Introduction

Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Centre is committed to work in interdisciplinary setup to monitor, control and manage the hazards associated with health and the environment. Centre will focus on research, policies and action on environmental and occupational hazards to health, and strengthen environmental surveillance, conserves natural resources and protects the environment. We will offer an unparalleled diversity of perspectives and expertise to drive environmental education, sustainability efforts and collaborative research initiatives. HSE Centre will also provide health and safety training, consultancy and services, compliant with internationally recognized certification schemes such as National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) etc. Emphasis is placed on enabling strengthened collaboration between health and environment sectors. It is hoped that proposed Centre will help to pioneer a new trend for applied research emerging from academia to influence policy makers in the areas of workplace safety and sustainable environment along with socioeconomic development. Thus, we will be able to provide safe and healthy workplaces for all and a culture of positive impact on the human health and the environment. We will do this by investing in a positive safety culture, collaboration between customers and partners and constantly improving the work safety processes and practices towards common goal of zero harm. Meanwhile, strengthen the national capacity to undertake environmental health risk assessment and appropriate multi-sectoral responses (laws, regulations, policies, plans, and programs) to increase resilience to climate change and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In addition, the center will establish linkage with other institutions of higher learning in health risks and environmental research. The center will design interdisciplinary courses and research to overcome the trust deficit between policy makers and academia.

Importance of Health, Safety & Environment

According to the most recent ILO global estimates, 2.78 million work-related deaths are recorded every year, of which 2.4 million are related to occupational diseases. In addition to the immense suffering caused for workers and their families, the associated economic costs are colossal for enterprises, countries and the world. Therefore:

• It is morally right to ensure your workers, staff, and students return home safe and healthy at the end of every working day.
• By protecting your employees and students, you reduce absences, ensuring that your workplace is more efficient and productive.
• Research shows that the environment is more productive in workplaces that are committed to health and safety.
• Reducing downtime caused by illness and accidents means less disruption and saves your business money.
• In some countries, health and safety legislation is criminal law and you are legally obliged to comply with it. Legal breaches can result in prosecution, fines and even imprisonment of senior executives.
• To attract investors and partnerships you may need to demonstrate your commitment to sustainability and corporate social responsibility, which will include how you protect your workers.
• Without strong corporate responsibility and sustainability practices you may struggle to attract or retain the best employees.
• A good health and safety record is a source of competitive advantage: it builds trust in your reputation and brand, while poor health and safety performance will directly affect profitability and can result in loss of trade or even closure of the business.
• Good health and safety at work secure long-term benefits for you, your business and the wider community.

Objectives

The main objectives of this HSE Centre are to:

• Identification of hazardous materials, waste, or oil in any environmental media at potentially hazardous concentrations
• Assess the health outcomes linked to environmental risks such as unsafe water and inadequate sanitation, poor indoor and outdoor air quality, exposure to toxic or hazardous waste and chemicals as well as climate change.
• Actual or likely contact of humans, wildlife, plants, and other living organisms with the contaminants of concern
• Estimate the exposure pathway and the route of migration of the contaminant from its point of release (e.g., leaching into potable groundwater) and exposure routes (e.g., ingestion, transdermal absorption), which would allow receptor(s) to come into actual contact with contaminants
• Ensure compliance with the relevant Pakistan legislations on environmental health and safety
• Promote a healthy and safe work environment by development of site safety plan
• Promote communication among management, employees and the community in addressing safety issues at the workplace and its surrounding;
• Contribute towards occupational risk identification, prevention and management
• Standard Operational HSE procedures and work instructions
• Train and motivate the individuals to enable them to fulfill the workplace safety requirements
• Development of Emergency Procedures
• Waste Management Plan
• Environmental Restoration
• Air and Noise Management Plans
• Fire Safety Management Plan
• Environmental Sustainability