This Month in Environmental History: The Ozone Hole
In May 1985, a group of scientists from a British Antarctic Survey discovered a hole in the (Antarctic) Ozone. Learn more.
While my childhood is mostly gaps or memories created from thumbing through yearbooks or my dad’s slides, I do have solid memories of my first pair of high-top Air Jordans in the fifth grade and the time I peed my pants taking a standardized test in the first grade. I vaguely remember learning that littering was bad for the environment and, later, in middle school, understanding that my can of hairspray might also be bad somehow and looking for the ‘no CFCs*’ labels on bottles at the drugstore.
It was probably my middle school science class before a teacher mentioned the ozone layer and the subsequent havoc that the human population wreaked on the thin part of Earth’s atmosphere that absorbs a portion of the radiation from the sun.
In May 1985, a group of scientists from a British Antarctic Survey (Cambridge) published a ‘letter’ in the scientific journal Nature titled Large losses of total ozone in Antarctica reveal seasonal ClOx/NOx interaction. (Abstract below)
Translation: the discovery of the (Antarctic) Ozone Hole, thought to be one of the most striking indictors of ozone depletion. According to NASA, the depletion of the ozone layer is recognized as on the Earth’s most important environmental issues.
In October 1985, the area of the ozone hole was measured at 7.25 million square miles. Thirty-seven years later in October 2022, it measured 10.23 million square miles. For reference, the entire continent of North America is just over 9.5 million square miles.
Large losses of total ozone in Antarctica reveal seasonal ClOx/NOx interaction
Abstract: Recent attempts1,2 to consolidate assessments of the effect of human activities on stratospheric ozone (O3) using one-dimensional models for 30° N have suggested that perturbations of total O3 will remain small for at least the next decade. Results from such models are often accepted by default as global estimates3. The inadequacy of this approach is here made evident by observations that the spring values of total O3 in Antarctica have now fallen considerably. The circulation in the lower stratosphere is apparently unchanged, and possible chemical causes must be considered. We suggest that the very low temperatures which prevail from midwinter until several weeks after the spring equinox make the Antarctic stratosphere uniquely sensitive to growth of inorganic chlorine, ClX, primarily by the effect of this growth on the NO2/NO ratio. This, with the height distribution of UV irradiation peculiar to the polar stratosphere, could account for the O3 losses observed.
For more information on Federal (Clean Air Act) and International (Montreal Protocol et al) actions to address Ozone Depletion, visit this site.
*chlorofluorocarbons and other Ozone-Depleting Substances (ODS)
Sources: Farman, J., Gardiner, B. & Shanklin, J. Large losses of total ozone in Antarctica reveal seasonal ClOx/NOx interaction. Nature 315, 207–210 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1038/315207a0
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The History of Earth Day
After celebrating the 53rd Earth Day this past weekend, it seems like an opportune time to look back at the history of Earth Day.
After celebrating the 53rd Earth Day this past weekend, it seems like an opportune time to look back at the history of Earth Day as many of the rules and regulations Cornerstone works with now came about because of Earth Day.
A Wisconsin Senator by the name of Gaylord Nelson was the one behind getting the very first Earth Day started. He was worried about the shape of the environment in the U.S and, after taking notice of the energy behind the anti-war protests by students, decided that something similar could be done to raise public awareness about air and water pollution. The original plan for Earth Day, before it was even given the catchy moniker, was for a teach-in on various college campuses to the national media on April 22nd; however, that all changed when a young activist named Denis Hayes, who was in charge of organizing the event, decided to promote it across the country. His efforts helped gather a number of individuals, groups, and organizations together and it was decided to change the name of the event to “Earth Day”.
The first Earth Day took place on April 22nd, 1970 and the response from the American people was overwhelming. Over 20 million people went out to protest, rally, and demonstrate across the nation to bring attention to the environment and its importance. For anyone curious, the population of the United States of America in 1970 was over 200 million people; meaning that about 10% of all Americans turned out for Earth Day and supporting the environment (Census Bureau, 2021). Earth Day was so effective that by the end of the year, Congress approved and the President signed the Clean Air Act into effect as well as the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency; both of which are just as, if not more, effective and relevant today at defending our environment. It could be said that this helped get the ball rolling for other key environmental legislation to be passed, such as the Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
Earth Day later went on to become recognized around the world, with groups from a wide variety of countries taking part in the efforts to raise awareness about the importance of protecting the environment. Earth Day has even taken on the effort to raise awareness about the need to address the growing issue of climate change. Even after 50 years, Earth Day is still observed by about 1 billion people across the Earth.
Some people participate in Earth Day through more political means by joining marches, protests, letter-writing campaigns and other public demonstrations to raise awareness and show support for the environment. Others volunteer for various environmental projects, cleaning up trash from their local beach or park, planting trees and/or other native plants, cutting down invasive species, and even educating others in their local community about the importance of the environment. You don’t have to solve the climate crisis to take part in Earth Day.
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Sustainability and the Increasing Demand for ESG Reporting in Business
A growing number of investment groups, businesses, employees, and other relevant stakeholders are starting to ask companies about their sustainability and ESG (Environmental Social Governance) metrics. Some companies are even receiving requests to disclose their sustainability performance through various ESG reporting frameworks. Many companies find themselves unprepared to respond to such questions.
To better understand this trend, it is important to understand what sustainability and ESG are. Why should companies care about these concepts? Why are stakeholders asking about sustainability programs and requesting ESG disclosures through reporting frameworks? What are these ESG reporting frameworks? All these questions and more will be answered here.
What is sustainability and ESG?
Sustainability is commonly defined as the ability to meet the needs of the present without jeopardizing the ability of the future to meet its own needs (United Nations Brundtland Commission). While sustainability is usually associated with the environment and topics such as climate change, renewable energy/energy use, and water use, this is only one-third of what makes up sustainability. The other two parts of sustainability consist of the economy and society. These three parts, often referred to as the three pillars or spheres of sustainability, are interconnected. Doing something in one sphere can affect (for better or worse) the other two spheres. The idea of sustainability is to affect all three areas in a positive way.
ESG falls under the umbrella of sustainability and is very similar. So much so that, for all intents and purposes, the terms could be used interchangeably. The difference, however, is that rather than looking at the economic side of things, ESG looks at the governance of an organization through scopes such as data management, anti-corruption, and other policies and procedures. ESG is mostly used in business settings and functions as a more quantifiable type of sustainability, with ESG metrics providing an easy way to measure and compare sustainability performance. ESG disclosure refers to the process of publicly reporting an organization’s sustainability and ESG performance. Organizations tend to either: 1) release a Corporate Social Responsibility report detailing their sustainability performance over the past year, or 2) disclose the relevant information in accordance with one or more ESG reporting frameworks.
Why should companies/organizations care about sustainability and ESG?
Aside from the benefits to the environment and society, sustainability can also benefit the business itself. Many sustainability and ESG-related initiatives are aligned with business goals, at the same time, just as many business-related initiatives can be aligned with sustainability and ESG. The difference lies in the intent behind the initiative. The following are real-world examples of initiatives that address both sustainability and business goals:
Reducing the number of natural resources needed (or wasted) to manufacture a certain product can benefit the environment by conserving those resources but it also benefits the company by reducing overall costs.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives address the governance side of ESG but can also benefit the company itself. As a result of such inclusivity, existing employees may decide to stay and prospective employees may decide to join, thus improving talent acquisition and retention.
Assisting the local community through a food drive or community service event addresses the social side of ESG while also benefiting the company through a positive brand image, possibly helping to cultivate beneficial community connections.
Many environmental regulations are aligned with sustainability to some degree. Therefore, by pursuing certain sustainability initiatives in these areas of regulation companies can be better prepared for any stricter regulations if they come. Furthermore, there is the potential for these companies to qualify for some financial or tax incentives based on different ESG metrics or for implementing different sustainability initiatives.
ESG metrics are important for any organization or business to consider. Various ESG metrics can help identify areas of improvement in a company as well as potential problems before they become serious. ESG metrics are also helpful for tracking progress in a company's sustainability performance. Disclosing ESG metrics and sustainability performance is important for improving transparency, something a greater number of stakeholder groups are looking for in a company.
Sustainability efforts and ESG can also trickle down (or, rather, up) from clients to companies, from companies to their suppliers, and vice versa. If a company or supplier can’t meet their clients’ needs for sustainability, they may lose those clients to another firm that can. Overall, businesses that disclose their ESG performance and/or make efforts to improve their sustainability gain an advantage over their competitors.
What are ESG reporting frameworks?
ESG reporting frameworks help stakeholder groups understand how sustainable a company is by providing measurable and quantitative metrics; thereby enabling comparisons to be made between similar companies as well as displaying measurable improvements to a company’s sustainability efforts.
There are several major ESG reporting frameworks currently being used: GRI Standards, SASB Standards, CDP, and TCFD. Although there are other reporting frameworks out there, those listed above are perhaps the most common.
GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) Standards were some of the first ESG reporting standards to be developed and GRI remains one of the most prevalent ESG frameworks. There are about 32 reporting standards from three sections: environment, economy, and people (though not all of these standards need to be addressed or reported on). Organizations that are reporting in accordance with the GRI standards need only prioritize reporting on their material topics; topics that represent an organization’s most significant impacts on the environment, the economy, and people and their human rights.
SASB (Sustainability Accounting Standards Board) Standards consist of 77 standards for various industries, all of which are focused on the ESG issues most relevant to the financial performance and enterprise value of an organization.
TCFD (Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures) does not have any standards but rather recommendations for climate-related disclosures around four key company areas: Governance, Strategy, Risk Management, and Metrics and Targets.
CDP (formerly known as Carbon Disclosure Project but now just CDP) consists of three questionnaires for ESG reporting: Climate Change, Water Security, and Forests. An organization can report through one questionnaire or all of them. When completed, organizations are provided a letter grade based on the quantity and quality of questions answered. CDP reporting is completed annually and, in order to qualify for a grade, must be submitted mid-year.
While many of these frameworks differ in the level of detail and information required, they also tend to overlap, working together to achieve their common goal of improved transparency. For example, the climate-change questionnaire for CDP actually addresses all the recommendations from TCFD. This allows organizations to report through CDP while also reporting in line with the TCFD recommendations.
Why are stakeholders asking about sustainability and requesting ESG disclosures through ESG reporting frameworks?
As sustainability has grown in demand, investors, businesses, and other stakeholder groups have started taking it into account when making business decisions. People are becoming more environmentally and socially conscious if only to protect their bottom line. As a result, companies and businesses unable to keep up may lose out on valuable investors, clients, or even employees to competitors that are more sustainable (or at least transparent with their ESG metrics). Companies wanting an extensive sustainability report may request relevant ESG metrics or a complete ESG report from each of their suppliers and distributors in order to determine the full extent of their environmental and social impact. Recently, major automotive companies have requested that their suppliers disclose annual greenhouse gas emissions through an ESG framework or other reporting forum.
Automotive manufacturers, however, aren’t the only ones requesting their suppliers conduct ESG audits. In November, the White House administration proposed a new rule that could roll out in 2023: the Federal Supplier Climate Risks and Resilience Rule. This rule would require federal contractors receiving more than $50 million dollars in annual contracts from the U.S. Federal Government to report their greenhouse gas emissions and assess their climate risks through CDP. Federal contractors with annual contracts between $7.5 and $50 million dollars would only be required to report on their scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions. On top of this, there is a proposed ruling from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) about requiring ESG-related metrics in company disclosures.
In general, sustainability and ESG are likely something that companies and organizations will be seeing more of soon, regardless of regulations. Sustainability isn't just about social and environmental impacts, but also about bettering the economy and business as a whole.
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Environmental History: DOCUMERICA
From what I’ve been told, I’m right on the cusp of being either a Gen Xer or a Millennial -- a Xennial as it were (that weird micro generation born between 1977 and 1985). I tell you this because it’s important to note that cell phones weren’t in existence during my youth and disposable cameras didn’t become widely affordable until my teens. My dad took his ‘good’ Nikon everywhere and fancied himself an amateur photographer. He was good at it too (still is), especially outdoor photography. He’d have the film developed on slides which filled countless carousels. Then, he would pull out a wall-sized, retractable screen to entertain viewers with family slideshows.
Gas shortage 6/1973
As you might guess, imagery and the art of photography became ingrained on me. I have always adored old photographs. Black and white, sepia, vintage, full color…I just love it. I think “Why? Why this shot?” “What compelled the photographer to shoot this?” “Did this scene or these people mean something to them?” “What was it?” And, photos of people are even more intriguing to me! Just the same, when I came across the DOCUMERICA Project, I was absorbed! (and, I think you will be too…
For the DOCUMERICA Project (1971-1977), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hired (at $150/day + film and expenses) freelance photographers to “photographically document subjects of environmental concern”, EPA activities, and everyday life across the United States in the 1970s.
The collection reports over 22,000 photographs in the U.S. National Archives and they’ve digitized more than 15,000 photographs from the series Documerica (Local ID 412-DA) and included them in an online catalog.
I encourage you to visit the catalog linked above. It’s an addictive time capsule of imagery. The visuals are haunting, beautiful, and compelling.
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1-bromoprane: Its Regulatory Evolution from Unregulated to a Hazardous Air Pollutant
Remember 10 to 12 years ago when solvent salesmen were touting a great “alternative” to Trichloroethylene or TCE. The alternative was 1-bromopropane (1-BP). It had several appealing selling points since it worked almost as well, it was unregulated and, thanks to the removal of “once in, always in”, the solvent swap could get sources out of the Halogenated Solvent Cleaning NESHAP (40 CFR 63, Subpart T). As a result, a large number of industrial users flocked to it. Yeah, it was more expensive, but what was the downside? There wasn’t one at the time (at least they thought).
It didn’t take long to figure out that 1-BP wasn’t some inert, benign chemical. In fact, the Department of Health and Human Services classified it as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen”. The US EPA then followed their standard protocol of first throwing it on a petition to add it to the hazardous air pollutant (HAP) list on February 6, 2015.
Later that year, 1-BP was added to the 313 Chemical list as it was to be tracked and potentially reported for sites that qualified for TRI 313 reporting beginning with RY 2016 by sources that clipped the usage of 10,000 pounds per year for Otherwise Used chemicals.
Fast forward almost 7 years later and finally, on December 22, 2021, the EPA signed the final rule adding 1-BP to the HAP list. The ruling was published in the January 5th Federal Register, and went effective February 4, 2022.
So, if your operation uses 1-BP in a vapor degreaser, aerosol solvent, or other form of degreaser, it would behoove you to react as quickly as you can. Depending on your operations, you may find you only require a minor modification to your air permit, or it could result in a change to your permitting level. Either way, jump on it or seek out a professional consultant with knowledge in this area (yes, I can help), whatever makes the most sense for you.
So, what’s going to happen down the line for 1-BP? It could find its way into a NESHAP. That would be kind of ironic since it became famous for getting sources out of a NESHAP. Go figure!!
Further Information
Cornerstone’s air experts follow the state permitting regulations that affect our clients very carefully. Contact us at info@corner-enviro.com to discuss your facility’s situation and how it may affect any new project plans.
Greg Towler is a Senior Air Quality Project Manager whose role is to oversee and perform air permitting and compliance-related projects and work directly with clients to achieve full compliance. He also performs compliance work in wastewater, stormwater, hazardous waste generation, EPCRA reporting and general environmental compliance.
#CleanAirAct #EPA #Sustainability
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May in Indianapolis! Indy 500 Environmental Improvements
If you’ve never experienced May in Indianapolis, it’s an experience like no other. It’s much like celebrating your birthday month… only on steroids! Events celebrating the tradition of the Indy 500 actually start the end of April with the IU Little 500 and Purdue Grand Prix. There is an organized evening of collective porch parties, a fundraising gala at the Motor Speedway, a Festival parade, Carb Day etc. The month is filled with celebration for this time-honored racing tradition! (find a complete list of events here).
Having been a central Indiana resident for 86% of my life, the race and events leading up to it have simply been part of my ‘normal.’ It wasn’t until a few years ago when I watched the release of 1000s of balloons prior to the race that I considered the environmental impact of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
While I’m sure there are plenty of areas, we could look at to highlight the impact of Race Day alone, I’ve bulleted a few below that immediately came to mind:
Trash. Speedway officials estimated approximately 50,000 lbs. of trash was left behind after the race in 2013.
Balloons. The release of thousands of balloons was formerly a pre-race tradition. Balloon launches has been paused indefinitely as of April 2022due to impacts on the environment and wildlife.
Spectator traffic. A very conservative estimate from the IndyStar in 2018 reported that spectator traffic at the 500 on race day would produce nearly 20 million pounds of carbon dioxide. By comparison, the EPA reports that the average passenger vehicle emits roughly 10,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide…over the course of an entire YEAR. Calculations were based on using the most popular vehicle in the United States, the Ford F-150.
Fuel consumption. Indy cars use about 115 gallons of fuel on race day alone (roughly five miles to the gallon). Several years ago, IndyCar made the switch to 85% ethanol which does burn more cleanly. Unfortunately, while the air pollutants that affect human health are lower, the fuel still releases carbon dioxide and water vapor into the air which traps heat on Earth
Change is coming.
Last year (2021), the Indy 500 earned the silver level Responsible Sport Certification from the Oregon-based Council for Responsible Sport. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway stated in April 2021 that the 2021 race successfully implemented all mandatory standards of the council, as well as nearly 40 of the recommended social and environmental impact considerations. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway stated in August 2021 that the 2021 race successfully implemented all mandatory standards of the council, as well as nearly 40 of the recommended social and environmental impact considerations.
While I couldn’t readily find confirmation that the Race has earned this distinction again for the 106th running of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced the next phase of sustainability initiatives including:
a new race tire made with sustainable natural rubber;
increased waste diversion efforts throughout the facility with expanded recycling and food recovery programs; and
the official IMS retail partner, will open a fully sustainable store inside an electric truck. All items sold in the truck will be reusable or designed from recycled plastic bottles.
So that’s progress.
We hope we can continue cataloging the changes made to the Race and celebrations to decrease the environmental Sasquatchian-sized (it’s a word, I’m sure) footprint. In the meantime, check out my sources and more information on race festivities and efforts below:
https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/planyourvisit/season-schedule
https://cbs4indy.com/news/this-is-who-cleans-up-all-the-trash-left-behind-at-ims-after-indy-500/
https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2018/05/21/indy-500-has-trash-problem/607042002/
#Sustainability #GreenhouseGas #GHG #Indy500
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The Role of ESG and EHS in Mergers and Acquisitions
To say the past two years have been difficult for manufacturers – big and small – would be a huge understatement! In addition to the unprecedented challenges presented by COVID-19 during 2020 and 2021, businesses must now deal with supply chain issues, labor shortages and surging inflation.
How can an organization balance all of these challenges? Throughout the business world, management teams are working and reworking their strategy to deliver shareholder value. Talk in boardrooms includes the need for additional capabilities, access to new markets, improved marketing of products and services as well as scalability. For smaller companies, business owners may be burnt out and start evaluating their next move. With all the uncertainty, owners are exploring mergers or selling. Step in Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) specialists which could be comprised of banks or private equity groups (PEGs).
The primary goal of a Merger and Acquisition (M&A) specialist is to help companies grow. The M&A market had impressive increases in the number of transactions in 2021 as compared to 2020. Activity outpaced expectations with record-setting volume and value. Most banks and PEGs expect another strong year of deal-making since they are sitting on record amounts investment capital and cash.
One of the most compelling reasons for companies to consider M&A is the need for or to share technology and digital assets as well as other resources; however, companies merge for a variety of reasons such as entering new markets or to improve business efficiency as well as gain or maintain market position. Even more as of late, many mergers and acquisitions are stemming from the importance of technology in production processes.
Whether your organization is considering acquiring or merging in the near term, or you are preparing your company for a future transaction, the selling as well as the buying side of M&A must be a strategic process that should include the assistance of subject-matter experts to provide guidance throughout the due diligence phase.
For both buyers and sellers, there is a roadmap that should be followed – a playbook of sorts. The roadmap helps establish clear roles and tasks for the team members involved. While there are multiple steps, the due diligence phase tends to be the most time-intensive and stressful. Due diligence consists of a thorough review of EVERY aspect of the entity, such as products, services, customer base, human resource records, financials and regulatory. For all intents and purposes, it is a process that provides information related to value, liabilities and risk.
One important aspect of due diligence are the topics of environmental, health and safety (EHS) and environmental, social and governance (ESG) which have traditionally been overlooked (or delayed to the 11th hour) by M&A “dealmakers”; however, most are now realizing its inevitable rise in prominence. After all, there is clear evidence that socially conscience investors use ESG criteria to screen investments. M&A groups are challenging their teams to ensure sellers and buyers are considering targets to advance an organization’s plan toward sustainability. Both ESG and EHS due diligence reveals information - track records of behaviors and insight into actions and the status of compliance or lack thereof. The resulting information is an aid to investors to identify material risk.
Looking at environmental and safety concerns, dealmakers are increasingly challenged to assess post-close risks associated with non-compliance, pending government inquiries, potential litigation, contamination/remediation and reputational concerns, which can extend to long term operational burdens. The process begins with evaluating risks and opportunities and, in many cases, ends with review of ESG disclosures. (ESG disclosures; how to measure and manage with no common standard is an important and challenging topic on its own!)
Whether you are contemplating M&A or strategizing on how to build value in your organization, it is prudent to ensure ESG and EHS is part of your strategy. Build a culture of competency, conduct due diligence by having a third-party, subject matter expert audit EHS compliance. After all, to make your way through ESG and set sustainability goals, an organization must start from a solid base of regulatory compliance. ESG is a framework to evaluate the overall health and resiliency of an organization – environmental, health and safety are defined by laws/regulations and are mandatory. Some components of the “E” and “S” involve judgement – making choices about conduct that reflect values. Both are essential for the longevity of business today.
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Where the S in ESG Intersects with the HS in EHS
By John Scifres Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) rating is all about the long game. Industry has learned if they are to stay in business and thrive in today’s world, they must be sustainable in all facets of their culture. For our Health and Safety Division, the “social” portion means offering our client’s the best tools to take care of their workers. Today, compliance with Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) regulations is a given and employers are expected to go beyond compliance in their worker safety efforts. The links between employee health and safety, morale, loyalty, and retention are undeniable. Healthy, happy, loyal, and experienced workers make for a sustainable business. Today’s investors know this and demand it from the companies they want to back. Cornerstone helps to improve ESG metrics by maximizing worker health and safety with a stepwise approach from assessment to training.
Assessment
The first step in our Health and Safety Management System services is a baseline assessment of Compliance to get the feel for where a company is in the spectrum from Compliance to Sustainability. It is a Gap Analysis of sorts, but it gives our experienced evaluators a feel for what they have to work with. We present our clients with a detailed report of regulatory applicability including a finding of compliance or non-compliance for each element. For those areas that need work, a Findings and Corrective Actions Summary becomes a compliance punch list that can be attacked quickly and systematically to bring the site into compliance. We can couple a Compliance Assessment with a Culture Assessment to dive even further into needed actions to improve the “S” in ESG. Either along with or as a result of the assessment, Cornerstone then begins the task of evaluating worker health and safety hazards and their risks with a Risk-Based Workplace Hazard Assessment. The goal of this is to assess each job and its component tasks to determine the hazards present. Our evaluators determine the risk of negative outcomes from each task by judging the Severity and Probability of the negative outcome. They assign a numerical score to each and the product of those gives us a Risk Level for each hazard. Of special note is our Ergonomic focus. A critical part of workers’ health and safety is how they feel and move while accomplishing their jobs. Using the risk assessment data our ergonomics team monitors employees in each workstation to ensure a practical solution to complex ergonomic issues.
Control
Generally, we determine an acceptable risk level with the client and anything exceeding that level requires action. Our staff then determines required or recommended controls for each hazard. We use the U.S. OSHA Hierarchy of Controls to guide this part of the assessment. In the end, Cornerstone Health and Safety Evaluators produce a prioritized list of necessary controls. Those hazards with a higher risk level demand more urgent action. Controls often include the development of administrative policies, procedures, and programs. Cornerstone works hard to develop these along with stakeholders at every level of the company. The information gathered during previous steps guides this process. It can range from something as simple as protective gloves to Injury and Illness Prevention Plans and the establishment and facilitation of Health and Safety Committees. Worker Health and Safety training and coaching are integral to making these Administrative Controls come to life.
ESG Reporting
While the methods to arrive at an ESG rating differ, they all have the same end goal in mind; to identify those companies that consider their human resources as a long-term investment in their success. Data from government reports of compliance, worker injury audits, and worker experience of every sort regarding compliance and culture all play into ratings. Everything we do helps our clients prove to the world through ESG score that they are a sustainable business. This is never more evident than in our approach to worker health and safety. We carefully determine compliance gaps, rate the risk of everything done at a client’s operation, and then work closely with all levels of employees at the facility to ensure that compliance obligations are met, hazards are controlled, and workers go home at the end of their workday in the same condition that they arrived. And, we do this over time with the overall goal to continually improve all factors that play into an ESG rating.
Further Information
As ESG reporting becomes more vital and more publicly transparent, Cornerstone’s industrial health and safety experts can help ensure that your programs and data are ready for the spotlight. Contact us at info@corner-enviro.com or through our website.