Environmental management - EM Tools and models

15 important questions on Environmental management - EM Tools and models

Checking and corrective action principle of an EMS

Monitoring and measurement
Evaluating of compliance
Non-conformity, corrective and preventive action
Records (?)
Internal audit

Documentation principle of an EMS

The standard indicates that the EMS documentation shall include
- policy, objectives and environmental targets
- description of EMS scope
- description of main elements of the EMS and their interaction, as well as the reference to related documents
- documents including records required by the standard
- documents, including records determined by the organization as necessary to ensure the efficacy of planning, operation and control of processes related to significant environmental aspects. 
- A manual is not compulsory but it is written as an analogy with ISO 9001

Implementation and operation principle of an EMS

Resources, roles, responsibility and authority
Competence, training and awareness
Communication
Documentation
Control of documents
Operational control
Emergency preparedness and response
  • Higher grades + faster learning
  • Never study anything twice
  • 100% sure, 100% understanding
Discover Study Smart

Planning basic principle of an EMS

Environmental aspects
Legal and other environmental requirements
Objectives, targets and program (s)

4 areas to cover in the assessment for organizations without an EMS

- Identification of environmental aspects, including all those associated with the operations under normal, abnormal and emergency conditions and accidents
- Identification of legal requirements and other requirements the company should follow
- Examination of all current practices and procedures, including those associated with purchasing activities and previous accidents
- Evaluation of previous emergency situations and accidents

PDCA cycle; improving a company's environmental activities

Environmental policy-> Planning -> implementation and operation -> checking and corrective action -> management review-> continual improvement (upwards spiral)

General requirements for ISO 14001

The organization shall establish, document, implement, maintain and continually improve an environmental management system in accordance with the requirements of this international standard and determine how it will fulfill these requirements.
The organization shall define the scope of its EMS.

MODEL: PDCA CYCLE: improving a company's environmental activities

ISO 14001 applicable to any organization that wishes to:

- Implement and maintain and improve and EMS
- Assure itself of its conformity with its stated environmental policy
- Demonstrate such conformity with this international standard by;

making a self-determination and self-declaration; or
seeking confirmation of its self-declaration by a party external to the organization; or
seeking certification/organization of its environmental management system by an external organization.

Main norms of EMS; ISO 14000 family

- ISO 14001; 2004; requirements with guidance for use
- ISO 14004: 2004; general guidelines on principles, systems and technical support
- ISO 19011: 2011; guidelines auditing management systems

Implementation motivation of EMS

External: worldwide acceptance, external pressure, image
Internal: environmental concern (social responsibility), competitiveness (sector), step further than ISO 9001

What are the benefits of implementation of EMS

- Elimination or at least minimization of environmental impacts
- Organizational improvement (efficiency)
- Employees concerned about their job importance
- Knowledge of all legislation
- Improvement of internal communication and information
- Greater control of operation
- Indicates possible contamination sources
- Contextualizes the relationship of the company with the environment

What are the objectives of EMAS

1) establishing a community environmental MS and audit, allowing the voluntary participation of organizations within and outside the community
2) promoting continual improvement or organization's environmental behaviors through the establishment an application of : 
- EMSs
- systematic objective and periodic evaluation of how these systems are functioning
- information diffusion on environmental behavior,
- open dialog with the public and other stakeholders, and
- active involvement of an organization's personnel as well as adequate training

Agents in the system EMas

- Company
- Auditors
- Environmental verifiers
- verifiers' certification body
- competent institution

Procedure to implement EMAS

Adopting environmental policy
Performing an initial environmental evaluation
Establishing environmental program
EMS
Environmental audit of business
Environmental statement
Environmental verification and validation of environmental statement
European register

EMAS vs ISO 14001

EMAS + employee involvement + legal compliance, + performance improvement checked by environmental verifiers + registration by public authority + public reporting through EMAS statement +> EMAS

The question on the page originate from the summary of the following study material:

  • A unique study and practice tool
  • Never study anything twice again
  • Get the grades you hope for
  • 100% sure, 100% understanding
Remember faster, study better. Scientifically proven.
Trustpilot Logo