Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) Manager

Mr Rambhai came to Kenya in the early 1940s from the Gujarat region of India. He started a small hardware store in downtown Nairobi in 1948 and that was the humble beginnings of what is now the Ramco Group. His 3 sons, Kirit, Mahendra and Chandrakant joined the family business after their studies and based on these strong family ties, the group built a solid…

Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) Manager

Role Purpose

• To protect the Group from fatalities, regulatory shutdowns, and material environmental incidents by driving a risk based, enforceable, and cost conscious EHS system across all companies through a structured Shared Services model.

• The role is accountable for visibility of risk, escalation of exposure, and enforcement of minimum standards, while day-to-day site execution is delegated to EHS coordinators.

Group Risk Control & Non-Negotiables

• Define and enforce Group EHS Minimum Standards (Non-Negotiables) covering:

• Fire protection systems

• Chemical/solvent handling

• Machinery safety & lockout

• Contractor high-risk work

• Effluent treatment & discharge (ETPs)

• Emissions control

• Waste management

• Maintain a live Group Critical Risk Register (Top Risks per site)

• Immediately escalate any condition that can lead to:

• NEMA shutdown / EDL suspension

• Fatality or life-threatening exposure

• Major fire or explosion

Shared Services Delivery Model

• Operate as a Group function supporting but not replacing site/company level accountability

Define:

• What EHS owns (standards, audits, escalation)

• What sites own (execution, compliance, daily control)

• Conduct quarterly structured reviews with each CEO

• Maintain formal escalation pathway to the Board for unresolved risks

• Define clear roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations for each officer aligned to Group priorities

• Ensure EHS Officers:

• Drive day-to-day compliance, inspections, and monitoring at site level

• Implement Group standards and non-negotiables

• Maintain accurate reporting and documentation

Conduct:

• Weekly operational check-ins (risk updates, incidents, priorities)

• Monthly performance reviews (KPIs, gaps, accountability)

Build capability through:

• Coaching, technical guidance, and standardization of practices across sites

• Enforce accountability by:

• Escalating non-performance or repeated failures to the leadership

• Ensure consistency across sites-no independent or conflicting EHS practices

EHS Team Leadership & Performance Management

Lead and manage a team of EHS Officers across all Group companies under a Shared Services structure;

Environmental Risk Management

Establish strict control over:

• Effluent treatment plants (ETPs)

• Waste handling and disposal

• Air emissions and chemical storage

• Ensure:

• No untreated discharge to environment

• All EDL conditions are tracked and complied with

• Implement early warning triggers (before regulatory breach occurs)

Fire Safety

• Standardize and enforce:

• Fire detection and suppression systems

• Flammable solvent storage and handling

• Emergency preparedness and drills

• Identify high-risk production processes (lamination, printing, generators, boilers)

• Ensure minimum fire risk controls are always active

Incident & Crisis Leadership

• Lead response for:

• Fatalities / serious injuries

• Environmental incidents

• Fires and major operational events

• Ensure:

• Immediate reporting to leadership

• Proper root cause investigations

• Regulatory engagement is controlled and consistent

Compliance Strategy

• Maintain a Group Compliance Dashboard

• Prioritize:

• High-risk legal exposures first

• Licenses (EDL, fire, statutory inspections)

• Ensure:

• No surprise regulatory actions due to lack of visibility