EHS Challenges Facing Universities with International Collaborations and Agreements

Abstract

   In the past decade, there has been an increase in the collaboration between Institutions of Higher Learning from one country to another. The scope of these collaborations and agreements can vary widely. However, one issue that needs to be addressed in all cases is the need to provide services related to health and safety of all personnel and assure protection of the local environment. This paper attempts to start a dialogue about these issues between environmental, health, and safety (EHS) professionals and faculty and administration of the entities involved. It presents a series of questions that must be asked whose answers will lead to the identification of the potential EHS issues that could arise. These will provide the opportunity to identify the actions that must be taken to eliminate or mitigate the potential issues. It is critical that these issues be identified and addressed during the development stage and not after agreements have been reached and collaborations started.