Glossary · Operator documentation
EHS instruction
Also known as: HSE instruction, Environment, health and safety instruction
German: EHS-Anweisung
In company practice, an EHS instruction is an instruction issued within an organization's environment, health and safety (EHS) management system that covers environmental requirements, occupational safety, the handling of hazardous substances and emergency measures for an activity or site.
- Compliance
- Technical documentation
In one sentence
An EHS instruction is a company instruction within an environment, health and safety management system, covering environment, safety and emergencies.
Example
A chemical site's EHS instruction for tank truck unloading combines the spill containment rules, the PPE, the earthing procedure and the emergency call chain, and refers to the Gefahrstoff-Betriebsanweisungen of the substances.
How it applies
- Management systems: Organizations certified to ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety) and ISO 14001 (environment) often run an integrated EHS system with its own document type for instructions. The standards require documented information but do not define a document called "EHS instruction".
- Combined content: An EHS instruction can bundle environmental, safety and emergency rules for one activity. Where it addresses the hazards of work equipment or hazardous substances at a workplace in Germany, it must also meet the content the ordinances require for a Betriebsanweisung — or refer to the Betriebsanweisungen that do.
- Limits: A certified management system and a document labeled "EHS instruction" do not by themselves show that the legal instruction duties are fulfilled.
EHS instruction vs. Betriebsanweisung
The EHS instruction is a company document type defined by the organization's management system. The Betriebsanweisung is defined by occupational safety law, with its content tied to the risk assessment of the workplace.