This document discusses using social media as an EH&S professional. It outlines different levels of engagement from belonging to a platform with no activity to actively contributing content. While social media can help with career development and tracking issues, it also requires time and some professionals are uncomfortable being seen as experts. The document recommends platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter and suggests benefits like networking, professional development and gaining recognition as a subject matter expert. It also provides guidance on engaging for personal and organizational purposes while avoiding sharing confidential information.

1. Social Media PresenceSocial Media Presence
For EH&S ProfessionalFor EH&S Professional
Loren Larson, CHMM, CPEALoren Larson, CHMM, CPEA
Presented to North Star Chapter, Alliance of Hazardous Presented to North Star Chapter, Alliance of Hazardous
Material ManagersMaterial Managers
December 14, 2017December 14, 2017

2. OverviewOverview
•• PersonalPersonal
•• OrganizationalOrganizational

3. Levels of EngagementLevels of Engagement
•• Belong, but no/limited engagementBelong, but no/limited engagement
•• SpectatorSpectator
•• ““LikerLiker””
•• CommenterCommenter
•• SharerSharer
•• ContributorContributor

4. Barriers To EngagementBarriers To Engagement
•• Requires timeRequires time
•• Assumption you have nothing worthwhile to Assumption you have nothing worthwhile to
contributecontribute
•• Uncomfortable being cast as Uncomfortable being cast as ““expertexpert””
•• Perception you are job shoppingPerception you are job shopping

5. PlatformsPlatforms
•• LinkedInLinkedIn
•• SlideShareSlideShare
•• FacebookFacebook
•• TwitterTwitter
•• InstagramInstagram
•• Google+ Google+
•• SnapchatSnapchat
•• GroupsGroups
–– LinkedIn and Facebook LinkedIn and Facebook
–– Example ASSE Women in Safety Engineering (WISE) Example ASSE Women in Safety Engineering (WISE)
Facebook GroupFacebook Group

6. Personal EngagementPersonal Engagement

7. BenefitsBenefits
•• Tracking emerging issues Tracking emerging issues
•• Opportunities for personal /professional Opportunities for personal /professional
improvementimprovement
•• Benchmarking other professionalsBenchmarking other professionals
•• Recognition as Recognition as ““Subject Matter ExpertSubject Matter Expert””
•• Career developmentCareer development

8. AvoidAvoid
•• Personal vs ProfessionalPersonal vs Professional
•• Confidential informationConfidential information
•• ““Reply to allReply to all”” commentscomments
•• Trusting you have complete information Trusting you have complete information ––
always go back to sourcealways go back to source

9. Organizational EngagementOrganizational Engagement

10. OrganizationsOrganizations
•• EmployerEmployer
•• Professional OrganizationsProfessional Organizations

11. Benefits to EmployerBenefits to Employer
•• Enhancing company perception in Enhancing company perception in
communitycommunity
•• Building teamwork within other parts of Building teamwork within other parts of
organization; promoting company initiativesorganization; promoting company initiatives
•• Highlighting EH&S successes/initiatives Highlighting EH&S successes/initiatives
internallyinternally
•• Highlight special initiativesHighlight special initiatives
–– Example Example –– call 811 before you digcall 811 before you dig

12. AvoidAvoid
•• Business confidential informationBusiness confidential information
•• Taking action without first discussing with Taking action without first discussing with
corporate communications or similarcorporate communications or similar
•• Always balance professional content and Always balance professional content and
marketing contentmarketing content

13. Benefits to Professional OrganizationBenefits to Professional Organization
•• Member drivenMember driven
•• Provides content for members to use to foster Provides content for members to use to foster
engagementengagement
•• Enhancing awareness and perception in communityEnhancing awareness and perception in community
•• Improved communication with increasingly mobile Improved communication with increasingly mobile
membersmembers
•• Increasing membership participationIncreasing membership participation
•• Increasing value of membership in the organizationIncreasing value of membership in the organization
•• Increased or stable membershipIncreased or stable membership

14. North Star ChapterNorth Star Chapter
•• Establish/Reestablish Chapter groupsEstablish/Reestablish Chapter groups
•• Encourage posting, sharing, Encourage posting, sharing, ““likingliking”” Chapter Chapter
topics and eventstopics and events
•• Use social media to reenergize Chapter Use social media to reenergize Chapter
CHMMunity initiativeCHMMunity initiative
•• Highlight past Voyageur National Park workHighlight past Voyageur National Park work
•• Solicit ideas and opportunities for new projectsSolicit ideas and opportunities for new projects
•• Post and share meeting presentationsPost and share meeting presentations
•• Member support for CHMM Review courseMember support for CHMM Review course
•• Spread work early and oftenSpread work early and often
•• Acknowledge Acknowledge ““Subject Matter ExpertsSubject Matter Experts”” that present coursethat present course

15. Loren Larson, CHMM, CPEALoren Larson, CHMM, CPEA
llarson@calthacompany.comllarson@calthacompany.com