What is EHS and why is it important

What is EHS?

EHS stands for Environment, Health & Safety.

In the corporate world, companies often have an EHS department that focuses on regulatory compliance.

• Environment refers to the natural world — air, water, land — and, in compliance terms, relates to regulations designed to protect these elements
• Health relates to the well‑being of employees and anyone who may come into contact with the company
• Safety pertains to measures intended to prevent harm in the workplace

Often, health and safety are managed together under the same agency, while environmental health regulations are overseen separately

In the corporate world, companies often have an EHS professional or department that focuses on environmental health and safety compliance. Jobs that fall within this department are typically Environment, Health & Safety Specialists or other similar titles. There may be EHS managers placed at different facilities around the globe and these managers may report up to a high-level EHS Director.

EHS may appear to be a simple acronym, but it carries significant meaning. As NAEM (the largest association for EHS professionals) defines it:

“Companies around the world invest in strong environmental, health and safety management, known as EHS. From an environmental standpoint, it involves creating a systematic approach to managing waste, complying with environmental regulations, or reducing the company’s carbon footprint. From a health and safety standpoint, it includes measures to address ergonomics, air quality, and other aspects of workplace safety that affect employee health and well-being. The differently ordered ESH, HSE or SHE all refer to the same professional practice.”

At its core, EHS is about responsibility — not just for current operations, but for past and future impacts both within company walls and reaching far beyond.

EHS, SHE, HSE: What’s the difference?

EHS is a North American term, specifically US American.

Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) and other variations such as Safety, Health & Environment (SHE) are found in Britain and European countries.

Some organizations add quality to the mix, so you might also see EHSQ and other variations. This is simply a difference in acronyms meant to represent the same concept. However, when working in different parts of the world it is wise to be sensitive to the acronym conventions used. It’s likely that the reason for this difference is the translation in native language, however, another alternative is that the terms match the names of the agencies that govern the regulations in each country. For instance, in the US, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is the relevant agency. In the United Kingdom the Health and Safety Executive is the relevant agency.

What does EHS&S (or EHS S) stand for?

EHS & S stands for EHS and sustainability.

A more recent additional consideration for many businesses, sustainability is often incorporated into EHS programs because the potential hazards to both have significant crossover. Sustainability programs are fundamentally based on environment, social, and governance (ESG), which require similar technical expertise — albeit with a differing perspective and understanding of related yet alternative detailed information.

There are many sustainability and ESG standards for businesses to potentially adhere to — many of which are voluntary, while others are mandatory.

Why is EHS management so important?

EHS is important because it protects the environment

EHS departments, and their corresponding policies, are important because they enable companies to conduct business in an environmentally responsible manner. Many “dirty” industries such as heavy manufacturing, produce valuable products but at the same time impact the cleanliness of the air, water and land in the vicinity of the industrial facilities and equipment. An EHS manager must manage compliance with the vast array of environmental laws that protect environmental resources for all citizens. This can include managing staff training, incident reporting, safety procedures, and regular inspection requirements

EHS is important because it protects employees

The safety component of EHS compliance is meant to protect employees from the hazards of their worksites. Employers in the United States are bound by a general duty to protect their workers from accidents that cause or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm (OSH Act 5(a)(1)) and there are more specific requirements that employers must follow to ensure an acceptable level of risk management and employee safety.

The French Labour Code similarly protects employees by allowing them to notify their employers of dangers to their health and safety. The EHS regulation and laws in different countries vary, but the basic principle is the same: employee safety and employer responsibility to keep employees safe at work.

EHS policy is an important part of corporate responsibility

EHS departments will often have an overarching EHS policy that governs the corporation’s approach to EHS and sustainability generally. This policy is similar to a Human Resource policy in that it sets out guidelines for the company to follow. EHS policies align with overall EHS management systems within the company. Thus, EHS is important because it has become the fabric of many companies’ approach to sustainability and corporate responsibility.

An EHS policy should lay out the basis of all EHS standards for the organization. It will be the cornerstone from which EHS practices are developed, including:

• An EHS compliance checklist
• Incident management protocols
• Corporate safety culture expectations
• Operational risk assessments and reports
• Emergency preparedness procedures
• EHS risk identification and required corrective actions
• Safety equipment usage requirements

EHS is dynamic. With an abundance of regulatory developments each year, practitioners must stay up to date on changes that affect their job duties, EHS procedures, and their company’s EHS performance. EHS is important, more now than ever, because there is a global awareness of the need to reduce the corporate environmental footprint, a sensitivity to workers’ rights and an emphasis on healthful work environments.

EHS at work: Beyond the definition

EHS spans a remarkably broad range of responsibilities that affect day‑to‑day operations and product lifecycle alike. These include permits, emissions, waste and water management, noise, hazardous materials, product compliance, packaging, labelling, reverse logistics, recycling, and more. EHS intersects with virtually every function — from HR to logistics, R&D to marketing.

Bringing it all together

In sum, EHS isn’t just an acronym — it’s a strategic framework that encapsulates:

• Compliance with environmental impact laws and safety regulations
• Employee health and wellbeing
• Operational impacts across time and geography
• A foundational element spanning multiple organizational functions
• A reflection of corporate responsibility and stewardship

Understanding and managing EHS effectively is key not only to legal compliance but to building a resilient and sustainable business.