Environmental Management Systems And Emergency Planning Flashcards
What is the ISO 14001 EMS Standard based on
Plan , Do, Check, Act
Seven EMS Clauses
1.Context of the organisation
2. Leadership
3. Planning
4. Support
5. Operations
6. Performance evaluation
7. Improvements
Steps in implementing an EMS
Initial review may be undertaken before implimenting an EMS and consisting of 4 stages.
- Review team selection
- Preperations
- Site review
- Review report
Environmental policy must…
- Be appropriate 😉
- Be available to interested parties
- Be documented
- Be communicated within the organisation
- Commit to continual improvement
- Commit to protect the environment
- Commit to fulfill compliance obligations
- Provide a framework for setting objectives
Management reviews must include
- Status of actions from previous review
- Change in significant aspects
- Internal and external issues
- The extent to which objectives have been reached
- Info on environmental performance
- How adequate resources are
- Communication from interested parties
- Areas of opportunity for continual improvements
Benefits of integrated management systems
- More rewarding career opportunities
- Objectives and processes are generally the same
- Avoidance of duplication
- Possite culture could carry over to other disciplines
- Relative easy and common process
- Systems designed after 2012 are designed to fit together
- Cost saving through an initial audit
Limitations of intigrated management systems
- The system can become complex
- Existing systems may already work well
- Uncertainty regarding key terms may be extended in an IMS
- Legislation may be different between the integrated disciplines
- Specialist may only focus on their core knowledge
- A negative culture could be carried over from one discipline to another
Internal sources of information
Inspection/audit report
Maintenance records
Job/task analysis
Environmental monitoring data
Raw material usage and supply
Environmental permits
External environmental Information
- Manufacturers data
- Enforcement bodies (guidance documents)
- Government-supporting organisations
- Trade associations
- Professional institutions
- Commercial organisations
- Internet, encyclopedia, textbooks, papers etc
Environmental and CSR reporting drivers
Legal
Financial
Voluntary standards
The media
NGO’s
The public
Objectives of Benchmarking and using indicators
- Determine the significance - how significant is the pollution or discharge compared to similar operations
- Identify areas for improvements - for high emissions, it must be technically feasible to reduce them
- Justify performance - for low discharge or emissions, make their reduction less of a priority
- Set performance targets - set reduction targets with what seems achievable
Type of Environmental indicators
Physical -
1. removing of plastics, papers, cans, etc.
2. Building of containment 🧱
3. Solidify the area by using e.g cement as a bonding agent
Biological-
1. Use of bacteria or microorganisms to consume pollutants
2. Planting certain plants to accumulate pollutants which can then be harvested and safely dispose
Chemical -
1. The use of chemicals to render a pollutant harmless
2. The use of chemicals to Neutralize the pH of soil
Purpose of an EMS
An EMS is a 🔧, providing a methodical, comprehensive, planned, and consistent framework that enables an organisation to improve it’s environmental performance, reduce it’s environmental impacts and achieve it’s environmental goals
Benefits of introducing and EMS
- Provides order and consistency for managing significant environmental impacts
- Generate financial savings for good management of resources
- Can promote stronger operational control
- Enchanged compliance
- New sales opportunities
- Enchant employee morale
- Employee awareness of environmental issues and responsibilities
- Increase changes in investments
- Increase standing and reputation with stakeholders
- Improve environmental performance
Limitations of introducing an EMS
- Only functions of time, effort, and resources are invested
- It can be seen as too challenging to implement
- Managers and staff can be opposed to the introduction and can become difficult to manage
- High initial cost in training all involved staffed members
- Enforcement of the system may be difficult
- Need to be followed through by management
- Can place more pressure on already low people resources
- Management training is needed for creating and implementing the system
