Environment, health and safety

Health, safety and environment (HSE) (or environment, health and safety –EHS–, or safety, health and environment –SHE–) is an interdisciplinary field focused on the study and implementation of practical aspects environmental protection and safeguard of people's health and safety, especially in an occupational context. It is what organizations must do to make sure that their activities do not cause harm. Commonly, quality - quality assurance and quality control - is adjoined to form QHSE or equivalent initialisms.

From a safety standpoint, HSE involves creating organized efforts and procedures for identifying workplace hazards and reducing accidents and exposure to harmful situations and substances. It also includes training of personnel in accident prevention, accident response, emergency preparedness, and use of protective clothing and equipment.

From a health standpoint, HSE involves creating the development of safe, high-quality, and environmentally friendly processes, working practices and systemic activities that prevent or reduce the risk of harm to people in general, operators, or patients.

From an environmental standpoint, HSE involves creating a systematic approach to complying with environmental regulations, such as managing waste or air emissions all the way to helping site's reduce the carbon footprint.


The activities of an HSE working group might focus on:

  • Exchange of know-how regarding health, safety and environmental aspects of a material
  • Promotion of good working practices, such as post-use material collection for recycling

Regulatory requirements play an important role in HSE discipline and HSE managers must identify and understand relevant HSE regulations, the implications of which must be communicated to executive management so the company can implement suitable measures. Organizations based in the United States are subject to HSE regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations, particularly CFR 29, 40, and 49. Still, HSE management is not limited to legal compliance and companies should be encouraged to do more than is required by law, if appropriate.

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