When EHS Staff Outsourcing Makes Sense

EHS Staff Outsourcing is ideal when you need full-time, on-site EHS expertise but want to avoid the overhead, risk, or timeline of direct hiring:

Your Company Needs Full-Time EHS Presence

Your operations have grown to the point where you need someone dedicated to EHS full-time, not just occasional consulting support. You need daily safety oversight, regular inspections, ongoing training, permit management, and someone available to handle issues as they arise.

You’re Managing Multiple Sites

You have multiple facilities or locations that require coordinated EHS oversight. A dedicated EHS professional can provide centralized management across sites while ensuring consistent programs, training, and compliance approaches.

You Need Immediate Coverage

Your EHS Manager left, is on extended leave, or you’re experiencing turnover. You need coverage immediately rather than waiting months to recruit, interview, and onboard a replacement. Our on-site professionals can start quickly and maintain continuity.

You Want to Avoid Recruiting and Hiring Overhead

Recruiting qualified EHS professionals takes time and resources – posting positions, reviewing resumes, conducting interviews, checking references, negotiating offers. When you hire the wrong person, the cost multiplies. Staff outsourcing eliminates this entire process by providing proven professionals immediately.

You Need Flexibility as Your Business Evolves

Your EHS needs may change as your company grows, restructures, or expands into new facilities. Staff outsourcing provides flexibility to scale support up or down, adjust the level of expertise, or even convert to direct hire if your needs evolve and the arrangement has proven successful.

You Want Senior-Level Backup and Specialized Expertise

Even experienced EHS professionals encounter situations requiring specialized knowledge – complex industrial hygiene monitoring, radiation safety compliance, advanced environmental permitting, or unique regulatory interpretations. Our on-site staff have immediate reachback access to Certified Industrial Hygienists, Certified Safety Professionals, and specialty experts whenever needed.

How EHS Staff Outsourcing Works

Full-Time, On-Site Presence

Our EHS professional works on-site at your facility full-time (typically five days per week), functioning as your dedicated EHS Manager, Specialist, or Consultant based on your organizational structure and needs. They integrate with your operations team, report to your management, attend your meetings, and become a familiar, trusted presence for your workforce.

Functions as Your EHS Authority

The on-site professional serves as your company’s day-to-day EHS lead. They conduct site inspections, coordinate regulatory compliance, manage safety programs, deliver training, respond to employee questions, handle incident investigations, prepare for inspections, and represent your company to regulatory agencies. For all practical purposes, they function as your outsourced EHS Manager.

Supported by Senior-Level Experts

While your on-site professional handles day-to-day operations independently, they have continuous reachback access to our senior leadership team – Certified Industrial Hygienists (CIH) and Certified Safety Professionals (CSP) with decades of combined experience. When complex situations arise requiring specialized expertise – industrial hygiene exposure monitoring, environmental permit applications, radiation safety compliance, advanced ergonomic assessments – your embedded professional can immediately engage our senior team for technical support, guidance, or direct assistance.

Flexible Title and Structure

We match the professional’s title and reporting structure to your organization’s needs. They can serve as your EHS Manager leading safety operations, an EHS Specialist supporting an existing safety manager, or an EHS Consultant working across multiple sites. The role adapts to fit your structure rather than forcing you to adapt to a predetermined model.

No Recruiting, Hiring, or Management Overhead

We handle all employment administration – recruiting, vetting, hiring, payroll, benefits, performance management, and ongoing professional development. You avoid the time and cost of recruiting while eliminating employment administration burden. If the professional isn’t the right fit, we replace them rather than requiring you to manage a termination and restart recruiting.

Proven, Experienced Professionals

Every contract professional we provide has been thoroughly vetted, possesses relevant industry experience, understands California regulatory requirements (Cal/OSHA, County Environmental Health, Fire Department, Air Quality, etc.), and can start contributing immediately without extensive training or orientation.

Services Our On-Site EHS Professionals Provide

Our on-site staff handle comprehensive EHS functions including:

Day-to-Day Safety Management

• Regular facility inspections and safety walkthroughs
• Hazard identification and risk assessments
• Incident investigation and root cause analysis
• Corrective action tracking and closeout
• Safety committee coordination
• Contractor safety oversight and onboarding

Program Development and Maintenance

• Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP)
• Chemical Hygiene Plans and Laboratory Safety Programs
• Hazard Communication Program (HazCom)
• Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Program
• Emergency Action Plans and evacuation procedures
• Respiratory Protection Program
• Hearing Conservation Program
• Ergonomics Program
• Fire Prevention and Flammable Liquids Management
• Confined Space Entry Program
• Fall Protection Program
• Process Safety Management

Regulatory Compliance and Permitting

• Cal/OSHA and Federal OSHA compliance
• Hazardous Materials Business Plan (HMBP) management via CERS
• Air Pollution Control District (APCD) permit compliance
• Industrial Wastewater discharge permits
• Medical Waste Management Program compliance
• San Diego Fire Department permit coordination
• County Environmental Health (CUPA) compliance
• Required regulatory reporting and record-keeping

Training Delivery

• New hire safety orientation
• General safety training for all employees
• Job-specific and task-based safety training
• Laboratory safety and chemical handling
• Emergency response and evacuation drills
• Lockout/Tagout procedures
• Forklift and powered industrial truck safety
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) selection and use
• Ergonomics and injury prevention
• Refresher and compliance-driven retraining

Environmental and Hazmat Management

• Hazardous materials inventory management
• Dangerous goods classification, packaging, and shipping compliance
• Hazardous waste management and manifesting
• Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plans (SPCC)
• Universal waste and e-waste compliance
• Storm water pollution prevention
• Annual DTSC electronic verification questionnaire (eVQ)

Inspection Preparation and Coordination

• Serve as primary point of contact for regulatory inspections
• Prepare facilities for announced and unannounced inspections
• Coordinate with San Diego Fire Department (CEDMAT)
• Manage County Environmental Health (CUPA) inspections
• Interface with Cal/OSHA inspectors
• Handle Air Pollution Control District visits
• Respond to DEA inquiries (for controlled substances)

Specialized Support with Senior-Level Reachback

When specialized expertise is needed beyond day-to-day operations, our on-site professionals engage our senior team for:

• Industrial Hygiene exposure monitoring and assessments
• Advanced ergonomic evaluations
• Radiation safety program development and compliance
• Complex environmental permitting
• Fire protection engineering consultation
• Process safety and change management
• Occupational health program coordination

Industries and Facility Types We Serve

Our on-site EHS professionals have supported diverse industries and facility types including:

Life Sciences and Research

Biotech companies, pharmaceutical manufacturing, medical device facilities, university research laboratories, and clinical research organizations with complex chemical safety, biosafety, controlled substances, and laboratory compliance requirements.

Manufacturing and Production

Aerospace manufacturing, electronics production, precision manufacturing, assembly operations, and distribution centers requiring comprehensive safety programs, hazardous materials management, and Cal/OSHA compliance.

Government and Public Agencies

Government facilities, ports, public utilities, and agencies requiring experienced EHS professionals familiar with public sector regulatory requirements and procurement processes.

Healthcare and Medical Facilities

Hospitals, medical centers, outpatient facilities, and diagnostic laboratories with medical waste management, radiation safety, chemical hygiene, and infection control needs.

Why Companies Choose Staff Outsourcing Over Direct Hire

Immediate Access to Proven Professionals

Skip the 2-6 month recruiting process. Our dedicated EHS professionals can often start within weeks, providing immediate coverage and continuity rather than leaving your EHS function unstaffed during lengthy hiring processes.

No Recruiting Risk or Hiring Mistakes

Hiring the wrong EHS professional is costly – wasted time, poor program development, compliance gaps, and eventual termination followed by restarting recruitment. We provide vetted professionals with verified experience and credentials. If fit isn’t right, we replace them rather than requiring you to manage termination and restart recruiting.

Senior-Level Technical Backup

Even the most experienced EHS professionals encounter situations requiring specialized knowledge. Our outsourced staff have immediate access to Certified Industrial Hygienists, Certified Safety Professionals, and subject matter experts for complex industrial hygiene, environmental permitting, process safety, or regulatory interpretation issues. Your on-site professional is never alone – they have decades of combined senior expertise backing them up.

Eliminates Employment Administration

We handle payroll, benefits, performance management, professional development, and all employment administration. You eliminate HR overhead while ensuring your EHS professional remains current on regulatory changes and professional best practices.

Flexibility and Scalability

As your business grows, restructures, or expands, your EHS needs evolve. Staff outsourcing provides flexibility to adjust the level of support, transition between different professionals as needs change, scale coverage across multiple sites, or convert to direct employment if circumstances warrant and the arrangement has proven successful.

Cost-Effective Compared to Fully-Loaded Employment Costs

When you calculate full employment costs – salary, benefits, payroll taxes, workers compensation, recruitment fees, ongoing training, professional development, and HR administration – staff outsourcing often delivers comparable or better value while eliminating overhead and providing immediate senior-level backup.

California Regulatory Expertise

All our on-site professionals understand California’s unique regulatory environment – Cal/OSHA requirements that exceed federal OSHA, California Fire Code, County Environmental Health (CUPA) programs, Air Quality Management Districts, and other state-specific requirements that out-of-state EHS professionals may not understand.

Serving California Companies Since 2004

Our leadership team has provided EHS services to California companies for over 20 years. We understand local regulators’ expectations, have established relationships with regulatory agencies, and know what programs, documentation, and approaches successfully pass inspection. This institutional knowledge benefits every embedded professional we provide.

Typical Engagement Models

Full-Time On-Site Support

The most common model – a dedicated EHS professional on-site five days per week, functioning as your EHS Manager or Specialist. Suitable for single facilities or centralized management of multiple nearby sites.

Multi-Site Coordination

For companies with multiple facilities, we can provide professionals who split time between sites or coordinate programs across locations while ensuring consistent approaches to compliance, training, and documentation.

Interim Coverage

Temporary placement during EHS manager leave, turnover periods, or peak demand situations. Maintains continuity and ensures compliance doesn’t lapse during transitions.

Long-Term Partnership

Many of our placements become long-term arrangements lasting years as both the company and professional find the model beneficial. Some clients eventually convert contract EHS professionals to direct employment as their organizations mature and are ready for full-time headcount.

Professional Qualifications and Experience

All EHS professionals we provide possess:

Relevant Education and Experience

• Degrees in safety, environmental science, industrial hygiene, or related fields
• Progressive EHS experience appropriate to the role level
• Demonstrated expertise in California regulatory compliance

California Regulatory Knowledge

• Cal/OSHA regulations and enforcement
• California Fire Code and local jurisdiction requirements
• County Environmental Health (CUPA) programs
• Air Quality Management District requirements
• State-specific hazardous materials and waste regulations

Industry-Specific Expertise

Professionals matched to your industry – laboratory safety for life sciences, process safety for manufacturing, construction safety for facilities management – ensuring they understand your specific operational hazards and regulatory requirements.

Desirable Professional Certifications

Many of our embedded professionals hold or are pursuing recognized certifications including:

• Certified Safety Professional (CSP)
• Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH)
• Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM)
• Other industry-recognized credentials

Senior-Level Reachback Access

Every on-site professional has direct access to our leadership team of Certified Industrial Hygienists (CIH) and Certified Safety Professionals (CSP) for technical guidance, specialized assessments, and complex problem-solving.

How EHS Staff Outsourcing Differs from EHS Consulting

EHS Staff Outsourcing provides full-time, on-site professionals who work at your facility as dedicated members of your team, handling all day-to-day EHS operations, management, and compliance activities. They’re present continuously, integrate with your operations, and function as your EHS Manager or Specialist.

EHS Consulting provides project-based program development, compliance assessments, and ongoing advisory support. Consultants help you build programs, identify gaps, prepare for audits, and remain available as subject matter experts – but they’re not on-site full-time managing day-to-day operations.

When to choose Staff Outsourcing: You need someone present full-time managing EHS operations, serving as your safety authority, handling daily issues, and providing continuous oversight.

When to choose EHS Consulting: You need programs developed, compliance gaps addressed, and expert guidance – but don’t require or aren’t ready for full-time dedicated EHS headcount.

Many clients start with EHS Consulting to build their programs and achieve baseline compliance, then transition to Staff Outsourcing as they grow and require full-time EHS management.

Getting Started

Staff outsourcing engagements typically begin with understanding your operations, facility types, current EHS status, organizational structure, and specific needs. We then match you with an on-site professional whose experience, expertise, and working style align with your requirements.

Our dedicated EHS professionals can often start within weeks rather than the months typically required for recruiting and hiring. Initial engagement terms are flexible – some clients start with defined trial periods while others commit to longer arrangements from the outset.

Whether you need interim coverage during turnover, long-term on-site support, or are exploring alternatives to direct hiring, we provide experienced EHS professionals who deliver immediate value while being backed by senior-level expertise.

Contact us to discuss your EHS staffing needs and learn how our embedded professionals can provide the full-time expertise your facility requires.