Have you ever been asked, "Why do you want to spend more on EHS next year than you did this year?" It can be hard for an EHS manager to answer that question. We are planning for something we hope will never happen. If we believe an accident is imminent, we take immediate action-we don't wait for budget approval. But routine spending to maintain safety and environmental compliance, while important, is rarely urgent. When you're trying to justify replacing old first-aid kits or locks used for lock-out/ tag-out, doing maintenance on the wheeled fire extinguisher, or having a plumber in to ensure the emergency shower and eyewash station maintain a water temperature of at least 60 degrees F, you may get asked, "Can we make do for one more year?" Remember, Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations tell you the minimum requirements for safety, not the best practices.
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