What is the importance of zero? That was the question that the Certified Environmental Management, Ltd., (CEM) President asked one of their clients in the mid-1980s. The explanation was simple; any reported injury or illness performance above zero means that someone who works for our company is experiencing a health or safety event that could permanently change their lives or the lives of their families. The CEM executive began to understand the meaning of this zero criterion. So how does our team at CEM see the importance of zero? Essentially, that was our first step to becoming an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star site and understanding the totality of an OSHA recordable.

In the workplace, risk equals cost — that’s the bottom line. With corporations of all sizes facing shrinking budgets, increased stakeholder scrutiny and intense competition for market share and quality employees, controlling costs by effectively managing workplace environmental, health and safety (EHS) programs is crucial for sustaining growth and profitability. Workplace EHS programs reduce costs and risks by maintaining a safer, healthier, and more productive workforce, adding significant value to the bottom line. Integrating EHS systems with strategic business planning delivers far-reaching financial, economic, competitive, and operational benefits.

This excerpt is from The Leader, Volume 19, Issue 3 (2010). Download the full article.