In any workplace, the well-being of employees and the responsible management of environmental impact are priorities. The Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Specialist is a professional who works to ensure these standards are met. They navigate the intersection of operational demands and protective regulations, creating a culture where safety and sustainability are integrated into daily operations.
What is an EHS Specialist?
EHS stands for Environmental, Health, and Safety. A specialist in this field designs, implements, and upholds programs that prevent workplace incidents, minimize environmental footprints, and ensure the organization adheres to all relevant government regulations. They are proactive problem-solvers who act as a bridge between a company’s operational goals and its legal and ethical obligations.
These professionals foster a proactive safety culture by identifying potential dangers before they can cause injury or damage. By interpreting complex regulations and translating them into practical workplace procedures, they help shield the organization from legal issues while safeguarding its workforce and the community.
Core Responsibilities of an EHS Specialist
Developing and Implementing Safety Policies
A primary responsibility for an EHS Specialist is the creation and execution of safety policies tailored to the specific risks of their workplace. This involves analyzing work processes and identifying potential hazards to develop specific, actionable procedures. For example, in a manufacturing setting, they would write and implement lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures to de-energize machinery before maintenance. They also develop protocols for machine guarding, ensuring that any moving parts that could cause injury are properly shielded.
Conducting Audits and Inspections
To ensure that safety policies are being followed, EHS Specialists conduct regular audits and inspections of the workplace. This involves physically walking through the facility, observing work practices, and examining equipment to identify non-compliance or new hazards. During these walkthroughs, they might check that emergency exits are unobstructed, fire extinguishers are charged and accessible, and employees are using required personal protective equipment (PPE). These checks correct unsafe conditions before they result in an incident.
Investigating Incidents
When a workplace accident, injury, or near-miss occurs, the EHS Specialist leads the investigation to understand what happened and why. The focus is on conducting a root cause analysis to identify the underlying system or process failures that led to the event. This could involve interviewing witnesses, inspecting the incident location, and reviewing safety procedures. The findings are then used to implement corrective actions to prevent a similar incident from happening again.
Leading Safety Training
EHS Specialists are the primary educators for the workforce on all matters of health and safety. They develop and deliver training programs for all levels of the organization, starting with new hire orientation that covers safety rules. They also lead specialized training sessions required by regulatory agencies or dictated by specific job functions. This might include teaching proper lifting techniques, instructing on the safe handling of hazardous chemicals, or certifying forklift operators.
Ensuring Regulatory Compliance
A primary part of the EHS Specialist’s role is keeping the company in compliance with government regulations. They must maintain an expert-level understanding of the standards set by agencies like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This involves tracking changes in laws, ensuring all required permits are up to date, and maintaining records for potential audits.
Managing Environmental Programs
The EHS Specialist is also responsible for managing programs that protect the environment. This includes overseeing the proper disposal of hazardous waste in accordance with EPA regulations and ensuring that any air or water emissions from the facility are within permitted limits. They also manage recycling programs and may lead broader sustainability initiatives, such as projects aimed at reducing a company’s energy or water usage.
Skills and Qualifications Needed
Becoming an EHS Specialist begins with a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field like occupational health and safety, environmental science, or industrial hygiene. This education provides the scientific and regulatory knowledge needed to manage complex safety and environmental issues. The curriculum covers topics such as toxicology, ergonomics, environmental law, and safety management systems.
Professional certifications are highly valued in the EHS field. The Certified Safety Professional (CSP) designation is a widely recognized credential that demonstrates a high level of knowledge and experience in safety practices. Another prominent certification is the Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), which focuses on controlling workplace conditions that may cause injury or illness.
In addition to formal qualifications, a specific set of skills is necessary for success. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are needed to conduct root cause analyses and interpret complex regulations. Attention to detail is required for performing inspections and maintaining accurate compliance records, while communication skills are needed to train employees and advise management.
Common Work Environments
EHS Specialists are employed across a wide array of industries, as nearly every type of business has safety and environmental obligations to manage. The manufacturing sector is a major employer, where specialists focus on machine safety, chemical exposure, and process hazards. In construction, they are on-site to address risks associated with heavy equipment, working at heights, and excavation.
The focus of an EHS Specialist’s job is influenced by their work environment. In the oil and gas industry, their primary concerns might be fire and explosion prevention. A specialist working in a hospital would concentrate on infection control, safe patient handling, and the proper disposal of biomedical waste. Others may work for consulting firms, where they advise a variety of clients on how to develop and improve their EHS programs.
Career Path and Salary Outlook
The career trajectory for an EHS professional begins in an entry-level position such as an EHS Coordinator or Technician. In these roles, individuals learn the fundamentals by assisting with tasks like safety inspections, data entry, and training logistics. With experience, they can advance to an EHS Specialist role, taking on more responsibility for managing programs.
From the Specialist level, the path can lead to management positions. An EHS Manager oversees a team of specialists and is responsible for the safety strategy of a facility or business unit. Further advancement can lead to roles like EHS Director or Vice President of EHS, who are responsible for setting corporate-wide policy. The salary for an EHS Specialist varies based on industry, experience, certifications, and geographic location.