ISO 14001 Executive Briefing

8/14/2019 ISO 14001 Executive Briefing

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Executive Briefing on ISO 14001Environmental Management

ISO 14001 Certification

Getting Started

Taking Each Stage of the Process


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Table of Contents

Introduction 2Environmental Management 4

ISO 14001 5Taking Each Stage of The Process 6ISO 14001 Certification 7Getting Started 8


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2 Executive Briefing on ISO 14001

Introduction

Businesses of all types and sizes are increasingly beingexpected to demonstrate environmental responsibility.

Why is this?

There is a wide range of global environmental

pressures.

These include:

Increases in the greenhouse effect and

consequent global warming.

Rising sea levels.

Increases in extreme weather patterns such asdrought and flooding.

Depletion of natural resources, such as coal andoil and hard woods.

Damage to the ozone layer.

Acid rain.

Poor air quality.

Loss of rain forests and many plants - these are

often important sources of drugs.

Overall pollution of air, water and land.

There are also serious concerns about quality of life,including health and income, not just in the UK, but

also for huge numbers of people around the world.

A recent report indicated that from a world population

of over 6,000 million, more than 1,300 million people

live on less than $1 per day.

In addition, the environment is protected by legislation

and this applies to all organisations. All companiestherefore need to ensure:

That they are aware of all current and futurelegislation that is applicable to their operation,

as both EU and UK environmental legislation ischanging rapidly.

That they understand all of the requirements ofthese regulations and comply with them.

Businesses of all types and sizes are increasingly being expected to demonstrateenvironmental responsibility.


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Legislation protects all the environmental media - air,water and land. Examples of specific legislation include

regulations covering: emissions to air and water; wastedisposal and management; packaging; storage of oil;

removal, transport and disposal of asbestos.

Finally, there are external stakeholders:

Customers are increasingly asking their main

suppliers to demonstrate good environmentalmanagement.

Many large corporate organisations require

their subsidiary companies to implement goodenvironmental systems.

Investors, insurers, banks, and others with a financial

stake in a business, also expect good environmentalmanagement. This is partly to ensure that the risk offinancial penalties for pollution is minimised, but alsobecause good financial and environmental

performance usually go hand in hand.

Other groups such as employees, local communitiesand environmental groups also expect businesses to

act responsibly.

This unit provides an overview of current

environmental concerns, and briefly describes the keyissues that managers should be aware of. Itsummarises the requirements of ISO 14001, the

International Standard for environmental

management, and discusses the certification processand how to get started with an environmentalmanagement system.


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Environmental Management

Thats all very well, but Ive got a business to run. Itsnot my job to save the planet! This is a naturalreaction, but the pressures are real and are not goingto go away.

So, how can organisations respond to the legal,

corporate, customer and investor expectations, as wellas to the bigger global issues, while ensuring that thebusiness continues to be run successfully?

The simple answer is to implement an Environmental

Management System (EMS), preferably conforming toan internationally recognised standard such as ISO14001.

A properly designed system will:

Benefit the business. Work alongside and support existing

management systems such as quality and healthand safety.

The Benefits of an EMSBut surely yet another system will just add to costs?

Not necessarily - as with any management system,

there are resource requirements. However, theinstallation of an EMS not only allows organisations toaddress environmental pressures, but can also, in someareas, lead to cost savings.

A well-designed EMS:

Ensures that the business meets existing and

future regulations.

Reduces costs by looking at ways of minimisingwaste, energy and other resources.

Provides a structure for continualimprovement.

Thats all very well, but Ive got a business to run. Its not my job to save the

planet!


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ISO 14001

ISO 14001 is good management practice applied toenvironmental issues.

The ISO 14001 Process


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Taking Each Stage of The Process

If an organisation does not currently have anenvironmental management system in place, ISO14001 expects that before developing a policy theorganisation should undertake an initial review. The

review aims to establish the current position regardingthe environment, including identifying environmental

aspects, applicable legal requirements, existingenvironmental practices and procedures and anevaluation of previous emergency situations andaccidents.

The Environmental PolicyThis is a statement of commitments and intentionsregarding the organisations environmental

performance. It is a publicly available document thatdescribes what you want to achieve.

PlanningThe planning stage helps you to understand what isinvolved in terms of good environmental performance.It is at this stage that you ensure that you understand

all the applicable regulatory and other requirements.You will also assess the impacts that your operation hason the environment, decide which of these are the

most significant, and how you can set about

implementing a programme of objectives and targetsto improve performance.

Implementation and OperationThe implementation and operation process turns thepolicy and plans into practice through a programme oftraining, communication and procedures.

CheckingChecking and corrective actions determine how wellthe system performs against your plans and put right

any problem areas. Internal audits are carried out tomonitor and measure your performance and progress.

Management ReviewFinally, the senior management review - typically heldonce or twice a year - gives the opportunity for themanagement team to consider how well the EMS hasachieved its purpose.

The cycle then starts again to ensure that you cancontinue to maintain a programme of continual

improvement, and compliance with your policycommitments.


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ISO 14001 Certification

You dont have to have your system certified by anexternal body, but, if you do, it enables you todemonstrate your environmental performance to anyinterested party throughout the world.

Once development of your EMS has started, youshould decide on a certification body. You may already

have a certification body for your quality system. Youdo not necessarily need to use the same one for yourEMS, although there could be cost benefits from doingso. You should, however, ensure that they are anaccredited body, and you can check this by looking atthe UKAS website www.ukas.com or by contactingthem on 020 8917 8400.

It will normally take you between six months and ayear to develop a system, depending on how complex

your organisation is, and how much resource you candevote to the process.

Assessment by the Certification BodyThe assessment process by the certification bodycovers two main parts:

The first stage looks at the documents andarrangements that are in place, and ensures

that sufficient development of the EMS hastaken place to enable a full assessment to take

place.

The second stage involves a detailed review of

how the organisation is addressing all theelements of ISO 14001, and whether it has

been appropriately applied taking account ofthe nature of the organisation.

These two stages are normally about three months

apart.

Ideally, you should allow about 15 to 18 months for the

development and certification of the system.

Other Options for Demonstrating Conformitywith the StandardMost organisations choose to gain certification by anindependent certification body to demonstrateconformity with the standard. However, there areother options available.

Your organisation could:

make a self-determination and self-declaration;

have a customer or business client confirm

your conformity to the standard; or seek confirmation of your self-declaration by a

party external to the organisation.

You dont have to have your system certified by an external body, but, if you do, it

enables you to demonstrate your environmental performance to any interestedparty throughout the world.
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2009 RRC Training/Integra Training and Consulting

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