The big buzzword in environmental, health and safety (EH&S) these days is sustainability. Corporations love to tell the public how sustainable they are. Makes for great press and builds the brand. And public opinion is turning so that sustainability – “being green” – is something consumers are demanding more and more of companies.
As a facility manager, it seems you have an ever-growing list of responsibilities, but never enough resources to account for everything you must do. Remember that environmental, health and safety (EH&S) is about much more than sustainability, which is the buzzword upper management and the outside world constantly emphasize.
A facility manager has a lot on his or her plate when it comes to making sure that buildings and services at a facility provide those who work there what they need when it comes to the physical elements, budgeting, training, compliance, safety, and personnel.
I’ve been an environmental consultant for more than 30 years. Yet it still surprises me how many of my fellow consultants adopt a standard, by-the-numbers approach to conducting environmental assessments – which could result in major issues being missed or the wrong remedies recommended.
