Recent policy changes in the United States have placed a greater emphasis on easing regulatory burdens in environmental and workplace safety programs. Agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have adjusted their enforcement priorities, reduced certain reporting requirements, and streamlined permitting processes to help accelerate industrial development and reduce compliance costs.
For businesses, this creates both opportunities and responsibilities. On one hand, organizations may benefit from reduced compliance expenses, faster project approvals, and greater flexibility in operations. On the other, companies still need strong internal systems to maintain high standards of worker safety, environmental stewardship, and operational consistency, especially in an environment where policies can shift with future administrations.
Unlocking business efficiency
According to the National Association of Manufacturers, the average annual compliance costs for a US firm is $277,000. Deregulation can provide welcome relief by lowering reporting burdens, simplifying permitting, and reducing administrative strain. This enables businesses to redirect resources toward growth, innovation, and workforce development.
Many organizations also see deregulation as an opportunity to modernize processes. By proactively implementing digital tools for compliance tracking and safety management, companies can balance reduced oversight with improved internal accountability.
Adapting to a dynamic environment
Regulatory shifts aren’t new. Businesses have long adapted to evolving standards. In fact, many executives see deregulation as a chance to take a fresh look at operations, streamline reporting, and invest in programs that reduce complexity.
The key is agility. The EPA’s Fiscal Year 2024 Congressional Justification highlights efforts to streamline enforcement and improve the efficiency of Superfund program operations, emphasizing faster, more targeted oversight and clearer guidance for regulated entities.
For companies, this focus on agility creates opportunities to reduce administrative burdens, improve operational flexibility, and focus resources on growth and innovation. At the same time, organizations must maintain strong internal systems to ensure worker safety, environmental stewardship, and regulatory compliance, especially in a landscape where requirements can evolve with new policies or leadership.
Opportunities for safety and ESG leadership
Even as some federal standards are revised or reconsidered, many companies choose to maintain robust internal safety and environmental programs. There are clear benefits:
- Workforce well-being: Strong safety programs reduce injuries, absenteeism, and turnover.
- Operational continuity: Preventing incidents avoids costly downtime and delays.
- Reputation and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) alignment: Customers, partners, and investors increasingly expect companies to demonstrate environmental and social responsibility, regardless of regulations.
By going beyond minimum compliance, businesses can strengthen culture, improve efficiency, and build trust with stakeholders.
Leveraging technology to stay ahead
This is where solutions like EHS Hero® play a vital role. Technology helps businesses seize the benefits of deregulation while protecting against risks. With EHS Hero, organizations can:
- Simplify compliance tracking. Centralize requirements across jurisdictions to reduce administrative workload.
- Streamline reporting. Generate audit-ready documentation for insurers, stakeholders, or regulators.
- Access training libraries. Deliver consistent, engaging training on safety and environmental practices.
- Automate alerts and workflows. Stay on top of critical tasks without adding manual effort.
These capabilities allow businesses to use the flexibility deregulation provides while ensuring they remain proactive, efficient, and resilient.
Real-world impact: TASCO’s long-term success with EHS Hero
TASCO, the second-largest sugarbeet processor in the United States, demonstrates how companies can thrive by combining agility, safety leadership, and technology. With 1,700 employees across 18 locations, TASCO manages everything from research and growing to processing and nationwide distribution.
Like many organizations, TASCO faced challenges when its internally developed software for managing safety data sheets (SDSs) and procedures could no longer keep pace with growing compliance and documentation demands. Recognizing the need for a more agile and scalable approach, TASCO adopted EHS Hero to modernize processes, reduce complexity, and strengthen oversight.
Today, TASCO leverages a broad suite of EHS Hero tools, including SDS Management, Lockout/Tagout, Incident Investigation, Training Management, Audit Management, and Permit Management. By centralizing documents and automating workflows, the company has:
- Improved agility by streamlining reporting and making audit preparation easier;
- Strengthened safety leadership with consistent training and real-time access to chemical and safety information across all facilities; and
- Enhanced ESG alignment by eliminating paper-based processes, reducing administrative burden, and building a stronger safety culture.
Regional Safety Manager Mark Hyer notes, “The EHS Hero program is like none other out there. It’s great for document control, and it makes audits much easier.”
After more than a decade of consistent use, TASCO continues to expand its partnership with EHS Hero, proving that proactive investment in digital compliance tools not only reduces costs but also supports long-term resilience, operational continuity, and stakeholder trust, even as regulations shift.
Preparing for the future
Deregulation creates opportunities to reduce costs and increase flexibility today, but businesses should also consider tomorrow. Policies and enforcement priorities can shift quickly, and the organizations that thrive are those equipped with adaptable systems and a proactive mindset. Rather than treating compliance as a onetime exercise, leading companies see it as a foundation for long-term operational resilience.
A forward-looking approach means investing in digital compliance tools that streamline processes, reduce manual errors, and provide real-time visibility across operations. It also means maintaining internal safety and sustainability benchmarks that go beyond minimum regulatory requirements, ensuring that even if standards change, your organization is already ahead of the curve. Finally, aligning compliance programs with broader business goals helps unlock new value, from improving workforce safety and engagement to strengthening brand reputation and customer trust. By planning for change instead of reacting to it, organizations can protect today’s efficiency while building tomorrow’s competitive edge.
Expert insight provided by Timothy P. Fagan
This article was prepared with the expertise of Timothy P. Fagan, managing editor for BLR’s environment, health, and safety (EHS) publications. Fagan specializes in air quality, chemical management, and hazard communication. Before joining BLR®, he worked as an environmental consultant, supporting hazardous chemical reporting and air quality permitting for a wide range of industries across both the private and the public sectors. Holding advanced degrees in chemical and environmental engineering, as well as a graduate certificate in environmental health and safety, he brings deep subject matter knowledge in areas like process safety management, hazardous air pollutants, risk management, and refrigerants. His background ensures organizations benefit from practical, science-based insights that connect regulatory shifts to real-world business and safety outcomes.
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