Program Governance
Baxter's environment, health and safety (EHS) governance structure is designed to help the EHS organization realize its vision as it works to create value within the company and deliver on Baxter's commitment to sustainability.
EHS Organization and Reporting Structure
Baxter's EHS organization, made up of more than 200 employees around the world, adapts to meet the changing needs of the business over time (see EHS Key Organizational Milestones below). The EHS function, including various business EHS support teams, has reported to Global Manufacturing Operations since 2003. EHS Legal and Audit Services reports to the Ethics and Compliance function of the Legal department. This preserves the objectivity of the global auditing function.
Baxter’s vice president of EHS meets at least once a year with the Public Policy Committee of the company’s board of directors to provide EHS performance updates, report on progress in sustainability initiatives and discuss emerging EHS trends.
EHS Key Organizational Milestones
1971
- Human Resources launches safety program.
1976
- Legal department creates Environmental Affairs group.
- Facilities Engineering adds environmental engineering expertise.
- Human Resources creates Health and Safety group.
- Health and Safety group adds industrial hygiene expertise.
1980s
- Business units and facilities establish EHS staff.
1996
- Environmental Affairs group, Environmental Engineering group and Health and Safety group merge to form one EHS organization under the Legal department.
2003
- Baxter restructures EHS to report primarily to Manufacturing organization.
- EHS reorganizes into Worldwide Resources organization and Regional EHS support.
- Compliance function of EHS, including audits, remains under the Legal department.
2006
- EHS Leadership Team, a single body comprised of senior EHS professionals, replaces EHS Leadership Organization as policy-setting and overall program-management body.
- Regional EHS support staff restructured to report to vice president, EHS.
