EHS Projects helps EEF develop integrated approach

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Oct 11, 2004

Businesses are set to benefit from a new approach to managing potential environmental, health and safety liabilities through new practices developed by the UK's EEF.

Businesses are set to benefit from a new approach to managing potential environmental, health and safety liabilities through new practices developed by the UK's largest industrial organisation, the EEF.

As more and more businesses feel the pressure to adhere to legislation and comply with standards such as the international environmental standard ISO 14001 and the health and safety scheme OHSAS 18001, EEF Yorkshire and Humberside has introduced a new approach to bridge the gap currently present between external consultancies and their clients.

Rob Habgood, environmental adviser at EEF Yorkshire and Humberside, comments: "Management time within most organisations is now at a premium.

"Our new integrated approach provides a combination of technical and legal advisory services, management system support and site project management, to provide probably the most comprehensive support package of its kind.

"Through it, employers will be given the freedom to get on with other areas of their work in the knowledge that they are getting specialist advice and support.

"The service revolves around providing a phased approach to improvement with all the necessary back up support needed to get the jobs done on site.

"It is definitely a major win for employers who want to take forward improvements to their environmental, health and safety arrangements as it: reduces the demand to pull management away from their production or other essential roles; ensures site improvements are professionally prioritised, set against the relevant legal specifications and implemented in a controlled manner; and utilises only recognised specialists rather than the general 'management consultants' currently flooding the market.

To assist with this approach, EEF Yorkshire and Humberside partnered with EHS Projects, one of the UK's fastest growing environmental health and safety specialist service providers.

Over the last two years EHS has demonstrated an enviable track record with implementing pollution prevention measures, resource/cost saving initiatives, housekeeping and safety improvements and emergency response facilities.

Andy Taylor, operations director at EHS Projects, comments: "In our eyes this new approach to environmental, health and safety support meets a long awaited need by employers.

"Through our experience we have seen too many 'informed' companies being prosecuted, named and shamed and have lost contracts because their performance was not up to scratch.

"Advice and guidance is useless without the resource and necessary know-how to put the measures effectively in place.

"We are delighted to be working with EEF Yorkshire and Humberside to help employers improve their EHS performance".

To compliment the service, the EEF will be launching a raft of half-day awareness sessions to cover elements of EHS legal compliance, management systems, and project management.