What is an EHS Officer?
An EHS Officer, short for Environmental Health and Safety Officer, is a specialist responsible for ensuring compliance with environmental safety laws and promoting a culture of health and safety within an organization. They play a crucial role in protecting the environment from potentially harmful practices and ensuring the safety of employees in their work environment. As the point of contact for EHS matters, an EHS Officer supports the company in improving its EHS performance and championing health and safety initiatives.
Duties of an EHS Officer:
Interface and Leadership: An EHS Officer interfaces across operations teams to ensure ownership of EHS responsibilities throughout the organization. They lead the improvement of EHS culture and competency, promoting engagement and commitment to health and safety.
Safety Audits and Meetings: They attend site safety meetings and conduct safety audits to assess compliance with EHS regulations and identify areas for improvement. They provide recommendations and support for implementing safety measures.
EHS Initiatives: An EHS Officer coordinates and supports EHS initiatives within the organization, working towards continuous improvement in EHS performance across all sites.
Incident Prevention and Management: They monitor, evaluate, and take actions to eliminate incidents, focusing on engaging the workforce and management in proactive safety measures. They develop and cascade annual EHS objectives and targets.
Compliance and Inspections: An EHS Officer coordinates the development and implementation of EHS inspections to comply with regulatory, customer, and company requirements. They ensure adherence to the company's EHS policies and procedures and manage internal audit and inspection programs.
Reporting and Communication: They report EHS results and performance, ensuring timely and accurate reporting using established systems. They also communicate EHS issues and updates to all employees and engage with external parties such as regulators, contractors, customers, and stakeholders.
Training and Development: EHS Officers support upskilling of employees in EHS-related matters, conduct toolbox talks, and organize training courses to ensure compliance and enhance EHS competencies.
Culture and Strategy: They lead the evolution of EHS culture and strategy within the company by developing and implementing an EHS Mission Plan. They promote the sharing of good EHS practices and facilitate the integration of EHS considerations in tender processes.
Safety Performance Reviews: EHS Officers conduct site engagements to review safety performance and behaviours, implementing measures to rectify issues and drive continuous improvement.
Documentation and Compliance: They maintain EHS records, ensure compliance with regulatory and customer requirements, and manage documentation related to EHS incidents, investigations, and actions.
Contractor Management: An EHS Officer manages contractors involved in EHS-related projects, ensuring their compliance with safety standards and safe work practices.
Risk Management: They support risk assessments and participate in EHS programs concerning risk management and reduction, working towards minimizing hazards and ensuring a safe work environment.
Similar Roles to an EHS Officer:
Safety Officer: Safety Officers are responsible for ensuring employee safety and creating a safe work environment. They develop safety policies, conduct inspections, and provide training on safe work practices.
Health and Safety Manager: Health and Safety Managers oversee the overall health and safety program in an organization. They develop policies, conduct risk assessments, manage training programs, and ensure compliance with health and safety regulations.
Environmental Compliance Specialist: Environmental Compliance Specialists ensure compliance with environmental regulations. They assess environmental impact, develop management systems, monitor performance, and provide guidance on sustainable practices.
Occupational Health and Safety Coordinator: Occupational Health and Safety Coordinators work with management and employees to promote a safe work environment. They assist in policy development, conduct inspections, and provide training on occupational health and safety.
EHS Consultant: EHS Consultants offer specialized expertise on environmental, health, and safety matters. They conduct audits, assess compliance, develop safety programs, and provide recommendations for improvement.
Risk Management Specialist: Risk Management Specialists identify and manage risks within organizations. They develop risk mitigation strategies, conduct assessments, and collaborate with stakeholders to implement risk reduction measures.
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Armagh
Location: Northern Ireland, south of Lough Neagh.
Why Work Here:
Agriculture: Strong agricultural sector.
Heritage: Rich in cultural and historical heritage, known as the "Orchard County."
Community: Close-knit community with a strong sense of identity.