Survey: EHS managers seek more training

February 20th, 2013 by Dakota Software Staff Industry News

When businesses pursue corporate sustainability, emission level reductions and sustainability-driven profits often get most of the attention. But those results don't just happen overnight, they are made possible by employees who work exclusively to build and oversee green initiatives to bring their company to the forefront of the eco-friendly revolution.

These EHS managers have become key figures in business' quest for better environmental performance. And in a bid to improve not only their knowledge of the subject, but their firm's environmental track record, a survey found a majority of EHS professionals are seeking new avenues of sustainable education.

While well-educated, many seek new training
The sentiment among EHS professionals that they need to improve their understanding and training in regard to corporate sustainability was identified when the Sustainable Plant, an online news source, and the International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) surveyed more than 700 workers in the EHS field.

Nearly 80 percent of respondents indicated they wished to pursue supplemental avenues of sustainability-related training. While many respondents professed a need for more education, many are well-schooled as it is: more than 80 percent held a bachelor's degree and around 60 percent have earned a master's.

The desire to enhance their knowledge of the subject can partly be due to the relatively short amount of time EHS coordinators have spent in the sustainability profession. Sixty-nine percent of responding individuals said they had less than 10 years of experience. Twenty percent had between 11 and 20 years of experience, and only 11 percent have been active in sustainability for more than 20 years.

Professionals also came from a wide range of backgrounds. Seventy-seven percent said they had received prior training in health and safety; 67 percent said they had experience in quality control; 66 percent said environmental hazardous materials management; another 66 percent said risk management; and 62 percent said they were trained in compliance.

Enhanced skill set needed
Among the top-rated skills EHS professionals identified as crucial to their jobs, communication was one of the most important. Survey respondents also pointed to influencing meaningful change, providing leadership, motivating others, technological and engineering expertise and problem solving.

Respondents suggested they can make improvements to their strategic planning and project management.

"Today's sustainability personnel are seeking additional education and training for their next area of focus, whether it is lighting, supply chain sourcing, or zero-waste initiatives," the survey's conclusion read. "The sustainability sector is projected to grow and to continue to attract personnel who like to learn, which also bodes well for educators, consultants and training facilities concentrating on sustainability professional development."