How to Resource the EHS Function With Top Talent?

In today’s dynamic workplaces, EHS is a vital function. But working in EHS can have a poor reputation. Over the years, EHS professionals have been characterised as ‘safety cops’. Many people believe that EHS is about box-ticking, rule-enforcing, bureaucracy and red tape, and this discourages excellent candidates from pursuing a career in EHS. ?

But those who choose a position in EHS can make a meaningful difference to their organisations. I’ve already discussed the ways in which EHS can make for a rewarding vocation—or a great role as part of a wider career, but they’re worth revisiting. ?

1. EHS careers aren’t tied to any one industry. Countless transferrable skills are developed through working in EHS. For example, the process involved in developing a risk assessment in the manufacturing industry is equally applicable to the construction industry. ?
2. Employees can experience all aspects of business operations. As EHS professionals develop, analyse and optimise health and safety processes, they develop a solid knowledge of the inner workings of their organisation. This broad perspective creates the opportunity to perform well in other roles. ?
3. Working in EHS builds communication, networking and influencing skills. Generalised skills like these aren’t exclusively useful to EHS professionals. They can be used in a variety of interpersonal roles across many industries and are worth developing. ?
4. It offers opportunities for hands-on work and strategic thinking. EHS practitioners work with employees on the shop or factory floor, observing practices and making connections that others don’t see. They also provide strategic advice, discussing safety matters and strategic risks with organisation leaders. ?

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Expertise Isn’t Everything ?

One common misconception that stands in the way of talented people pursuing EHS careers is the assumption that all EHS professionals need expert-level knowledge and specialist training. ? ?

This is only partly true. Experts are an essential part of the EHS function, and roles like EHS Manager and Safety Engineer require a great deal of specialised knowledge. But because EHS systems depend on the participation of the people in an organisation, many EHS roles rely heavily on interpersonal skills, analytical skills, diligence and focus. ?

Attention to detail and ability to solve problems in a fast-paced environment can be just as important as knowing the correct procedure for a job hazard analysis. ?

Employers who consistently look at the broader needs of the business tend to build EHS teams that are made up of individuals with various levels of practical and theoretical experience. By adding practical knowledge to theory, an EHS team can put into practice the rules they set and make a real, tangible impact. ?

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Career Planning: A Path to Success ??

EHS offers great roles for ambitious employees looking to build skills that can be carried from position to position. It also presents an excellent opportunity for leaders to provide career steps to others in their organisations, enhancing the organisation’s talent base while widening the pool of future leaders with EHS experience. ?

How can such career planning benefit organisations and leaders? ?

1. Helps leaders to resource. Strategic resourcing is about building a well-rounded team that serves an organisation’s long-term goals. A career step in EHS builds great skills and a wide perspective for team members.???
2. Brings EHS into the core. EHS managers monitor an extensive range of metrics that determine an organisation’s overall performance, giving them an advanced understanding of different business departments and helping build bridges between them. Meanwhile, the core EHS disciplines—planning, communication, monitoring and taking corrective actions—are, as I have argued previously, core operational disciplines. Integrating EHS makes operations more effective.?
3. Gives those people fulfilling, skill-building experiences. Offering enriching career opportunities to others is part of good leadership. The skills inherent in a typical EHS role, spanning communication, engagement, process design and data analysis will benefit them not only in their future careers, but in their everyday lives, too. ?

How can leaders achieve this? ?

1. Articulate the benefit of great EHS management as a part of core operations. Leaders should make it clear within their organisations that EHS management is an essential part of core operations. ?
2. Create career paths that include EHS experience. EHS roles often stand apart from traditional career paths. Instead, leaders should make a spell in EHS a standard part of career progression for ambitious workers. ?
3. Showcase successes within the EHS space. Celebrating health and safety wins and connecting them with operational successes provides tangible evidence to employees and leaders. You demonstrate how safe performance not only saves lives, but also benefits the business more broadly. ?

Leaders who practise such strategic resourcing will build a team that embeds safety at the heart of effective operations and provides enriching and impactful career experiences. ? ?

Next time I will be looking at the importance of placing empathy at the centre of leadership. In the meantime, it would be great to hear your thoughts. How do you celebrate your business’ health and safety wins? What benefits have you gained from resourcing talent? ?