ISO14001, EMAS And Environmental Diploma

Question 1

What can you say about ISO14001?

Answer 1

This is an international standard that applies to all organizations regardless of its size or nature . It also applies to all the environmental aspects of its activities , services and products.

Question 2

What are the intended outcomes of an EMS ?

Answer 2

1. To enhance environmental performance.
2. To fulfil compliance obligations
3. To achieve environmental objectives.

Question 3

How many chapters does ISO14001 standard have ?

Answer 3

It has 10 chapters

Question 4

Describe chapters 1 - 3

Answer 4

Chapter 1: scope ( the intended outcomes of an EMS, what the standard is about ( applies to all kinds of organizations and all the environmental aspects related to their activities, products and services).
Chapter 2: normative references (usually empty)
Chapter 3 : definition of terms

Question 5

Describe chapter 4 of the ISO14001 .

Answer 5

4.1: understanding the context of the organization( determine external and internal issues)
4.2: understanding the needs and expectations of interested parties ( determine interested parties relevant to the EmS, identify the relevant needs and expectations of these interested parties, identify which of these become compliance obligations.)documented!
4.3. Determining scope of the EMS ( determine boundaries and applicability to org, must take into consideration compliance obligations and organizations context) documented!
The first three steps are done in the environmental review.
4.4 implementing and establishing EMS.

Question 6

Describe chapter 5 of ISO14001.

Answer 6

5.1: leadership and commitment. This is demonstrated by :
1. Accepting accountability for the effectiveness of the EMS .
2. Ensuring that the EMS policy and objectives are established and match the context of the organization.
3. Ensuring the integration of the EMS requirements in business processes.
4. Promoting continual improvement.
5. Ensuring that resources need for the EMS are available
6. Ensuring EMS achieves its intended outcomes.

Question 7

Describe chapter 5.2 and 5.3

Answer 7

5.2 Writing of the Environmental policy.
5.3 organizational roles, responsibilities and authorities ( Top management are responsible ensuring that for assigned responsibilities and authorities are assigned and communicated within the organization.

Question 8

What kind of responsibility or authority is usually talked about in 5.3?

Answer 8

Top management shall assign responsibility and authority for :
1. Ensuring that EMS conforms with international standard.
2. Reporting on the performance of EMS as well as Env. Performance to top management.

Question 9

Describe chapter 6.

Answer 9

Chapter 6 is planning
6.1 addressing risks associated with risks and opportunities
6.1.1 general ( organization is responsible for establishing,implementing,and maintaining processes to adderess issues raised in 6.1.1 - 6.1.4.

Organization must take into consideration 4.1, 4.2 scope , give assurances that it can achieve its intended outcome

Question 10

Describe the rest of chapter 6

Answer 10

6.1.2: environmental aspects (documented)
6.1.3: compliance obligations ( documented)
6.1.4: planning actions ( no document needed)

Question 11

Planning action can be divided into two parts name them

Answer 11

A) Organization shall plan to take actions to address significant environmental aspects, compliance obligations & risk and opportunities
B) how to integrate and implement these actions into the EMS process. The organization must also evaluate how effective these actions are.

When doing this the org must consider its technological options, financial,operational and business requirements

Question 12

Describe 6.2

Answer 12

6.2 environmental objectives and planning to achieve them
6.2.1 :environmental objectives ( consider significant aspects, compliance obligations, risk and opportunities)
The objectives should be measurable, should align with env. Policy , monitored and updated as appropriate.

Question 13

Describe 6.2.2

Answer 13

Planning actions to achieve objectives .
What to consider :
What will be done , when will it be completed, resources neede to complete it, who is responsible for it , how the results will. E evaluated and key indicators

Question 14

Describe chapter 7 (support )

Answer 14

7.1 resources
7.2 ensuring competence (ensure that staff directly involved in the env aspects have the right competence and skills through education, training and experience needed to ensure the intended outcomes are achieved . Identify training needs , address the, and evaluate effectiveness

Must be documented!!

Question 15

Describe 7.3

Answer 15

7.3 is about awareness: here mgt must ensure the every employee under their organization is informed of the env. Policy , significant aspects, their role in the EMS effectiveness, the consequences of not complying with EMS regulations

Question 16

Describe 7.4

Answer 16

The are two main forms of communication internal and external communication.

7.4.1 general communication , here the organization implements , establishes and maintains processes needed to address external and internal communication related to the EMS including : what to say, who to say it to , when to say it and how to say it.

This is documented.

Question 17

Describe 7.4.2 and 7.4.3

Answer 17

Internal communication: the organization must ensure that it internally communicates all information relevant to the EMS to all employees across various levels and functions including changes to EMS as appropriate.

They must also ensure efficient communication to contribute to continual improvement.

7.4.3 external communication: the organization must ensure t shall externally communicate all information relevant to it EMS according to the communication process and as required by compliance obligations

Question 18

Describe 7.5 ( documented information)

Answer 18

7.5.1 general : the organization must ensure that the EMS contains documented information that is mandated by the international standard and additional documentation that ensure its effectiveness.

Question 19

The extent of documented information for an EMS differs from company to company due to:

Answer 19

1. Size and org activities , products and services.
2. Need to demonstrate fulfillment of its compliance obligations.
3. The complexities of processes and interactions .
4. The competence of personnel working under the organization

Question 20

Describe 7.5.2

Answer 20

Creating and updating documented information .
The organization must ensure that :
1. There is proper identification and description ( title, date , author or reference number)
2. Formatb( language, software ) and media( paper ,electronic)
3. Review and approval for suitability and adequacy

Question 21

Describe 7.5.3 control of documented information

Answer 21

The organization dhal control documented information required by this standard to ensure:
1. It is available and suitable for use when and where it is needed
2. It is adequately protected from loss of confidentiality, improper use or loss of integrity.

How to control documented information:
The organization can determine distribution , who has access to it , and how it is used .
The org. Can control how documents are stored to prevent loss of data
Org. Can control how long the documents are stored and when to dispose of them.

External documents needed by the organization for planning and operation of the EMS shall be identified as appropriate and controlled

Question 22

Describe chapter 8 ( operation)

Answer 22

8.1 operational planning and control.

The organization must establish implement and maintain processes needed to meet the requirements of the EMS as well as address actions identified in 6.1 and 6.2. By :
Establishing operating criteria for the processes
Implementing control of the processes in accordance with the operating criteria.

Nb: the organization shall ensure that all outsourced processes are controlled
Or influenced . The type and extent of control or influence is defined in the EMS.

Question 23

True or false: 8.1 triggered most of the processes and procedures about practical stuff like waste, chemicals and purchasing .

Answer 23

True

Question 24

Under operational control and planning the organization has to consider the life cycle perspective . How do they do that ?

Answer 24

By establishing controls in design and development process to address environmental requirements determine environmental requirement for procured products and services , communicate these requirements to providers and provide information on the environmental aspects through the entire life cycle of their own products and services.

Question 25

Describe 8.2

Answer 25

This is about Emergency preparedness and response : the organization has to establish, implement and maintain the needed processes to prepare for and a respond to emergency situations

Question 26

Describe chapter 9

Answer 26

Chapter 9 is performance evaluation . The organization shall establish, implement and maintain processes needed to evaluate , monitor and measure its environmental performance.

This can be done by determining:
1.What can be measured
2. How the measuring , monitoring , and evaluation will be done to ensure valid results.
3. When monitoring evaluation and measuring will be done
4. The criteria against which the organizations environmental performance will be evaluated against
5. When the the evaluation monitoring and measurement will take place
6.

9.1.1
The organization must also ensure that verified equipment for monitoring, measuring and evaluation are used and maintained as appropriate..
7. The organization must also communicate relevant environmental performance both internally and externally as described in communication processes and compliance obligations

Question 27

Describe 9.1.2 Evaluation of compliance

Answer 27

The organization shall establish, implement and maintain the needed processes for the evaluation of compliance obligations.
By:
Deciding the frequency of evaluation of compliance obligations
Evaluating compliance obligations and take action when needed.

Must be documented to show evidence of evaluation

Question 28

Describe 9.2.1

Answer 28

Internal audits . The organization shall conduct internal audits at planned intervals to provide information on whether the EMS :
1. Conforms to the organization’s requirements and the international standard.
2. Has been effectively implemented and maintained.

Must be documented

Question 29

Describe 9.2.2 internal audit program

Answer 29

The organization shall establish , implement and maintain an internal unit program that decides the frequency , methods, responsibilities planning requirements and reporting of internal audits .

The organization must take into consideration the previous audits, the environmental aspects of changes affecting the company .

Th e organization shall define the cope .
Ensure that audit results are reported to relevant management.
Select auditors and ensure impartiality and objectivity .

Question 30

Describe 9.3 management review

Answer 30

The organization shall conduct management review at planned intervals to ensure it continuing success and effectiveness.

This review encompasses all areas EMS of the EMS , adequacy of resources, the environmental performance of the organization, take decisions where objectives and compliance obligations are not being met , ensure continual improvement, consider communication from all relevant parties including complains.

This must be documented

Question 31

Describe chapter 10 ( Improvement)

Answer 31

10.1 The organization shall find and capitalize on all opportunities for improvement as well as identify and implement actions neede to help the org achieve the intended outcomes of the EMS.

10.2 nonconformity and corrective action.

10.3 continual improvement
The organization shall continually improve the suitability, adequacy and effectiveness of its EMS To e have its environmental performance