SHEQ (Safety, Health, Environment, and Quality) Management
Introduction
SHEQ Management is an integrated management system comprising of Occupational Safety and Health, Environment and Quality Management systems.
Occupational Health Safety Management system here refer to ISO 45001:2018, Environment Management System refer to ISO 14001:2015 and Quality Management System refer to ISO 9001:2015. Additionally, the SHEQ management systems might also have organizational specific requirements integrated under one roof of SHEQ. Some organizations due their global presence and the need to have one SHEQ at all units, all country specific requirements were also integrated in the same.
The main aim of implementing SHEQ is to have a unified governance to implement multiple standards in an organization. Here it only Safety, Health, Environment and Quality. At times, organization also have Energy management systems and Information management system as well. Ultimate goal is to ensure productivity, resource efficiency and simplified processes to establish and implement at the same time. Complex processes, multiple reporting channels and duplication of work often leads to system collapsing due either by passes by people or transparency issues.
Typically, the structure of SHEQ is as below (can vary with organization size and processes):
In the Figure 1, SHEQ Management typically starts with establishing management system that first aims to work on aspects that can be integrated into one such as a SHEQ Policy, Roles and Responsibility, Management of Change/Change Management, Internal Audit, Management Review, etc. This way, requirements of all three standard and additional organisational requirements can be clubbed into that helps with further process of establishing a common communication channel.
The second step is to establish operational controls which is some cases can be integrated but, in some needs, unique procedures/standard operating procedures to implement. To take the case of similar requirements, ISO 9001 requires a process to be established for planning of changes that almost coincides with Management of change requirement is ISO 45001 and ISO 14001, hence a single procedure is created that clearly states the situations where the procedure is applicable and a standard format or a digital platform is created to ensure the process is adhered. Now the case such as HIRA in ISO 45001, this requires a procedure that caters to the need of Clause 6.1.2 of ISO 45001 only. This way a consolidated SHEQ management systems is kickstarted where processes that can integrated, are done accordingly and which are unique are specifically established.
At times, external subject matter experts are also onboarded to guide in the process of establishing a system. This is done to ensure where internal stakeholder’s expertise taken in, external benchmarking is also incorporated. This way a robust system is being created that can withstand the growing economy and changing face of industries across sectors.
People are the main assets when establishing a complex process such as SHEQ. The most common structure is as below.
Figure 2: SHEQ Organizational Structure
In the Figure 2, as shown, SHEQ Management systems is governed by a SHEQ Manager. The entire management systems are divided into three parts:
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Process Management System - Team that establishes the processes, consists of subject experts and representative from across functions.
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Process Implementing Team – Team that is responsible for on ground implementation of establishes processes and also acts a feedback mechanism on the systems and processes.
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Auditing team – Lastly there is an internal team of auditing that audits both the verticals mentioned in 1 and 2. This ensures that chain link of aim of establishing SHEQ and final implementation is in sync.
Apart the structure referred in Figure 2, there are also few verticals that are seen across organisations such as having an established Learning and Development functions that takes care of competence, training and awareness requirements across SHEQ management system. There are common platforms developed either digital or physical when it comes to ensuring communication to employees on various aspects of SHEQ is made available as one stop corner or centre with access to all relevant documents, procedures and notices. As the industry is progressing towards Industry 4.0, it is becoming even more common for industries introducing digitisation practices in their process. These digitisation initiatives include digital way of sample selection and capturing data of inspected material, automated data capturing devices on machines integrated with Machine Learning and Artificial intelligence, on the go digital learning tools for employees and so on. Not all organisations have the bandwidth to have such separate systematic vertical for management system, at times the same people establishing the process are responsible for effective implementation as well. Structure may vary but the process more or less remains the same.
Monitoring measurement and communication in SHEQ management system is an integral part of success of the system. This involves methods such as periodic review meeting across functions, tracking the implementation of management plans, etc. Communication is crucial at levels of the organisation so when people are consulted right from the establishment to implementation and feedback on processes, there are higher chances of that system to become a part of employees’ daily work. When it becomes just a “part” of employees’ work, system by pass chances are lowered. Thus, people are an integral part of success of any management system.
At times, organisations also get their systems audited for their own internal purpose of continual improvement, this is done over and above the certification requirements. At time, Subject Matter Experts mentioned previously are on boarded for this purpose also since this would give an external eye view for the organisation who have exposure to various sectors of businesses that are located not just locally but globally.
SHEQ not only caters to specific ISO Standard but also organisation specific requirements. SHEQ is an attempt to simplify the multiple requirements of the various standard to one unified management system that is easy to understand, implement and audit all the at the same time. The only requirement is having a pool of strong team and firm processes that ultimately ensure the success of SHEQ in the organization.
