A Career in
Telecommunication EHS
Eddie Downey, CIH, CSP, CHMM
AEGON USA
September, 2006
We Have A Few Things to
Talk About…
Career vs. job
A “sample” career
Changing role of EHS in telecom
Evolution of EHS telecom careers
Successfully managing your career
Tips from the “School of Hard Knocks”
What is a Career?
A profession for which one trains and
which is undertaken as a permanent
calling
Source: Merriam Webster Online Dictionary
Your Career?
Oil on Canvas
The Scream
by Edvard Munch
Your Career?
Hog Heaven!
Wooo Pig Sooiee!
My Telecom Career Path
Business Cards Gone Wild
Staff Specialist- Industrial Hygiene
Manager- Industrial Hygiene
Director- Industrial Hygiene
Certified Industrial Hygienist
Manager- Safety Regulations/ Audits
Manager- EHS
Director- EHS
Executive Director- EHS
Executive Director- Risk Management
Director- Safety and Security
18 Years
3 Company Names
(U S WEST,
MediaOne, AT&T)
1 Split
1 Merger
1 Merger (post)
9 Supervisors
9 Job Titles
7 Offices
3 Years
1 Name (McLeodUSA)
2 Divestitures
1 Bankruptcy (pre)
1 Bankruptcy (post)
EHS Evolution in Telecom
General Trends
Traditional “safety” function well-established
over decades
– Injury prevention and avoiding property damage
still a cornerstone of programs
Health (occupational health and industrial
hygiene) more emphasis post-OSHA in mid
70’s/80’s and beyond
– Asbestos
– Hazard Communication
– Indoor Air Quality
– Ergonomics
EHS Evolution in Telecom
General Trends (cont.)
Environmental- largely driven by
regulations in 80’s and beyond
– Central office demolitions/ haz. materials
– Storage tanks
– Community right to know
– Compliance
Transportation (DOT)
Data and metrics- more sophisticated
EHS Evolution in Telecom
General Trends (cont.)
Integrated EHS approaches in the 90’s
and beyond
– Emphasis on “business approach” and $
bottom line
– Broad risk prevention/management
strategies
– Movement back towards EHS generalists
vs. specialists (doing more with less)
EHS Evolution in Telecom