I'm one of the approximately eight percent of environmental health and safety pros who report to the legal department. My last four bosses have been lawyers, meaning I've been reporting to a lawyer now for over 15 years. I'd like to share some experiences and offer recommendations on how an EHS pro should work with a lawyer.
The story of my first involvement with a lawyer could be called "Lunacy and the law." It occurred back in 1977 after I started my first EHS job. Working for a county health department, I was conducting an inspection in the field. I saw a woman, actually an employee at the location I was inspecting, being beaten by three youths and I intervened. I was attacked with a broken ketchup bottle and scissors, but putting my U.S. Marine training to use the youths were subdued until the police arrived. I received a letter of commendation from the police department. At the direction of the county attorney, however, I was also reprimanded by my boss and informed that if I took any similar action in the future I would be fired. Why? My actions could have posed a liability to the county!