In the past, most workplaces conducted their business with limited scrutiny from public stakeholders. An OSHA inspection or a report to the EPA remained mostly a private matter. But the world is changing. “Out
of sight, out of mind” is old school. As Scott McNealy, CEO of Sun Microsystems, said
last year, “You have zero privacy anyway, get over it!”
The Internet, voluntary programs, and new laws are opening the curtain on environmental health and safety hazards. Chances are someone — a stranger — is going to reach you as the EHS pro and representative of your company and pose some tough and serious questions. The days of “no comment” and “I will have a spokesperson get back to you” won’t work anymore.
You may have to quickly convince a teenager, mother, cancer patient, or medical doctor that living near your workplace is safe. If you’re not credible right away, chances are your company may have to deal with a larger group of people, politicians, the media, or activists.