The role of environmental, health and safety (EHS) professionals has undergone a sea change in recent years, according to the new whitepaper “EHS Managers: The Evolution from Necessary Evil to Vital Leaders” by Dakota Software.

The white paper outlines how the EHS department, once considered a cost center solely responsible for complying with burdensome obligations, has evolved to become a leading force for mitigating risk, improving operational efficiency and, more recently, implementing and managing corporate-wide sustainability initiatives. It provides a glimpse into the past and present challenges of the profession, including the increasing complexity of regulatory compliance and resource management.

“The Corporate Sustainability trend presents new opportunities but also new challenges,” remarked author Christy Cole, Director of Compliance Services at Dakota Software. “Because of their understanding of environmental and safety issues and influence on the frontlines of compliance, EHS Managers are the natural choice to lead these initiatives. Top executives can show their commitment to sustainability by equipping EHS Managers with the resources and tools they need to succeed in this constantly changing landscape”

The white paper highlights statistics and reports from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), and the National Association of Environmental Managers (NAEM).  Opportunities are identified by researchers at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) for receiving “significant benefit” related to EHS Managers potential impact on all three dimensions (people, planet, and profit) of corporate sustainability.

For a copy of the white paper, click here or contact Dakota Software at 216-765-7100 ext. 131.

About The Author

Dr. Christy Cole leads Dakota Software’s Compliance Services Team of EHS professionals. She has more than 30 years of on-site industry experience in the Environmental, Health and Safety compliance and auditing fields. She holds two Master’s Degrees in Chemistry and Environmental Engineering respectively, and a PhD in Environmental Engineering from Texas A&M University. She also holds QEP, CPEA, CVI and Six Sigma Transactional Green Belt certifications.

For more information on Dakota Software, visit www.dakotasoft.com.