Environmental Management Systems and Emergency Planning Flashcards
What does EMS Stand for?
Environmental Management System
What are EMS systems - including ISO14001 standard) based on?
PDCA
Plan
Do
Check
Act
What are the seven EMS clauses with ISO14001:2015?
> Context of the Organisation
> Leadership
> Planning
> Support
> Operation
> Performance Evaluation
> Improvement
What is EMAS?
Eco-Management and Audit Scheme
A voluntary EU initiative designed to improve a companies environmental performance.
What is the difference between ISO14001:2015 and EMAS?
ISO14001:2015 is an international standard
EMAS is a European standard
What are the specific differences between EMAS and ISO14001:2015?
Seven Differences:
> EMAS requires an initial environmental review
> EMAS requires preparation of a detailed public Environmental Statement which must be verified by a third party (IEMA in the UK)
> EMAS requires that an open dialogue be established with the public and other interested parties
> EMAS uses stronger and more specific language about legal compliance
> EMAS is site based whereas ISO14001 can be organisation-wide (although there is scope for EMAS multi-site verification for listed industry sectors)
> EMAS specifically states requirements for employee involvement in the management system
> EMAS has a three year audit cycle - there is no specific audit cycle set in ISO14001.
What is BS8555?
it is a British Standard that describes how to implement a generic EMS.
It can be used as a route towards ISO14401:2015 and EMAS
What are the phases of the BS8555 standard?
There are five phases
> Leadership, context and commitment
> Ensure compliance
> Plan and develop the EMS
> Implement the EMS
> Check and update the EMS
What are the Steps in Implementing an EMS?
An initial review may be undertaken prior to EMS implementation.
There are then four stages of the review process
> review team selection
> preparation
> site review
> review report
Explain ‘Context of the Organisation’
An organisation must understand its context.
Including internal and external relevant issues, such as the environmental conditions that may be affected by the organisation, or could be affected by the organisation.
The scope of the EMS must be determined, documented and made available to interested parties.
ISO14001:2015 requires that an organisation establish, implement, maintain and continually improve an ISO140001 compliant EMS.
What three things must be required of the Leadership of an Organisation in implementing an EMS?
> Top management must demonstrate leadership and commitment to the EMS
> Environmental roles and responsibilities must be assigned and communicated.
> An environmental policy must be produced. (This is a public declaration of the senior team of an organisation of their commitment to protecting the environment)
What are the elements of an Environmental Policy?
The policy must:
> be appropriate
> be available to interested parties
> commit to continual improvement
> commit to fulfil compliance obligations
> be documented
> commit to the protection of the environment (including prevention of pollution)
> provide a framework for setting objectives
> be communicated within the organisation
What are the steps of planning in for the implementation of an EMS?
Key Requirements are:
> evaluation of significant environmental aspects and impacts of the organisations activities, products and services on each occupied site
> prepare objectives to help the organisation meet the commitments and goals established in the environmental policy
> ISO14001 is not specific about the type of environmental objectives that should be set it is common for organisations to set strategic objective
> low level objectives and action plans, all of which link together
> objective types can be categorised as monitoring, management and improvement. An action plan consists of a task, timescale, and responsibility for implementation
> Have access to documented compliance obligations
What support is required for the implementation of an EMS?
> The organisation must understand and provide the resources required for the implementation, maintenance and continual improvement of the EMS
> Requirements for competence are present in this part of the standard
In terms of support for the implementation of an EMS what must those who work under an organisations control be aware of?
> the environmental policy
> significant environmental aspects and impacts
> their contribution to the effectiveness of the EMS
> implications of not complying with the EMS
In terms of support for the implementation of an EMS what must be considered in respect of ISO14001?
> internal communications between the various levels and functions of the organisation
> external communication of information relevant to the EMS (as communicated and required by compliance obligations)
> certain document information requirements for creating and updating documented information and document control
> specific requirements are present for the standard of various information to be documented.
In terms of operation requirements for the implementation of an EMS what must you be aware of?
Certain activities and operations must be controlled within the EMS.
The standard states that controls can be both procedural and engineering and may follow a hierarchy of elimination, substitution and administration.
Organisations must develop and maintain documented processes to identify and respond to accidents and emergencies.
In terms of performance evaluation requirements for the implementation of an EMS what must you be aware of?
An organisations performance must be:
~ monitored
~ measured
~ analysed
~ evaluated
ISO14001:2015 audit programmes should cover what?
> the activities and areas to be considered in audits
> the frequency of audits
> the responsibilities associated with managing and conducting audits
> the communication of audit results
> auditor competence
> how audits are to be conducted
Regular Reviews of the EMS by senior management team should include what?
> status of actions from previous reviews
changes in significant aspects
internal and external issues
the extent to which objectives have been reached
how adequate resources are
communications from interested parties (including complaints)
areas where there are opportunities for continual improvement
> information on the environmental performance of the organisation, such as
~ trends in monitoring results
~ fulfillment of compliance obligations
~ audit results
Regular Outputs from Reviews of the EMS by senior management team should include what?
> whether the EMS is still suitable, adequate and effective
> decisions that are linked to continual improvement
> action when environmental objectives have not been met
> areas where the EMS could be integrated with other business processes
> implications for the strategic direction of the organisation
What are the improvement areas following a review of the EMS?
> action required to eliminate the cause of any non-conformity to ensure that it does not happen again
> any corrective action implemented must be reviewed for its effectiveness
> documentary evidence must be retained as to the nature of any non-conformities, the actions taken to correct them and the results of those changes
What are the Benefits of Integrating Management Systems?
> an IMS offers the prospect of more rewarding career opportunities for specialists in each discipline
> the objectives and processes of management systems are essentially the same
> integrations should lead to the avoidance of duplication, eg personnel, meetings, etc
> should reduce the possibility of resolving problems at the expense of creating new difficulties in other disciplines
What are the Limitations of Integrating Management Systems?
> existing systems may work well already
> uncertainties regarding key terms would be exacerbated in an IMS
> system requirements may vary across topics covered
> H&S and environmental performances are underpinned by statute law, whereas QS requirements are largely determined by customer specification.
