RAI Case Studies
Since our inception, we have performed over a hundred Strategic EHS related projects for a wide range of organizations. Our projects have been primarily for large to very large organizations. With our skills in public management and public policy analysis, services have been offered to several EHS standards making organizations.
Management System—Implementation
International Labour Office
Challenge
The ILO saw a need to provide guidance for their management system document. They elected to do this in the form of an implementation guidance manual.
Solution
Our team developed and wrote this manual for the ILO. It was based on the ILO management system and gave both general and specific implementation guidance. Special attention was given to providing implementation guidance to micro organizations that may not have fulltime EHS staff. We have also provided implementation training to ILO stakeholders in Asia and other parts of the world.
Results
The implementation has been widely distributed throughout the world. It has also been translated in Chinese and is being widely used in China as a defining aspect of EHS management.
Management System Performance Measurement
Universal Assessment Instrument
Challenge
In the mid 1990s organizations were beginning to apply management system concepts to occupational health and safety activities. At that time, there were various environmental and occupational health and safety management system standards and standards making efforts taking place. Despite this focus, very little attention was given to measuring the effectiveness of these approaches.
Solution
In response, we developed a universal assessment instrument for use in auditing occupational health and safety management systems. While the development of this instrument was important, possibly more crucial was the development of the generic management system model that needed to be created, and upon which the assessment instrument was based.
Results
The assessment instrument has been published by the American Industrial Hygiene Association. The generic management system model upon which it is based has been used throughout the world as a benchmark for management systems. It was used by the ILO in their development activities, the European Union in its health and safety efforts, and the ANSI Z-10 committee in the development of an American standard in this area.
Organizational Assessment
U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Secretary
Challenge
Early in the Bush administration, the Secretary of Treasury, Paul O'Neil challenged other secretaries to think about and address occupational health and safety issues. In response, the National Safety Council began working with the Secretaries office at the Department of Defense on this issue.
Solution
We participated on a "Blue Ribbon" panel of occupational health and safety experts to assess the Department's efforts in this area. Some of our Strategic EHS tools were used by the panel in this assessment.
Results
9/11 happened near the end of the panel's assessment. The report was presented to Congress as well as the secretaries of the four branches of the armed services. Individual EHS professionals in the branches have indicated that the assessment provided a useful road map for improving performance, but that specific recommendations and initiatives were impacted by post 9/11 events.
Management System—Standards Development
International Labour Office
Challenge
In the mid 1990s, ISO elected not to pursue an occupational health and safety management system standard. At that time, the International Labour Office began to explore the development of such a standard.
Solution
We assisted the ILO in its occupational health and safety management system development efforts. This began with performing a background analysis of existing environmental and occupational health and safety management systems in use throughout the world. Our generic management system model was used to perform the analysis. We then participated in the 10-day session in Geneva when the ILO standard was written.
Results
The ILO occupational management system standard is the only international occupational health and safety management system published by an international organization. Their management system has been widely distributed and is being used by numerous countries to structure their occupational health and safety regulatory structures.
Measurement System Development
BioTech Pharmaceutical Company
Challenge
A startup BioTech Pharmaceutical Company reached a point where it was clear that a means to measure its EHS performance was needed. While general compliance issues were handled, their measurement was not consistent.
Solution
We provided this company with an EHS performance measurement framework that subsequently was used to define and organize its overall EHS activities. Our integrated EHS management system formed the basis for this organization's performance measurement system.
Results
EHS professionals in the organization report that our work greatly assisted them in developing stronger strategic partnerships in the firm, as well as giving them more confidence in measuring performance. Our work has also helped them as they subsequently integrated several acquired firms.
Strategic Planning & Implementation
Large University System
Challenge
A large multi-campus university system was challenged to examine its EHS arrangement in the face of significant growth and diminished resources. Given the complexity and different dynamics at each campus, the university struggled with the best way to develop and implement a plan to take them where they needed to go over the next 10 years.
Solution
We assisted the university in developing a strategic plan and selecting a strategic framework to meet their needs. Central to the implementation consideration were ways to present the plan to campus stakeholders including senior administrators, academic senates, individual departments/researchers, and support staff.
Results
Implementation pilots were designed and initiated. This effort is long term and on-going. The EHS professionals are empowered and have a clear game plan on how to proceed. Our work has impacted the acceptance of this initiative at the highest levels in the organization.
Culture & Measurement—EHS Leadership
Large MultiNational Consumer Products Firm
Challenge
A large multinational consumer products company was seeking ways to impact EHS performance at individual plants. Various initiatives had been used over the years with mixed success.
Solution
We assisted this company in identifying several key Strategic EHS indicators that could impact performance. The general indicator initially selected to address was EHS Leadership. That is, by providing line personnel with the means to define and measure their own EHS leadership, overall EHS performance would be impacted. A simple measurement tool was developed, benchmarked, and piloted for this effort.
Results
Initial results have been positive. The pilot plants have shown improved EHS performance. Continuing efforts are planned to address other areas of Strategic EHS.
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