Companies’ concern with environmental responsibility and health and safety at work has become increasingly relevant and essential in recent years. This is due to a number of factors, including public awareness, social pressure, changes in legislation and regulations, responsibility towards employees, demands from investors and shareholders, among others.
Therefore, the presence of a trained Environmental, Health and Safety at Work representative is undoubtedly more important than ever these days.
The Occupational Health, Safety and Environment Representative, also known as the HSE Representative, is a professional appointed by the company to act as a link between the management area and employees with regard to matters related to environmental protection and occupational health and safety in the workplace. Their main responsibility is to promote and guarantee a healthy, safe and sustainable working environment for all the organisation’s employees.
HSE Representative training enables professionals to perform their duties efficiently and responsibly in organisations. In this way, the training is relevant for the points that stand out:
Competence in Identifying and Preventing Risks – training in HSE Representative enables professionals to identify and assess the environmental, health and safety risks present in the workplace, enabling the implementation of appropriate preventive and corrective measures, significantly reducing the likelihood of accidents and incidents, and increasing the state of readiness and response of organisations should accidents and incidents occur.
Compliance with Standards and Regulations – training ensures that the HSE Representative is aware of the laws, standards and regulations in force regarding health and safety at work and environmental protection. This practice ensures that the company complies with applicable legislation, and thereby avoids fines and legal sanctions.
Promoting a Culture of Safety – the presence of a trained HSE Representative promotes a culture of prevention and safety in the workplace. Employees are encouraged to adopt safe and responsible behaviour and safety becomes a priority in all activities.
Efficient Emergency Response – the trained HSE Representative is prepared to lead response actions in emergency situations, in a way that minimises the consequences of events and protects the physical integrity of employees.
Reduction of Accidents and Occupational Illnesses – by identifying and preventing risks, HSE Representative training contributes to the reduction of accidents at work and occupational illnesses, with lower absenteeism and a reduction in costs associated with sick leave and compensation.
Environmental Responsibility – HSE Representative training also covers environmental issues, enabling the professional to act to promote sustainable practices in the company, which aim to reduce the impact of operations on the environment.
Strengthening the Corporate Image – companies that invest in HSE Representative training demonstrate their commitment to protecting the environment and to health and safety at work. This concern for human capital and the environment helps to strengthen the corporate image in the eyes of its stakeholders.
Operational Efficiency – the actions of the HSE Representative result in improvements in operational efficiency, since the reduction of accidents at work and awareness of sustainable and safe practices increase employee productivity.
Professional Development – HSE Representative training is an opportunity for professional development and career growth. Professionals with this training are increasingly valued in the labour market.
To summarise, HSE Representative training enables the trainee to identify and assess occupational risks present in the workplace, implement preventive and corrective measures to proactively mitigate these risks, which contributes to reducing accidents and occupational illnesses, preserving the health and safety of employees.
On the other hand, it provides the necessary tools to promote sustainable environmental practices, which will have a direct impact on operational efficiency, employee productivity and the company’s image, since issues related to correct environmental management and safeguarding the well-being of employees are increasingly valued by organisations’ stakeholders, such as customers, investors and society in general. In conclusion, training in HSE Representative is half the battle towards meeting the requirements of the ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 standards and demonstrating a commitment to protecting the environment and ensuring a healthy and safe working environment.
