Month: April 2023

Giving back to communities is a core part of Cadence’s history and culture. We have several Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs, including in education, all of which are creating a positive impact in society. We are committed to providing underprivileged students with an equal chance of success in this competitive world through access to education.

We are delighted to mark a new milestone in our journey with the inauguration of the Vidya & Child School for underprivileged children in Khoda village, near New Delhi. We have been working closely with Vidya & Child, providing both financial and advisory support to build this school. The school provides a nurturing learning environment for over 300 students, from nursery to eighth standard, after which they are enrolled in mainstream schools in the locality. The school also offers after-school educational support and extra-curricular activities to the students even after they join their mainstream schools.

Cadence India leadership, along with teachers, staff, students, parents of Vidya & Child, and others, recently gathered for a launch event to inaugurate the newly constructed school building.

The event started with the traditional lighting of the lamp, followed by a prayer recited by the students of the school. After this, a few alumni of the school were invited to share their experiences and learnings and how the school has shaped them to be the person they are today. This was followed by talks by Supriya Akhaury, founder of Vidya & Child, and Jaswinder Ahuja, corporate vice president, and Cadence India managing director.

The school features modern and environmentally-friendly amenities, including rainwater harvesting, solar-powered energy panels, a dedicated computer lab, and a STEM lab. A lot of thought, planning, and brainstorming has gone into conceptualizing and designing the building with a vision of creating a meaningful facility conducive to teaching and learning.

Cadence is committed to enabling education for underserved communities. Our partnership with Vidya & Child in building the Khoda school is an important milestone in the journey, along with the Cadence Scholarship Program, several other projects with Vidya & Child, and many other projects.

“When the COVID-19 pandemic began to roar across our country, we all had to reimagine nearly every aspect of our lives, including how we work and collaborate while continuing to fulfill the needs of our patients, customers, and communities. Safety is, and always has been, our primary concern.”

Steven E. Goldberg, MD Vice President, Medical Affairs and Population Health

While office-based employees worked remotely during the pandemic, the majority of our nearly 50,000 colleagues were literally on the front lines in 2021, continuing to work at our lab facilities, in logistics and transport, and in our patient service centers. Safety protocols had to be updated continually as conditions evolved.

Early in the pandemic, Quest assembled a cross- functional taskforce with representatives from the company’s Medical, Human Resources, Environmental Health and Safety, Facilities, Legal, and Communications teams to assemble policies and procedures. Continuing to protect the safety of those on-site, and ultimately returning our administrative employees back to our facilities, is informed by 4 core principles: safety, agility, unity, and business continuity. Multiple measures were implemented—including testing and contact tracing procedures, masking and personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements, occupancy limits, increased cleaning, on-site vaccination events (see sidebar), social distancing, and other mitigation efforts—to help us navigate the pandemic. As a result of our combined efforts, we have been able to keep workplace transmission low.

As part of our efforts, we provided all colleagues with a digital “playbook” that clearly communicates our framework and procedures for working together safely. The playbook stresses that it is incumbent upon all of us to adhere to these guidelines to keep one another safe and healthy on-site and in our homes. These efforts have allowed Quest to maintain and expand services when our communities needed us most.

Returning to working safely on-site

The health and safety of our workforce has been our top priority while navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. We closely monitored pandemic trends and current CDC guidance. Fortunately, we were able to plan for and determine a safe, phased, and flexible return-to-office process that began mid-March 2022.

Quest took multiple steps to make COVID-19 vaccinations available to all Quest colleagues:

Albertsons’ vaccination events: Wood Dale, IL; Houston and Lewisville, TX; Baltimore, MD; as well as private appointments across the country
Local partnerships: RANN Pharmacy near our Horsham lab and Collegeville PD offices; Managed Health Solutions at our Atlanta, GA lab; the Denver Department of Health at our Denver, CO facility; and mPathy in Marlborough, MA
Vaccination clinics: St. Louis, MO; Pittsburgh, PA; and Lenexa, KS labs, by our own Employer Population Health division

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We are living in an extraordinary time for the Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) field. In the wake of what we all hope to be a once-in-a-lifetime global health event, the landscape of work is in some ways unrecognizable. This is due in large part to how the urgency of the pandemic propelled technology forward. Many businesses reimagined when, where, and how work gets done

Hybrid and remote work are a reality for more people than ever before. Advancements in AI and machine learning are improving processes and changing the fundamentals of how many of us do our jobs. Even EHS professionals are adopting new devices, sensors, and software solutions to improve workplace safety and employee health.

Let’s explore some of these incredible new tools that are helping both EHS professionals and the rest of the workforce stay safer and healthier at work.

Technology Benefits for EHS Professionals 

One of the most significant changes for EHS professionals is the boom in productivity software solutions. These tools are reshaping work across all industries, and have specific benefits for data-heavy, repetitive tasks common to EHS documentation and reporting.

Streamlined processes 

The increased prominence of EHS over the last few years and the role it plays in ensuring organizations seamlessly shift into a new normal has increased the responsibilities of EHS professionals. 

Now is the best time for teams to identify tasks that are consuming a significant portion of EHS professionals’ time and determine which ones can be automated. By leveraging technology, EHS teams can free up their time for more substantial initiatives, such as addressing the urgent mental health crisis and ensuring their workforce has the tools and technology they need to remain safe on the job.

Tier II reporting 

Tier II reporting is a regulatory requirement under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) in the United States. The purpose of Tier II reporting is to provide information about the types, quantities, and locations of hazardous materials in a community, enabling emergency responders to prepare for and respond to potential chemical accidents or incidents.

Due to the vital nature of this information, Tier II reporting is a tightly regulated process that historically involves a great deal of manual reporting.

In the upcoming year, the EHS industry is set to make significant strides in automating manual reporting tasks, including Tier II reporting. This automation should be game-changing for organizations that manage large quantities of hazardous materials.

Top 5 EHS Technologies to Watch 

1. IoT (Internet of Things) and sensors 

The Internet of Things (IoT) and sensor technologies have revolutionized the way we monitor and manage environmental conditions. IoT devices and sensors can be used to collect real-time data on various environmental factors such as air quality, water quality, and noise levels. This information can then be used by EHS professionals to identify potential hazards and take appropriate measures to mitigate them.

2. Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) 

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies enable users to create simulated environments that replicate real-life scenarios, allowing them to experience and respond to different situations in a safe and controlled manner.

EHS professionals can create virtual scenarios that replicate a hazardous environment, allowing them to train employees on the appropriate safety protocols and emergency response procedures. This type of training can help employees to better understand the hazards they may face and how to respond appropriately, without risking injury or harm to themselves or others.

3. Artificial Intelligence (AI) 

With AI, EHS professionals can analyze vast amounts of data to identify patterns and trends related to workplace safety, enabling them to make data-driven decisions to improve safety outcomes.

AI algorithms can be used to analyze injury data and identify patterns that may indicate systemic safety issues. By identifying these patterns, EHS professionals can take corrective actions to address the root causes of the safety issues and prevent future injuries.

4. Wearable technology 

Wearable technology has emerged as a powerful tool for EHS professionals to monitor workers’ vital signs and improve workplace safety. Wearables such as smart helmets, safety vests, and smartwatches can collect real-time data on a worker’s vital signs, such as heart rate, body temperature, and breathing rate, and transmit this information to EHS professionals.

In addition to monitoring vital signs, wearable technology can also be used to track a worker’s location and movements, helping EHS professionals to identify potential safety hazards and prevent accidents from occurring.

5. Drones 

Drone technology has become an essential tool for EHS professionals to monitor and manage workplace safety and environmental compliance.

Drones equipped with cameras and sensors can be used to conduct site inspections and identify potential safety hazards, such as leaks, spills, or damage to infrastructure. Drones can reach areas that are difficult or dangerous for humans to access, such as rooftops, or severe terrain. Additionally, superior-quality aerial images can be obtained via drones for any type of construction, remediation, or demolition project.

EHS professionals can also use drones to monitor environmental conditions, such as air quality, and noise levels.

Learn more about how our EHS professionals are using technology to improve outcomes for organizations like yours.

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About Antea Group

Antea®Group is an environment, health, safety, and sustainability consulting firm. By combining strategic thinking with technical expertise, we do more than effectively solve client challenges; we deliver sustainable results for a better future. We work in partnership with and advise many of the world’s most sustainable companies to address ESG-business challenges in a way that fits their pace and unique objectives. Our consultants equip organizations to better understand threats, capture opportunities and find their position of strength. Lastly, we maintain a global perspective on ESG issues through not only our work with multinational clients, but also through our sister organizations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America and as a founding member of the Inogen Alliance. Learn more at us.anteagroup.com.