Environmental Responsibility Pivots On Next Generation EMS

Pilar Castaneda has over 25 years' experience leading Environmental, Health, Safety, and Compliance (EHSC) in manufacturing, construction, consulting and government settings. He is currently the EHSC Director for Yantis Company, where he leads a workforce of over 350 employees in ensuring a culture of safety through education and communication.

What are your roles and responsibilities in a typical workday?

My current responsibilities include all aspects of environmental, health and safety in a multi-site construction environment.    I conduct safety trainings, manage our worker’s compensation and stormwater compliance programs, and respond to any injuries or incidents. A typical day starts with addressing workers’ questions, through calls and emails. I also manage security in the workplace through the use of surveillance cameras to prevent theft of materials and damage to equipment.

A significant amount of my time is spent at sites in order to conduct routine inspections and enforce environmental health and safety guidelines.  As an example, we currently have two excavators on site, both digging their respective trenches.    I ensure that our workers don’t get too close to the edge of the trenches or to moving equipment. My goal is to make sure the excavation is done properly without putting anyone at risk, while meeting all of our regulatory and construction requirements.

The health of the workforce is paramount, and our primary objective for the day is to guarantee a safe work environment for the workers.  We want our workers to go home the same way they arrived. 

How has EMS evolved over the years, and how has it impacted the industry with it?

EMS has changed drastically in the industry.    When I started my career with the US Air Force in 1995, the environmental management systems (EMS) of that era were based upon ISO 14001, which had its priorities geared towards the stakeholders and regulatory compliance. The EMS systems of today can go beyond taking responsibility for stakeholders and regulatory requirements, and also be structured in a way that addresses local and global environmental concerns.   

 During my time as the EHS Director of Visionworks, I was able to demonstrate the impact of a modern EMS. Visionworks, a nationwide company that manufactures and sells prescription eyewear, wanted to make a positive change in their impact on the environment.  VisionWorks undertook extensive green initiatives utilizing EMS, enabling them to recycle, reuse, or resell roughly ninety percent of the waste generated by their manufacturing processes.

Flexibility, along with a deep understanding of goals and requirements, enables adjustment to unforeseen situations and professional and personal growth

 

What are the challenges you face while implementing environmental safety guidelines, and how do you navigate through it?

The biggest challenge I face is educating line workers as well as management about the importance of environmental health and safety. It is easier to educate everyone when they clearly understand the consequences of their actions.

At Yantis, we engage in excavations that require the digging eight-foot-deep trenches. While the trenches are not that deep, we still adhere to strict safety protocols because the workers understand the risks involved.  As a result, they dig the trenches to be twenty feet wide with very sloped walls. With this design, even if there is a mishap, the workers cannot get buried and can simply walk out of the trench.  Whatever the specific situation, it’s   crucial that the people performing the work understand the need for safety requirements and why we always strive to follow protocols.

What would be your piece of advice to your fellow peers?

Always keep in mind the potential critical impact of every EHS compliance activity.  WhenI was involved in the chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) defense training of personnel in the US Air Force, knowing the criticality of my task made me better administer my duties.

You also have to be flexible. Greater flexibility makes you more competent in tackling unforeseen circumstances and challenges. I’ve worked for the military, for  for construction companies for various manufacturers, and in consulting.  These organizations all had very different cultures and specific safety requirements, but were all wonderful places to work, with amazing people whoo guided me along the way. I was open to these new experiences, many of which involved stepping outside my comfort zone, and gained insights with each new role. I was receptive to the suggestions and the teachings of my mentors.that . Staying flexible to these changes and being open to trying new things in life has had a tremendous role in my growth, both as a professional and as a person.