Integrating Environment, Health & Safety and other Functions

Challenges and OpportunitiesNeil Skinner, Environmental Management ServicesAccolade Learning Resources Ltd.Edmonton Alberta Canada

The Three Major Challenges

• 1. Identifying clear corporate goals• 2. Choosing the correct standards

and models, and creating an integrated composite model

• 3. Establishing strong lines of communication and effective mechanisms for decision-making

1. Identifying Clear Corporate Goals

• Neither environmental or OHS problems are well served with solely reactive processes

• Linkages between EH&S goals and core business objectives are mandatory

• Strengthening core business objectives with sound EH&S policy should be the focus

2. Choosing Standards

• There are both integrated and individual standards suitable for EHS program development

• Industry models are important for substantive foundations

• Recognized international standards are crucial for external recognition

• The ultimate system should combine these 2 with organizational needs

Standards in Oil & Gas

• The API Model EHS is a good starting point, so are the CAPP programs

• ISO 14001 should be used as one of the underlying models

• BS 8800 is the most suitable & recognized OHS system standard

• ISO 9000 can also be helpful• All of these share many common

elements

Integrating Different Standards

• The key to integration is to find the commonalties among and between the standards

• Re-organizing the various standards into a workable whole is the key

• Administrative and management elements share many common characteristics

• Substantive elements can simply be grouped into functional divisions

3. Communication and Authority

• The third challenge is perhaps the source of the crucial difference between effective and superficial systems

• Top-down communications are just as important as bottom-up reporting

• Employee buy-in will not be accomplished without delegation of responsibility

• Continual improvement demands this

Authority and Responsibility

• Adherence to procedures is not enough

• Real responsibility must be granted for effective management

• Action plans require participation throughout the organization

• Simple ideas are more likely to be implemented

Steps in System Development

• 1. Approve goals and objectives• 2. Grant authority and establish clear

reporting structures• 3. Use existing “best practices” as a

starting point• 4. Develop both top AND bottom

features first: high level system functions AND strengthened existing operating procedures

Let us Help You

• We have proven ideas to help put these concepts into practice

• We do not believe that outside structures should impede internal processes

• We focus our efforts on capacity-building, not the traditional consulting model