HSE (Health, Safety, and Environment) is said to be an umbrella term for the laws, rules, guidance, and processes designed to help protect employees, the public, and the environment from harm.
What Does Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Mean?
It involves creating organized efforts and procedures for identifying workplace hazards and reducing accidents and exposure to harmful situations and substances. It also includes training personnel in accident prevention, accident response, emergency preparedness, and the use of protective clothing and equipment.
It also involves the development of safe, high-quality, and environmentally friendly processes, working practices, and systemic activities that prevent or reduce the risk of harm to people in general, operators, or patients.
Regulatory requirements play an important role in EHS discipline and EHS managers must identify and understand relevant EHS regulations, the implications of which must be communicated to executive management so the company can implement suitable measures. Organizations based in the United States are subject to EHS regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations, particularly CFR 29, 40, and 49. Still, EHS management is not limited to legal compliance and companies should be encouraged to do more than is required by law, if appropriate.
Acronyms associated with Health Safety and Environment are:
| Acronym | Name | Group |
| OHS | Occupational Health and Safety | Occupational Health and Safety |
| HSE | Health, Safety and Environment | Health, Safety and Environment |
| EHS / EH&S | Environment, Health and Safety | |
| SHE | Safety, Health, and Environment | |
| QHSE | Quality, Health, Safety, and Environment | Quality, Health, Safety, and Environment |
| HSEQ | Health, Safety, Environment and Quality | |
| HSSE | Health, Safety, Security and Environment | Health, Safety, Security and Environment |
| QHSSE | Quality, Health, Safety, Security, and Environment | Quality, Health, Safety, Security, and Environment |
| HSSEQ | Health, Safety, Security, Environment, and Quality |
What Is The Role Of An HSE Specialist?
- Develop, implement, and review Health and Safety procedures within the safety management system.
- Monitor the implementation of the approved Health and Safety Plan.
- Provide Health and Safety Management Training.
- Carry out workplace inspections.
- Implementation of Environmental, Health, and Safety related activities and programs.
- Report Company’s Health and Safety Performance.
- Conduct regular service and system audits.
- Prepare site Safe Operating Procedures (SOPs).
- Develop, implement, and review Health and Safety procedures within the safety management system.
- Develop safety alerts and staff notices.
- Facilitate Risk Assessments.
- Conduct incident investigations and compile investigation reports.
- Conduct safety inductions and health and safety training.
- Present health and safety meetings and communicate health and safety information, etc.
READ: 49 Essential Duties Of A Safety Officer
READ: What Is The Important Difference Between OSHA And NEBOSH
Qualification Of A Health And Safety Specialist
To be a Health and Safety specialist, you must acquire the necessary certifications, and probably gain registration into a Health and Safety organization. There are different Health and Safety certifications; a few general Health and Safety certifications include:
- General Health and Safety Proficiency course
- Health and Safety Supervision course
- Advanced Health and Safety course
- NEBOSH International General Certificate
- NEBOSH Diploma
- OHSAS 18001 lead auditors course
Some Health And Safety Organizations Include:
- ISPON (Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria)
- IOSH (Institute of Occupational Safety and Health )
- BCSF (Board of Certified Safety Professionals)
- OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
- IIRSM (International Institute of Risk and Safety Management)
- NIOSH (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health)
READ: IOSH Membership Procedures
With these necessary Health and Safety qualifications and registration with one or more Health and Safety professional bodies, you are ready to take up the name of Health and Safety specialist. The experience required will be obtained as you progress in the profession.
General Categories
The guidelines cover categories specific to each industry as well as those that are general to most industry sectors. Examples of general categories and subcategories are:
| 1. Environmental | |
| 1.1 Air emissions and ambient air quality1.2 Energy conservation
1.3 Wastewater and ambient water quality 1.4 Water conservation 1.5 Hazardous Materials Management 1.6 Waste management 1.7 Noise 1.8 Contaminated land |
|
| 2. Occupational health and safety | |
| 2.1 General facility design and operation2.2 Communication and training
2.3 Physical hazards 2.4 Chemical hazards 2.5 Biological hazards 2.6 Radiological Hazards BG 2.7 Personal protective equipment (PPE) 2.8 Special hazard environments 2.9 Monitoring |
|
| 3. Community health and safety | |
| 3.1 Water quality and availability3.2 Structural safety of project infrastructure
3.3 Life and fire safety (LFS) 3.4 Traffic safety 3.5 Transport of hazardous materials 3.6 Disease prevention 3.7 Emergency preparedness and response |
|
| 4. Construction and decommissioning | |
| 4.1 Environment4.2 Occupational health and safety
4.3 Community health and safety |
|
READ: Important Occupational Health And Safety Degree Requirements For Admission
HSE Training & Certifications
READ: 7 Common Types of Accident At Work
Related Articles
15 Painting Hazards And Safety Control Measures
15 Ultimate Safety Goals For Performance Review
How to Determine Your Crane Load Capacity for Safe Performance
What Is Food Safety And Why Is It Important?
What Is The Purpose Of A Risk Assessment
OHS Meaning (Occupational Health And Safety)
