An EMS is a management tool to improve environmental performance by providing a systematic way of managing an organization s environmental affairs.

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1 ISO The ISO standard provides organizations with the framework for an effective environmental management system (EMS) focused on achieving their environmental and economic goals and objectives. The overall goal is to protect the environment; prevent pollution and to continually improve overall environmental performance and regulatory compliance. ISO defines best practice requirements for proactive management of the environmental impact of your organization. In 1996, the International Organization of Standardization published the first edition of ISO EMS standard. It is an international voluntary standard describing specific requirements for an EMS. ISO is considered the foundational document of a family of EMS documents published by the ISO organization. While part of a series of EMS standards, ISO is the only standard that specifies requirements to which an organization may receive certification by a Certification Body. ISO published the new ISO 14001:2004 EMS on November 15, 2004, allowing organizations currently certified to ISO 14001:1996 until May 15, 2006 to make the transition to the new standard, and old standard will expire at that time. The ISO 14001:2004 standard is generic and does not prescribe specific environmental performance policies, objectives or targets. These are defined internally by the organization or established externally by state, federal or international regulations and laws. While not prescriptive, ISO does expect organizations to make specific commitments to regulatory compliance, prevention of pollution, and continual improvement. The success of an EMS depends on the commitment from all levels and functions within an organization, especially top management. An environmental management system, as defined in ISO 14001, is the part of an organization s overall management system that relate to the development, implementation, achievement, review, and maintenance of the organization s environmental policy.

2 An EMS is a management tool to improve environmental performance by providing a systematic way of managing an organization s environmental affairs. It provides organizations, an orderly and consistent process to address environmental concerns through the allocation of resources, assignment of responsibility and ongoing evaluation of practices, procedures and processes, while focusing on continual improvement of the system. The focus is on both the immediate and long term impacts of its products, services and processes on the environment An effective EMS certified to ISO can help an organization: Reduce the organizations impact on the environment Reduce environmental liability Improve the management of environmental risk Comply with relevant environmental legislation and its own environmental policy Operate in a more cost efficient and environmentally responsible manner by managing its impacts on the environment Provide increased credibility through third part certification. An ISO 14001:2004 certificate proves that your EMS has been measured against a best practice standard and found compliant and shows customers and stakeholders that you are actively minimizing the environmental impacts of your organizations processes, products, and services. Provide a competitive edge over non certified businesses in seeking business opportunities in national and international markets Facilitate continual improvement through more efficient use of raw materials and enhanced operational performance leading to cost reductions in energy consumption, waste, and materials. Facilitate integration of your quality, environmental and occupational health and safety management systems Visibly demonstrate conformance through fulfilling policy commitments and making continual improvement against specific targets and longer term objectives

3 Be better positioned to deal with increasingly stringent and demanding environmental regulations by controlling and successfully managing the most significant environmental aspects, e.g. emissions, waste handling, utilization of natural resources, and energy efficiency Improve public image with the public, local community, clients, regulatory bodies, and other stakeholders Identify opportunities for cost savings Help report environmental performance to shareholders REQUIREMENT KEYS FOR Environmental Policy develop a statement of the organizations commitment to the environment. Environmental management system (EMS) define and establish organizational structure, responsibilities, authorities, relationships, functions, processes, practices, procedures, and resources needed. Environmental Aspects and Impacts identify environmental attributes of products, activities and services and their effects on the environment Legal and Other Requirements identify and ensure access to relevant laws and regulations Objectives and Targets and Environmental Management Program set environmental goals for the organization and plan actions to achieve objectives and targets Training, Awareness and Competence ensure that employees are aware and capable of their environmental responsibilities

4 Communication develop processes for internal and external communication on environmental management issues EMS Documentation maintain information about the EMS and related documents Document Control ensure effective management of procedures and other documents Operational Control identify, plan and manage the organizations operations and activities in line with the policy, objectives and targets, and significant aspects Emergency Preparedness and Response develop procedures for preventing and responding to potential emergencies Monitoring and Measuring monitor key activities and track performance including periodic compliance evaluation Evaluation of Compliance develop procedure to periodically evaluate compliance with legal and other requirements Nonconformance and Corrective and Preventive Action identify and correct problems and prevent recurrences

5 Records keep adequate records of EMS performance EMS Audit periodically verify that the EMS is effective and achieving objectives and targets Management Review review the EMS These key and other requirements are established and implemented within the framework of a PDCA (plan do check act) methodology. CERTIFICATION PROCESS 1. Apply for certification The CB generally sends you an Information Request package that includes a questionnaire. They use the information to plan your certification program and the cost to your organization. The information requested, generally includes: Details of your organization in terms size, number of facilities, area, headcount, type of manufacturing operations and equipment, etc. Your industry category; products and services; and business processes to ensure they are qualified to provide you with certification services. Your proposed scope of registration in terms of the number of sites, processes, and range of products and services. Your preferred dates for the documentation review, pre assessment, and registration audit

6 2. Pre assessment Before the actual certification audit, the CB auditor makes a preliminary visit of your facilities, briefly reviews your EMS documentation and an informal check of the EMS implementation. In essence, this preliminary audit intended to uncover areas in your EMS that might need special attention. During the initial visit the audit scope and audit program is agreed upon, as well. 3. Documentation review The CB audit team evaluates your EMS manual. The documentation review report summarizes any findings from this process. The report indicates if your organization is ready to proceed with the certification audit. 4. Certification audit During the certification audit, the CB audit team conduct interviews, examinations and observations of the system in operation. It provides the team essential information required for the certification process and assesses the degree of compliance of the EMS with the requirements of the standard. When found compliant, the CB issues the certificate of compliance to ISO Surveillance audits Each issued certificate has a three year life period. Upon certification, the CB creates a periodic audit schedule for surveillance audits over the three year period. These audits confirm the on going compliance of the EMS with specified requirements of the standard. At least one periodic audit per year is required. 6. Re certification audit After the three years are up, your certification will be extended through a re certification audit.