This page provides resources to help you develop and implement an environmental and occupational health and safety (EHS) compliance program using a management system approach.
These resources include:
- Identifying EHS Legal Requirements
- National & International Standards
- Writing Policies & Procedures
- Training Courses and Professional Certification
- Other Resources
Identifying EHS Legal Requirements
An important step in complying with EHS legal requirements is identifying which laws and regulations are applicable to your organization.
ENLAR can work with you to identify and document the specific legal requirements applicable to your organization’s activities, products and services. The focus of this service is the creation of a Site-Specific Compliance Guidebook to ensure you have ready access to information on applicable legal requirements in a format that is easy to understand and up to date. This compliance guidebook provides the foundation of establishing an effective environmental or OH&S management system.
Listed below are web sites with information that may assist you in identifying EHS laws and regulations applicable to your organization:
- United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA)
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
- The Legal Information Institute of Cornell Law School
- Environmental Law Network
National & International Standards
Standards are developed by a number of national and international standard development organizations (SDOs).
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) develops of a wide range of international standards. Further information on ISO can be found at the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) web site.
The management system standards developed by ISO are developed as specification standards intended to be used for third-party certification.
The ISO 14000 Standards are a series of standards developed by Technical Committee 207 covering the following:
- Environmental management systems
- Environmental auditing and investigations
- Environmental labelling
- Environmental performance evaluation
- Life cycle assessment
- Greenhouse gas management
Copies of the ISO 14000 standards are available from ISO, American Society for Quality (ASQ) or from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
ISO 14001 is a specification standard setting out requirements for an environmental management system. For more information about this standard, click here.
ISO 45001 is a specification standard setting out requirements for an occupational and health management system. For more information about this standard, click here.
If you would like more information about developing, implementing and maintaining occupational health and safety management systems, visit the OHSMS Expert blog.
Writing Policies & Procedures
One of the key parts of any compliance program is developing policies and procedures and managing data and documentation. One of the common mantras of a management system approach is “Say what you do; do what you say.”
Once you development documentation, you need to manage it. For general guidance on document and records management, check out the guidance provided by the National Archives.
Training Courses and Professional Certification
Several environmental and OH&S regulations require employee training and employers often seek to hire individuals with professional certification.
Deciding which EHS training courses and professional certifications are right for you and your staff can be difficult. Making the wrong decision can waste your time and money.
Trying to decide what is right for you?
To make a better decision, answer the following five questions before you register for a training course:
1. What is my current level of knowledge about the subject?
If you are new to a particular subject, you may want to start with an introductory course to get basic information about the topic. If you already have expertise, you may gain little from an introductory course and get more value from an advanced course.
2. How do I want to use the knowledge?
Do you want general knowledge or are you seeking, or maintaining, a specific certification? If you taking the course for a specific certification, make sure the course meets the certification requirements.
3. Is there a “value-added” to the training?
Some courses also offer extensive course materials or on-going access to materials or support. Check how long you have to complete the training if it is an on-line course.
4. Where is it provided?
Courses are available in a range of locations and costs. Some are only offered on-line and others are only offered in person. Some are both.
5. What does it cost?
Courses can range in cost from free to over a thousand dollars. Concentrate on getting value for the money you spend not just the price.
ENLAR offers several training courses for EHS professionals. This includes an Ethics for EHS Professionals course.
Other Resources
Professional Associations provide resources on environmental and OH&S topics. These includes:
- American Industrial Hygiene Association
- American Society of Safety Professionals
- Institute of Hazardous Materials Management