should be required to comply with the sponsoring organization's safety policies and plans. While understanding that some individuals will never be convinced of the need for new controls, it is important to provide clear, supported justifications for changes to existing protocols to encourage adoption of the new policies and procedures.Ĭontractors should have written safety plans and qualified staff whose qualifications are thoroughly reviewed before a contract is awarded. If requirements are perceived by laboratory personnel as unnecessarily onerous, there is potential for lower compliance within the organization and a loss of credibility on the part of EHS personnel. Categorizing each item in this manner allows gaps that are identified to be prioritized and incorporated, based on level of importance and available resources.Ĭare should be taken when developing and disseminating new controls and corrective actions. If additional controls or corrective actions are needed to reduce risks to acceptable levels, they are integrated into business planning. Once applicable EHS aspects are identified, a risk-based evaluation is performed to determine the potential impact and adequacy of existing control measures. Where no formal management system exists, or if the organization is newly established, the initial status review should indicate where the organization stands with respect to managing risks.įigure 2.1 illustrates the major elements of an EHS management system. This initial status review will provide information on the scope, adequacy, and implementation of the current management system. An initial status review should be carried out in all organizations that do not have an established EHS management system. The manner and extent to which individual elements are applied, however, depend on factors such as the size of the organization, the nature of its activities, the hazards, and the conditions in which it operates. It is important that all the elements described here are incorporated into the EHS management system. Within many organizations, some elements of EHS management are already in place, such as policy and risk assessment records, but other aspects need to be developed. 1 By establishing an EHS management system, EHS risks are controlled in a systematic proactive manner. The guidelines presented here are based on general principles of good management and are designed to integrate EHS management within an overall management system. Many features of effective EHS management are identical to management practices advocated by proponents of quality assurance and business excellence. This chapter seeks to improve the EHS performance of organizations by providing guidance on EHS to integrate EHS management with other aspects of the organization. ![]() ![]() This framework requires organizations to manage their activities in order to anticipate and prevent circumstances that might result in occupational injury, ill health, or adverse environmental impact. High standards demand a structured approach to the identification of hazards and the evaluation and control of work-related risks.Ī comprehensive legal framework already exists for laboratory EHS management. More and more organizations attach the same importance to high standards in EHS management as they do to other key aspects of their activities. Many people are interested in an organization's approach to laboratory environmental health and safety (EHS) management including laboratory personnel customers, clients, and students (if applicable) suppliers the community shareholders contractors insurers and regulatory agencies.
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