EHS in Bioscience Industry: Tips for Seamless Management

Author: Dorothy Brown

The biosciences industry is an amalgamation of many and various factors, with the most important ones being pharmaceutical, biotechnology, diagnostics, and medical devices, among others. And given all that’s at stake, it should come as no surprise that this industry is among the most regulated in the world. Not only must companies operating in this space abide by the directives and requirements as dictated by the country’s national agency that deals with the control and management of drugs, but also multiple other agencies that tend to things like the environment, health, and science in general.

Unfortunately, the job doesn’t end at just ensuring compliance with an ocean of regulations. Biosciences companies, much like any other company in the world, must always endeavor for success, both in the short term as well as long term. Suffice it to say that operating an enterprise in this field is anything but easy, which, in turn, necessitates the use of tools that will help them effectively manage all that. The answer, then, is found in building an EHS (Environment, Health, and Safety) program. Interestingly, a robust EHS program not only does all that we just discussed but also fostered a culture of safety across the organization. But for all its benefits and advantages, it can be quite challenging to properly and effectively manage such a program. So, we put together a list of recommendations that will help make sure seamless management of your EHS program.

  • Assess the risk: The thing about threats is that they are not all the same, which means a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach will never work, especially in this context. So, start with an extensive analysis of the risk and while you are at it, don’t forget to catalog all probable risks that you find. Admittedly, this is a time-consuming endeavor, but it is one that will allow you to tend to them as well as the underlying challenges, if at all. It will save you much time in the long run.
  • Communication is crucial: It is deplorable just how much one tends to ignore the value of communication. Please don’t make that mistake and put together a quick rundown of the responsibilities, to whom they belong, and more. And don’t forget to communicate it to the relevant parties, for the failure to do so is bound to end in miscommunication and confusion — two things that one often pays for dearly.
  • In-depth training: Training, as far as EHS is concerned, can’t be a one-time affair. While preliminary training will allow you to use the EHS, continued practice will help make sure that you can continue to make the most effective use of your EHS system. Make sure that your expert employees receive refresher training periodically and that the new ones correctly trained in all the vital aspects.

    • Managing an EHS program is decidedly a challenging task. But with a powerful software solution for safety management in your arsenal, it doesn’t have to be as tricky as it is made out to be.