EORM recognized with 2012 EBJ Business Achievement Award for continued growth and Project Planning & Strategy Award for Genentech supply chain management systems (ISO 28000:2007) project. More...
EORM Principal Consultant Zack Mansdorf will be recognized with AIHA's Distinguished Service Award at the AIHce conference in Montreal this May for his service to the industrial hygiene profession. More...
EventsRequest post-presentation materials and resources from recent EORM webinars on GHS, Construction Safety, Ergonomics, Sustainability and more.
Priority Press
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EORM newsletter.
EORM provides multi-national clients with localized, knowledgeable and dependable support around the globe.
Tide Has Turned in Effort to Improve Construction Safety
By Brett Phillips, Principal Consultant, EORM
Published in the Oregon Daily Journal of Commerce (DJC), May 8, 2013
Portland has quietly been a hotbed for fundamental change in what has statistically been one of the most dangerous industries: construction. Thanks to the persistence of a few key owners and the forward-thinking, professional and innovative contractors who help propel their business, construction in Portland has become dramatically safer in the past 15 years.
The Safebuild Alliance – formerly the Greater Portland Construction Partnership – represents the efforts of those owners and contractors – along with design firms, consultants and labor organizations – to share what they've learned so that their successes become mainstream in the industry.
In the mid-1990s, as these players grappled with the reality of continual injuries to construction professionals, an important change occurred. With the help of some cutting-edge thinkers in high-performance management, the group came to realize that it must change its focus from compliance to culture.
Industry Focus: Healthcare
Using Exposure Assessment Programs
to Improve Worker Health and Safety
How to Effectively Identify, Monitor & Control Employee Exposure to Chemical and Physical Workplace Hazards
By Jyoti Kumar, CIH, Senior Consultant, EORM
Published in Priority Press, November 30, 2012
A comprehensive exposure assessment program ensures that chemical and physical health and safety hazards are identified and monitored on a regular basis, helps organizations conform to regulatory standards, and helps ensure a safe working environment for all workers. Beyond regulatory conformance, an assessment program, along with a customized workplace safety program, can improve the bottom line by avoiding fines and workers compensation costs, and can increase workplace morale and reputation in the community.
This article describes the guidelines to implement an exposure assessment program, discusses main exposure hazards in the health care industry, and provides specific actions employers should take to control hazards in their work environment.
While this article focuses primarily on hazards in the healthcare industry, the exposure assessment program and hazard control strategies described here are equally applicable in any other industry where workers may be exposed to chemical or physical hazards, including semiconductor, electronics, cleantech, biotechnology, construction, etc.
Measurable Efforts: Five Ways Technology Can Improve Your Ergonomics Program
By Joe Perry, MPT, Co-Founder, Remedy Interactive; and, Jessica K. Ellison, MS, CSP, CPE, Principal Consultant, EORM
Published in Facility Safety Management, September 2012
It’s more than likely these days that facilities managers are feeling strapped for resources – and ergonomics is just one of the many areas to which they must apply those limited resources. While crucial to maintaining compliance and low employee injury rates, ergonomics efforts often result in costly expenditures, from special equipment to time-consulting evaluations.
With these costs comes the age-old challenge of concretely measuring the positive impact of prevention – thereby inhibiting an organization’s ability to understand the true return on the investment of time and resources.
This article describes how, by structuring ergonomic processes and initiatives around technology that systematically collects and analyzes an organization’s ergonomics data, managers can achieve efficiency as well as gain insight into previously immeasurable efforts. Five specific strategies are provided by which technology can make the ergonomics effort of any organization more efficient, effective and measurable.
Leveraging Emerging Management System Standards to Create Improved EHS and Sustainability Performance
By Susan Mazzarella, LEED AP and Harmony Scofield, EORM
Published in Waste Advantage Magazine, August 2012
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) continues to develop and improve international standards for environment, health and safety (EHS), security and many other business processes. Understanding these new and emerging standards can be key in developing your own management systems to maximize business efficiency, improve profit/cost ratios, reduce environmental and energy impact, and improve your organization’s reputation in the business community. Certifying your organization to one or more standards can improve credibility, both internally and externally, and demonstrate your commitment to performing above conformance level and becoming an industry leader in EHS and related issues.
This article discusses some of the benefits, drivers and challenges of establishing a management systems approach; provides an overview of some of the newer EHS and related management systems; and, outlines some of the advantages of developing a management system to track and improve such factors as overall environmental footprint, safety and health concerns, or energy usage and management.
EORM Ranked #1 Silicon Valley Environmental Firm
San Jose, California, July 19, 2012 -- The Silicon Valley Business Journal has ranked EORM number one in its just-published list of the top 25 environmental firms in the region. The list was ranked by the total number of professionals the firms have in Silicon Valley. Last year EORM was ranked number two; in 2010 it was number five.
"This top spot is well-deserved recognition of the hard work and client commitment demonstrated by our professional consultants and staff over the last year," explains EORM President and CEO Glenn Fishler. "Our expertise in growing markets like sustainability, clean technology and healthcare, combined with a strategic acquisition that enhanced our environmental engineering services, have contributed significantly to our continued growth and success."
EORM, a premier EHS & Sustainability management and technical consulting firm, partners with companies to optimize EHS & Sustainability by managing risk, lowering costs, increasing productivity, and strengthening business advantage. The Company serves an international customer base across multiple vertical market segments, including: technology, media, and telecommunications; life sciences; manufacturing; food and beverage; chemical; insurance; and transportation industries. EORM consultants also work with government agencies in the local, state, and federal sectors.
From the company's corporate headquarters in San Jose, CA, from strategically-located US offices, and through its Global Provider Network, EORM services clients both nationally and internationally. For more information, visit www.eorm.com
Ergonomics for Telecommuters
and Other Remote Workers
By Jessica K. Ellison, M.S., CSP, CPE, EORM
Published in ASSE’s Interface, Volume 2, Number 1, 2012
Telecommuting is often a centerpiece of corporate sustainability programs. While telecommuting reduces the corporate carbon footprint and delights employees, few companies have considered the ergonomic issues that arise as more employees work from home or other locations, and do so more often.
This article discusses the rising trend in telecommuting and the policies and cost implications of telecommuting programs. It discussed how to integrate ergonomics into the telecommuting programs and some of the questions that need to be answered to establish an ergonomics program for telecommuters. Finally, this article discusses possible solutions for providing ergonomic support to telecommuters and other remote workers.
EORM offers one-stop shop for
regulatory,
risk, green advice
By Jon Xavier, Researcher/Reporter
Published in Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal,
September 16, 2011
Safety, health, environment and sustainability have become important issues for business, and a San Jose consulting firm is building its company on those issues.
EORM CEO Glenn Fishler said recent trends in the regulations and best practices mean that many businesses need help keeping up with a rapidly changing environment. And EORM is looking to provide a one-stop shop for that assistance.
EORM, which stands for Environmental & Occupational Risk Management, is a full-service consulting firm that helps its clients ensure they comply with regulations and minimize risk to their employees, the public and the environment.
Ergonomics Hitches a Ride
By Jessica K. Ellison, M.S., CSP, CPE, and Danny Nou, M.S., EHS Specialist, EORM
Published in Industrial Engineer, September 2011
Recent trends show that more companies are focusing on sustainability, which emphasizes a balance between people, planet and profit, also called the “triple bottom line.” Other monikers for the trend include corporate social responsibility initiative and 3E, for equity, environment and economy. In addition, the workplace has changed, in part due to sustainability, because more employees work from home or telecommute. This leaves fewer people in the office.
Backers of ergonomics programs need to start leveraging the momentum that is created by sustainability. Based on these industry trends, it is evident that there is tremendous global momentum in corporate sustainability and that ergonomics fits right into the people aspects of the people-planet-profit paradigm.
How Are Companies Putting Sustainability
Standards to Work?
By Rebecca Sternberg, MBA, MHS
Principal Consultant, Sustainability Practice Lead at EORM
Published in GreenBiz.com, July 11, 2011
Sustainability standards, particularly those that represent the broad spectrum of indicators within sustainability, are needed and becoming increasingly common. But the unanswered question is this: Does a company's investment in implementing a sustainability standard have tangible business benefits? The question remains no matter whether a company is exploring a product certification, operational system, investor ranking or set of supplier requirements.
This article explores the sustainability standards that industry leaders have implemented, why they utilize them and the benefits they receive.
Six Ways to Manage Lab Ergonomics More Efficiently
By Jessica K. Ellison, M.S., CSP, CPE at EORM
Ketil E. Jensen. Senior Director of Product Management
at Remedy Interactive
Published in Professional Safety, June 2011
Preventing repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) in laboratory environments requires more than providing industry standard PPE. It requires evaluating each employee and his/her lab setup, analyzing how that employee uses equipment, determining where injuries may occur, and adjusting either the task or equipment. Managing these tasks and following up with at-risk employees can become overwhelming if the right resources and processes are not in place to address these factors consistently, economically and effectively.
This article identifies six practices for improving the efficiency and manageability of a laboratory ergonomics programs.
Sustainable, Environmentally Responsible Controls
and Practices for the PV Industry
By Andy McIntyre, EORM
Published in Photovoltaics World
With the rapid increase in demand (both consumer and commercial) for PV products, it is essential that the PV industry fulfill the perception of being a green industry by avoiding many of the past environmental, health & safety (EHS) pitfalls encountered during the expansion of similar high-technology industries.
PV Design for ESH: Identify Issues Early
By Andy McIntyre & Patrick Tierney, EORM
Published in Photovoltaics World
As the photovoltaic (PV) industry selects equipment to support R&D and production operations, capital equipment suppliers building tools for the PV industry have an obligation to design and deliver safe and reliable process equipment that minimizes the potential to cause injury, meets current environmental requirements, and prevents worker health issues.
EHS Considerations in PV Manufacturing Equipment Installations
By Brent Wilson MPH, EORM, and Varun Gopalakrishna, Principal, Avani Design Consulting
Published in Photovoltaics World
As the photovoltaic (PV) industry expands and ramps up R&D and manufacturing operations, there are opportunities to reduce cost, minimize liability, and minimize equipment installation timeframes through a business risk management approach to equipment installations, one that incorporates environmental, health, and safety (EHS) considerations from the planning process through to the start up of the equipment.
Key Chemical and Physical Hazards
in PV R&D/Manufacturing
by Xavier Alcaraz & Andy McIntyre, EORM
Published in Photovoltaics World
Photovoltaic (PV) technologies have experienced significant improvements in efficiency and greater consumer demand, resulting in many more product alternatives and applications than ever before. These advances in PV technologies have introduced a range of new manufacturing and R&D chemical and physical hazards that require appropriate engineering, administrative and personal protective equipment controls to minimize the potential for employee illness and/or injuries.
Leveraging Ergonomics in the PV Industry
By Jessica Ellison, EORM
Published in Photovoltaics World
As the photovoltaic (PV) industry expands and large-scale capital equipment is introduced to support the market, it is increasingly important to evaluate how similar industries have incorporated ergonomics into all aspects of their R&D and manufacturing processes.
PV's Duty to Lead EHS, Sustainability
By Tim Mohin, EORM
Published in Photovoltaics World
As the climate warms, energy supplies dwindle, and pollution concerns rise, the clean energy produced by the photovoltaic industry is needed more than ever before. This industry's explosive growth has been fueled by government incentives and mandates such as the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA), also known as "the stimulus package." With approximately $80 billion set aside for clean technology investments in the form of direct grants and tax incentives, there has never been a better time for the PV industry.
Applying Life Cycle Analysis to PV Manufacturing
By W.Kenneth Lynch, EORM
Published in Photovoltaics World
Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology is increasingly seen as an economically viable alternative to address our rapidly expanding global energy needs. Despite conservation efforts; as the global economic crisis subsides, the energy consumption of the United States, Western Europe, China, and India will continue to expand.
How to Implement "Management of Change"
for PV Manufacturing
by Dale Goss, EORM, and Robert Barnes,
Robert B. Barnes Associates Inc.
Published in Photovoltaics World
As the PV manufacturing industry continues to mature, addressing the need to continuously and safely update both R&D and manufacturing equipment will require establishing robust "management of change" policy and processes. This article discusses this need and provides the framework for the development and implementation of a successful management of change program.