Safety organizations face three fundamental challenges, according to a recently released report from J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc., "State of Environmental Health & Safety" benchmarking study.
- Difficulty getting employees to understand and follow safety procedures.
- Balancing EHS needs with other business demands.
- Overcoming resistance to change and establishing a safety-first culture
"Reading the survey results made me smile,” said Joe Proulx, EHS editor with J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. and co-author of the study report, said in a statement. “Despite crucial challenges and concerns about regulatory complexities, attitudes, and management situations, the focus wasn’t solely on compliance and discipline. Instead, it was on addressing the important roles all employees play in building a sustainable safety culture, not just the responsibility of safety professionals alone."
Looking at the challenges affecting companies, the survey found the following:
- Developing and maintaining programs – 67%
- Keeping up with regulatory changes - 66%
- Training and evaluating workers - 59%
When asked about the three most important factors for employers in achieving regulatory compliance at their companies, companies chose these top 3 factors for ensuring EHS compliance:
- Identifying and addressing compliance gaps in programs and behaviors - 57%
- Conducting thorough risk and hazard assessments - 52%
- Maintaining accurate, organized EHS programs and documentation - 51%
Looking at more specific areas, the survey came to the following conclusions:
Employee Engagement & Buy-In
• Getting employees to buy into and engage with EHS programs and initiatives
• Implementing new EHS measures amid employee resistance to changes in safety procedures and protocols
• Maintaining consistent employee engagement and buy-in for
EHS Communication & Standardization
• Communicating EHS information effectively across multiple locations and departments
• Establishing and maintaining consistent EHS processes and procedures across different sites or regions
• Aligning different groups and departments to ensure standardized application of EHS practices
Training & Compliance
• Tracking and managing employee training
• Keeping up with changing regulations and requirements for training
• Ensuring employees apply what they’ve learned in training and maintain compliance
Resource Constraints
• Implementing comprehensive EHS programs with limited budgets and financial resources, especially at smaller companies
• Staffing and time constraints are preventing EHS professionals from fully addressing all necessary EHS priorities and initiatives
• Balancing EHS needs with other business demands and constraints CU
The survey also inquired about how EHS has evolved over the past two years.
Increased Regulations & Compliance Requirements
• This has occurred particularly at the state and local levels.
• Pace and volume of regulations feel burdensome and restrictive.
Sustainability & Environment Compliance
• Focus has increased on ESG (environmental, social, and governance) initiatives and impact reduction.
• Both companies and customers have applied pressure to adopt more environmentally friendly practices.
Technological Advancements & Digital Tools
• Increase in online tools and software helped improve efficiency, data tracking, and reporting.
• Integration of AI and automation has become more prevalent.
Employee Engagement
• Greater emphasis has been placed on engagement through training, feedback mechanisms, and collaboration initiatives.
• This has led to better identification of EHS issues and improved safety culture.
Changing Workforce & Turnover
• High employee turnover has impacted organizations’ ability to maintain a strong safety culture.
• There has been a shortage of experienced workers.
When asked how EHS will evolve over the next three years, the answers were as follows:
Increased Regulations & Compliance Requirements
• Expect to see an increase in volume and complexity of regulations
• Growing regulatory burden will become a challenge for small businesses
Technological Advancements in EHS Compliance
• Greater integration of AI, Internet of Things (IoT), and data analytics to improve monitoring, reporting, and training
• Some concern about over-reliance on technology
Sustainability & Environmental Focus
• Continued increased focus on sustainability, environmental protection, and green practices • Continued increase in customer and regulatory demands (EHS controls and metrics)
Evolving Employee Engagement & Safety Culture
• Expect to see EHS compliance become more embedded in company culture
• Anticipate the need for more safety professionals to facilitate this cultural shift
Potential Policy Changes Under Current Administration
• Contrary to those who expect an increase in regulations and compliance requirements, others anticipate a potential reduction in regulations and enforcement
• Some concern that a more business-friendly approach could lead to weakening of EHS protections
Here is the complete survey.