The risks and costs of environmental and health & safety (EHS) regulatory non-compliance are rising as the regulatory environment becomes more challenging. Compliance needs are pervasive and persistent across all geographical jurisdictions and industries. Today’s EHS professional (and those who wear a 2nd or 3rd hat as the person responsible for EHS compliance) face a vast and complex regulatory matrix that includes regulatory authorities focused on workplace safety, the environment, transportation and homeland security, to name just a few. EHS management now often encompasses requirements that extend beyond the immediate boundaries of the company, including upstream and downstream supply chain management.
The last 2 years have given shape to a complex regulatory landscape, with the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS); the European Union’s (EU) Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulatory framework; and the possible reform of the United States’ Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA). It is highly likely that 2011/2012 will bring many new compliance challenges.
By reviewing the below representative samples of the regulatory challenges that emerged in 2010, you can better prepare for 2011/2012′s emerging challenges and, therefore, begin to prioritize strategies and tactics that align with these challenges. (more…)