Saturday, November 14, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
ISO 14001 ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS AND IMPACTS
ISO 14001 Environmental Aspects And Impacts
The fundamental purpose of the EMS is to control and reduce the environmental impacts of your facility’s processes and products. For this reason, a critical element of the EMS involves identifying and prioritizing the environmental aspects and impacts associated with your facility. An environmental aspect is an element of an organizations activities, products, or services that can interact with the environment. For example, chrome plating is a metal finishing activity and an associated aspect is chrome air emissions.This aspect may have an impact on the environment in several ways, for example, ambient air quality degradation.The environmental aspects and impacts of your metal finishing operations can be identified, prioritized, and documented in several ways. This Template includes two approaches, either of which can be used during EMS implementation. Use the approach that works best for your circumstances. This process is important because high-priority environmental aspects and impacts will be considered when environmental objectives and targets are established.
Aspects and Impacts Form A — The first approach uses the experience and judgment ofemployees familiar with facility processes to identify the top five environmental issuescurrently facing the facility. These issues and their specific aspects and impacts shouldbe summarized using Aspects and Impacts Form A.
Aspects and Impacts Form B — The second approach uses detailed, structured matricesto list and prioritize environmental aspects and impacts according to the followingcategories:• Environmental Aspects and Impacts: Wastewater• Environmental Aspects and Impacts: Air Emissions• Environmental Aspects and Impacts: Hazardous and Solid Waste• Environmental Aspects and Impacts: Raw Materials• Environmental Aspects and Impacts: Water and Energy
The matrices that comprise Form B will help facility staff identify and document environmental aspects and impacts. The matrices also provide criteria for prioritizing environmental aspects and impacts; this process is important because high-priority environmental aspects and impacts will be considered when environmental objectives and targets are established. One possible way to prioritize environmental aspects and impacts using Form B is described as follows:Step 1:For each aspect and impact, score each prioritization criterion on a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 indicates the criterion is very important or relevant to that aspect (for example, the aspect is strictly regulated, is the subject of compliance violations, or is a waste generated in large uantities), and 5 indicates the criterion is relatively unimportant or irrelevant to that aspect (for example, the aspect is an unregulated waste, is generated infrequently, and is inexpensive to manage).Step 2:Add the scores of all criteria for each aspect and write the total in the right-most column of the form.This number indicates the relative priority of the aspect compared to other aspects and impacts in the same category. The lower the total score, the higher the priority.Purpose Of This procedure is used to identify, document, and update the environmental aspects and impacts of facility processes and operations.
Step 1 The environmental manager and other facility personnel selected by the environmental manager are responsible for identifying and prioritizing the environmental aspects and impacts of facility operations during EMS planning and development.Environmental aspects are characteristics of facility processes and products that interact with the environment. Only environmental aspects the company can control or influence will be considered. Environmental impacts are the effects of an organization’s activitie , products or services on the environment.
Step 2 Environmental aspects and impacts will be documented and prioritized.Environmental aspects and impacts will be associated with the following categories:• Wastewater• Air emissions• Hazardous and solid waste• Raw materials• Water and energyHigh-priority environmental aspects and impacts will be considered when environmentalobjectives and targets are set.
Step 3 The environmental manager and other facility personnel will review and updatethe environmental aspects and impacts documentation annually.
Step 4 Environmental aspects and impacts documentation will be retained at the facilityfor at least 2 years.
Responsible Person: _____________________________________
Signature and Date: ______________________________________
The fundamental purpose of the EMS is to control and reduce the environmental impacts of your facility’s processes and products. For this reason, a critical element of the EMS involves identifying and prioritizing the environmental aspects and impacts associated with your facility. An environmental aspect is an element of an organizations activities, products, or services that can interact with the environment. For example, chrome plating is a metal finishing activity and an associated aspect is chrome air emissions.This aspect may have an impact on the environment in several ways, for example, ambient air quality degradation.The environmental aspects and impacts of your metal finishing operations can be identified, prioritized, and documented in several ways. This Template includes two approaches, either of which can be used during EMS implementation. Use the approach that works best for your circumstances. This process is important because high-priority environmental aspects and impacts will be considered when environmental objectives and targets are established.
Aspects and Impacts Form A — The first approach uses the experience and judgment ofemployees familiar with facility processes to identify the top five environmental issuescurrently facing the facility. These issues and their specific aspects and impacts shouldbe summarized using Aspects and Impacts Form A.
Aspects and Impacts Form B — The second approach uses detailed, structured matricesto list and prioritize environmental aspects and impacts according to the followingcategories:• Environmental Aspects and Impacts: Wastewater• Environmental Aspects and Impacts: Air Emissions• Environmental Aspects and Impacts: Hazardous and Solid Waste• Environmental Aspects and Impacts: Raw Materials• Environmental Aspects and Impacts: Water and Energy
The matrices that comprise Form B will help facility staff identify and document environmental aspects and impacts. The matrices also provide criteria for prioritizing environmental aspects and impacts; this process is important because high-priority environmental aspects and impacts will be considered when environmental objectives and targets are established. One possible way to prioritize environmental aspects and impacts using Form B is described as follows:Step 1:For each aspect and impact, score each prioritization criterion on a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 indicates the criterion is very important or relevant to that aspect (for example, the aspect is strictly regulated, is the subject of compliance violations, or is a waste generated in large uantities), and 5 indicates the criterion is relatively unimportant or irrelevant to that aspect (for example, the aspect is an unregulated waste, is generated infrequently, and is inexpensive to manage).Step 2:Add the scores of all criteria for each aspect and write the total in the right-most column of the form.This number indicates the relative priority of the aspect compared to other aspects and impacts in the same category. The lower the total score, the higher the priority.Purpose Of This procedure is used to identify, document, and update the environmental aspects and impacts of facility processes and operations.
Step 1 The environmental manager and other facility personnel selected by the environmental manager are responsible for identifying and prioritizing the environmental aspects and impacts of facility operations during EMS planning and development.Environmental aspects are characteristics of facility processes and products that interact with the environment. Only environmental aspects the company can control or influence will be considered. Environmental impacts are the effects of an organization’s activitie , products or services on the environment.
Step 2 Environmental aspects and impacts will be documented and prioritized.Environmental aspects and impacts will be associated with the following categories:• Wastewater• Air emissions• Hazardous and solid waste• Raw materials• Water and energyHigh-priority environmental aspects and impacts will be considered when environmentalobjectives and targets are set.
Step 3 The environmental manager and other facility personnel will review and updatethe environmental aspects and impacts documentation annually.
Step 4 Environmental aspects and impacts documentation will be retained at the facilityfor at least 2 years.
Responsible Person: _____________________________________
Signature and Date: ______________________________________
ISO 14001 ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS AND IMPACTS
ISO 14001 Environmental Aspects And Impacts
The fundamental purpose of the EMS is to control and reduce the environmental impacts of your facility’s processes and products. For this reason, a critical element of the EMS involves identifying and prioritizing the environmental aspects and impacts associated with your facility. An environmental aspect is an element of an organizations activities, products, or services that can interact with the environment. For example, chrome plating is a metal finishing activity and an associated aspect is chrome air emissions.This aspect may have an impact on the environment in several ways, for example, ambient air quality degradation.The environmental aspects and impacts of your metal finishing operations can be identified, prioritized, and documented in several ways. This Template includes two approaches, either of which can be used during EMS implementation. Use the approach that works best for your circumstances. This process is important because high-priority environmental aspects and impacts will be considered when environmental objectives and targets are established.
Aspects and Impacts Form A — The first approach uses the experience and judgment ofemployees familiar with facility processes to identify the top five environmental issuescurrently facing the facility. These issues and their specific aspects and impacts shouldbe summarized using Aspects and Impacts Form A.
Aspects and Impacts Form B — The second approach uses detailed, structured matricesto list and prioritize environmental aspects and impacts according to the followingcategories:• Environmental Aspects and Impacts: Wastewater• Environmental Aspects and Impacts: Air Emissions• Environmental Aspects and Impacts: Hazardous and Solid Waste• Environmental Aspects and Impacts: Raw Materials• Environmental Aspects and Impacts: Water and Energy
The matrices that comprise Form B will help facility staff identify and document environmental aspects and impacts. The matrices also provide criteria for prioritizing environmental aspects and impacts; this process is important because high-priority environmental aspects and impacts will be considered when environmental objectives and targets are established. One possible way to prioritize environmental aspects and impacts using Form B is described as follows:Step 1:For each aspect and impact, score each prioritization criterion on a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 indicates the criterion is very important or relevant to that aspect (for example, the aspect is strictly regulated, is the subject of compliance violations, or is a waste generated in large uantities), and 5 indicates the criterion is relatively unimportant or irrelevant to that aspect (for example, the aspect is an unregulated waste, is generated infrequently, and is inexpensive to manage).Step 2:Add the scores of all criteria for each aspect and write the total in the right-most column of the form.This number indicates the relative priority of the aspect compared to other aspects and impacts in the same category. The lower the total score, the higher the priority.Purpose Of This procedure is used to identify, document, and update the environmental aspects and impacts of facility processes and operations.
Step 1 The environmental manager and other facility personnel selected by the environmental manager are responsible for identifying and prioritizing the environmental aspects and impacts of facility operations during EMS planning and development.Environmental aspects are characteristics of facility processes and products that interact with the environment. Only environmental aspects the company can control or influence will be considered. Environmental impacts are the effects of an organization’s activitie , products or services on the environment.
Step 2 Environmental aspects and impacts will be documented and prioritized.Environmental aspects and impacts will be associated with the following categories:• Wastewater• Air emissions• Hazardous and solid waste• Raw materials• Water and energyHigh-priority environmental aspects and impacts will be considered when environmentalobjectives and targets are set.
Step 3 The environmental manager and other facility personnel will review and updatethe environmental aspects and impacts documentation annually.
Step 4 Environmental aspects and impacts documentation will be retained at the facilityfor at least 2 years.
Responsible Person: _____________________________________Signature and Date: ______________________________________
comments (0)
ISO 14001 ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
Posted by everise iso 14001 Monday 21 September 2009 8:31 am
ISO 14001 ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
The intent of an environmental policy is to state the organization’s commitment to continuous improvement in environmental performance. A strong, clear environmental policy can serve as both a starting point for developing the EMS and a reference point for maintaining continuous improvement.The policy should be evaluated regularly and modified, as necessary, to reflect changing environmental priorities.The policy should function in two ways: (1) within the company, the policy should focus attention on environmental issues associated with company activities, products, and services; and (2) outside the company, the policy is a public commitment to addressing environmental issues and continuously improving environmental performance.The environmental policy must address:• Commitment to compliance with relevant environmental legislation andregulations• Pollution prevention• Continuous improvement
Tips for Developing an Environmental Policy:1. Develop a policy that reflects perspectives of various employees within the company (for example, line worker, owner, wastewater treatment operator, quality inspector, compliance/legal manager, production manager).2. Display the policy statement in view of all employees; the policy should be available to the public and customers if requested and be printed in languages other than English, as appropriate.3. Include top management signatures on the policy to demonstrate understanding and commitment.Purpose This procedure is used to develop and write the company’s environmental policy.
Step 1 The environmental manager will form a policy development team responsible for developing and writing the environmental policy. The policy will address, at a minimum, compliance, pollution prevention, and continuous improvement.
Step 2 The policy development team will review other relevant documents to ensure consistency with other company policies and guide the content and phrasing of the policy. Example documents include the company mission statement and the example environmental policies included in this EMS element.
Step 3 The policy will be displayed in view of all employees and introduced to new employees; the policy will be available in languages other than English, as appropriate, and to the public (on request) and customers (as appropriate).Step 4 The environmental manager will review the environmental policy at least annually, and update it if needed.
Responsible Person: _____________________________________Signature and Date: ______________________________________
Environmental Policy Example 1
It is the policy of COMPANY NAME to conduct its operations in a manner that is environmentally responsible and befitting a good corporate neighbor and citizen.In accordance with this policy, COMPANY NAME complies with all environmental laws and manages all phases of its business in a manner that minimizes the impact of its operations on the environment.To further this policy, COMPANY NAME shall:1. Include environmental requirements in planning and design activities2. Comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations3. Eliminate, or reduce to the maximum practical extent, the release of contaminants into the environment, first through pollution prevention (material substitution and source reduction), then recycling, and finally through treatment and control technologies4. Effectively communicate with company employees, suppliers, regulators, and customers, as well as the surrounding community, regarding the environmental impact of company operations5. Periodically review and demonstrate continuous improvement in the company’s environmental management system
SIGNATURE___________________
Responsible Person______________________
Environmental Policy Sample 2
Effective Date
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
_________________________ IS COMMITTED TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, NEIGHBORS, AND FAMILIES.
WE WILL MEET AND OR EXCEED LAWFUL COMPLIANCE THROUGH POLLUTION PREVENTION PRACTICES AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.
TO IMPLEMENT THIS POLICY WE WILL CREATE AN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO IDENTIFY GOALS, SYSTEMS, MEASUREMENTS AND SAMPLING METHODS.TO SUPPLEMENT THIS POLICY WE WILL INCORPORATE SOURCE REDUCTION THROUGH REUSE, RECYCLING, MATERIAL SUBSTITUTION, NEW AND IMPROVED TECHNOLOGIES, CREATIVE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONAL PRACTICES.
TO MAINTAIN THIS POLICY WE WILL PERFORM MANAGEMENT REVIEW, REVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE, EMPLOYEE TRAINING, AND A COMMITMENT AND INVOLVEMENT FROM OUR EMPLOYEES AND MANAGEMENT TO SUPPORT THIS POLICY.
The fundamental purpose of the EMS is to control and reduce the environmental impacts of your facility’s processes and products. For this reason, a critical element of the EMS involves identifying and prioritizing the environmental aspects and impacts associated with your facility. An environmental aspect is an element of an organizations activities, products, or services that can interact with the environment. For example, chrome plating is a metal finishing activity and an associated aspect is chrome air emissions.This aspect may have an impact on the environment in several ways, for example, ambient air quality degradation.The environmental aspects and impacts of your metal finishing operations can be identified, prioritized, and documented in several ways. This Template includes two approaches, either of which can be used during EMS implementation. Use the approach that works best for your circumstances. This process is important because high-priority environmental aspects and impacts will be considered when environmental objectives and targets are established.
Aspects and Impacts Form A — The first approach uses the experience and judgment ofemployees familiar with facility processes to identify the top five environmental issuescurrently facing the facility. These issues and their specific aspects and impacts shouldbe summarized using Aspects and Impacts Form A.
Aspects and Impacts Form B — The second approach uses detailed, structured matricesto list and prioritize environmental aspects and impacts according to the followingcategories:• Environmental Aspects and Impacts: Wastewater• Environmental Aspects and Impacts: Air Emissions• Environmental Aspects and Impacts: Hazardous and Solid Waste• Environmental Aspects and Impacts: Raw Materials• Environmental Aspects and Impacts: Water and Energy
The matrices that comprise Form B will help facility staff identify and document environmental aspects and impacts. The matrices also provide criteria for prioritizing environmental aspects and impacts; this process is important because high-priority environmental aspects and impacts will be considered when environmental objectives and targets are established. One possible way to prioritize environmental aspects and impacts using Form B is described as follows:Step 1:For each aspect and impact, score each prioritization criterion on a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 indicates the criterion is very important or relevant to that aspect (for example, the aspect is strictly regulated, is the subject of compliance violations, or is a waste generated in large uantities), and 5 indicates the criterion is relatively unimportant or irrelevant to that aspect (for example, the aspect is an unregulated waste, is generated infrequently, and is inexpensive to manage).Step 2:Add the scores of all criteria for each aspect and write the total in the right-most column of the form.This number indicates the relative priority of the aspect compared to other aspects and impacts in the same category. The lower the total score, the higher the priority.Purpose Of This procedure is used to identify, document, and update the environmental aspects and impacts of facility processes and operations.
Step 1 The environmental manager and other facility personnel selected by the environmental manager are responsible for identifying and prioritizing the environmental aspects and impacts of facility operations during EMS planning and development.Environmental aspects are characteristics of facility processes and products that interact with the environment. Only environmental aspects the company can control or influence will be considered. Environmental impacts are the effects of an organization’s activitie , products or services on the environment.
Step 2 Environmental aspects and impacts will be documented and prioritized.Environmental aspects and impacts will be associated with the following categories:• Wastewater• Air emissions• Hazardous and solid waste• Raw materials• Water and energyHigh-priority environmental aspects and impacts will be considered when environmentalobjectives and targets are set.
Step 3 The environmental manager and other facility personnel will review and updatethe environmental aspects and impacts documentation annually.
Step 4 Environmental aspects and impacts documentation will be retained at the facilityfor at least 2 years.
Responsible Person: _____________________________________Signature and Date: ______________________________________
comments (0)
ISO 14001 ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
Posted by everise iso 14001 Monday 21 September 2009 8:31 am
ISO 14001 ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
The intent of an environmental policy is to state the organization’s commitment to continuous improvement in environmental performance. A strong, clear environmental policy can serve as both a starting point for developing the EMS and a reference point for maintaining continuous improvement.The policy should be evaluated regularly and modified, as necessary, to reflect changing environmental priorities.The policy should function in two ways: (1) within the company, the policy should focus attention on environmental issues associated with company activities, products, and services; and (2) outside the company, the policy is a public commitment to addressing environmental issues and continuously improving environmental performance.The environmental policy must address:• Commitment to compliance with relevant environmental legislation andregulations• Pollution prevention• Continuous improvement
Tips for Developing an Environmental Policy:1. Develop a policy that reflects perspectives of various employees within the company (for example, line worker, owner, wastewater treatment operator, quality inspector, compliance/legal manager, production manager).2. Display the policy statement in view of all employees; the policy should be available to the public and customers if requested and be printed in languages other than English, as appropriate.3. Include top management signatures on the policy to demonstrate understanding and commitment.Purpose This procedure is used to develop and write the company’s environmental policy.
Step 1 The environmental manager will form a policy development team responsible for developing and writing the environmental policy. The policy will address, at a minimum, compliance, pollution prevention, and continuous improvement.
Step 2 The policy development team will review other relevant documents to ensure consistency with other company policies and guide the content and phrasing of the policy. Example documents include the company mission statement and the example environmental policies included in this EMS element.
Step 3 The policy will be displayed in view of all employees and introduced to new employees; the policy will be available in languages other than English, as appropriate, and to the public (on request) and customers (as appropriate).Step 4 The environmental manager will review the environmental policy at least annually, and update it if needed.
Responsible Person: _____________________________________Signature and Date: ______________________________________
Environmental Policy Example 1
It is the policy of COMPANY NAME to conduct its operations in a manner that is environmentally responsible and befitting a good corporate neighbor and citizen.In accordance with this policy, COMPANY NAME complies with all environmental laws and manages all phases of its business in a manner that minimizes the impact of its operations on the environment.To further this policy, COMPANY NAME shall:1. Include environmental requirements in planning and design activities2. Comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations3. Eliminate, or reduce to the maximum practical extent, the release of contaminants into the environment, first through pollution prevention (material substitution and source reduction), then recycling, and finally through treatment and control technologies4. Effectively communicate with company employees, suppliers, regulators, and customers, as well as the surrounding community, regarding the environmental impact of company operations5. Periodically review and demonstrate continuous improvement in the company’s environmental management system
SIGNATURE___________________
Responsible Person______________________
Environmental Policy Sample 2
Effective Date
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
_________________________ IS COMMITTED TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, NEIGHBORS, AND FAMILIES.
WE WILL MEET AND OR EXCEED LAWFUL COMPLIANCE THROUGH POLLUTION PREVENTION PRACTICES AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.
TO IMPLEMENT THIS POLICY WE WILL CREATE AN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO IDENTIFY GOALS, SYSTEMS, MEASUREMENTS AND SAMPLING METHODS.TO SUPPLEMENT THIS POLICY WE WILL INCORPORATE SOURCE REDUCTION THROUGH REUSE, RECYCLING, MATERIAL SUBSTITUTION, NEW AND IMPROVED TECHNOLOGIES, CREATIVE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONAL PRACTICES.
TO MAINTAIN THIS POLICY WE WILL PERFORM MANAGEMENT REVIEW, REVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE, EMPLOYEE TRAINING, AND A COMMITMENT AND INVOLVEMENT FROM OUR EMPLOYEES AND MANAGEMENT TO SUPPORT THIS POLICY.
EMS meets the ISO 14001 standard
The ISO 14001 standard requires that a community or organization put in place and implement a series of practices and procedures that, when taken together, result in an environmental management system. ISO 14001 is not a technical standard and as such does not in any way replace technical requirements embodied in statutes or regulations. It also does not set prescribed standards of performance for organizations. The major requirements of an EMS under ISO 14001 include: A policy statement which includes commitments to prevention of pollution, continual improvement of the EMS leading to improvements in overall environmental performance, and compliance with all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. - Identification of all aspects of the community organization's activities, products, and services that could have a significant impact on the enviromment, including those that are not regulated - Setting peformance objectives and targets for the management system which link back to the three comitments established in the community or organization's policy (i.e. prevention of pollution, continual impovement, and compliance) - Implementing the EMS to meet these objectives. This includes activities like training of employees, establishing work instructions and practices, and establishing the actual metrics by which the objectives and targets will be measured. - Establishing a program to periodically audit the operation of the EMS Checking and taking corrective and preventive actions when deviations from the EMS occur, including periodically evaluating the organization's compliance with applicable regulatory requirements. - Undertaking periodic reviews of the EMS by top management to ensure its continuing performance and making adjustements to it, as necessary.
Friday, September 18, 2009
ISO 14001:2004 Audit Checklist
ISO 14001:2004 Audit Checklist
Environmental aspects – What evidence exists that the organization has established, implemented and maintains (a) procedure(s) to identify the environmental aspects of its activities, products or services within the defined scope of the
Who was involved in determining aspects?
Were air emissions, posshible ground and surface water contamintation, landfill issues, use of natural resources, raw materials and energy considered as well as community issues such as noise, traffic and odor?
Are current, planned and modified activities considered? Look for potential aspects that have not been taken into consideration and ask why they were not considered. How are significant environmental aspects determined?
Does the decision making process take into consideration inputs and outputs, normal and abnormal operating conditions, start ups and shut downs, actual influences, potential influences and potential emergency situations, as well as those that are beneficial to the environment?
Does the decision making process take into consideration the amount of control and influence the organization has over its aspects? Look for procedures.
How/when are aspects reviewed and maintained; changes to processes, changes to regulations, introduction of new raw materials?
Does the documentation reflect this change?
Legal and other requirements – Has the organization established, implemented and do they maintain a procedure(s) to identify and have access to the applicable legal requirements and other requirements to which the organization subscribes, related to its environmental aspects and determined how these requirements apply to its environmental aspects?
What is the procedure regarding this requirement? How does the organization know what regulations and requirements they may be subject to? Do they subscribe to industry newsletters or websites? Do they have a third party environmental service monitor regulations for them and alert them as to any changes?
Is there a list of applicable rules and regulations?
Who is responsible for keeping this information updated and current?
Does the list include any voluntary standards?
How does the organization ensure it is complying with these regulations?
Speak with people in the organization to determine if they are aware of any regulations.
Did the organization consider national, international, state and local rules and regulations?
Does the organization have any agreements with public authorities, or with customers?
Do they subscribe to any voluntary guidelines or industry practices such as Responsible Care?
What process does the organization have for reviewing requirements to make sure they are current in the face of changing processes and business requirements?
Do regulations include such things as Federal Title V or Synthetic Minor, State Emissions Inventory and Permit Fee Program, Regulated Toxic Air Pollutants ENV-A 1400, SARA Title III Toxic chemical releases, SARA Title II Tier II report, Federal EPA clean water act, National Pollution Discharge Elimination systems (NPDES) and Storm water program permit?.
Check the organization’s objective and targets to determine if requirements are included. Was the selection of significant aspects based partially on applicable legal requirements and other requirements?
Objectives, targets and programs – Are the objectives and targets measurable, where practical, and consistent with the environmental policy, including the co mmitments to prevention of pollution, to compliance with applicable legal requirements and with other requirements to which the organization subscribes, and to continual improvement?
How does the organization develop objectives and targets? Who is responsible for developing them? What types of things were taken into consideration during development? Were reducing the creation of waste, reducing the release of specific elements to the air, reducing ground water contamination, reducing use of raw materials by reducing rework and scrap, taken into consideration? Was promoting awareness within
the organization and the surrounding community considered?
Do the objectives and targets reflect the vision of the EMS policy? Are they consistent with the policy?
Do they include commitments to the prevention of pollution and compliance with applicable rules, requirements and
regulations?
Have measurable targets been defined? If not, why not?
Are targets both short and long term?
What factors does the organization consider in setting objectives and targets? How are significant impacts considered? Are legal and other requirements, available technology, financial, operational and business requirements considered? Were interested parties involved in the development of objectives? If so, how?
How were objectives developed? Who participated in their development?
Has the organization established, implemented and does it maintain a program(s) for achieving its objectives and targets, including designation of responsibility for achieving objectives and targets at each relevant function and level of the organization and the means and time-frame by which they are to be achieved?
What plans have been developed to achieve objectives and targets? Do plans include responsibility for achieving the objectives and targets? Do plans reflect objectives and targets at lower levels of the organization? Does the plan include its own targets and timelines for reaching them?
Look at plans. Is there one for every objective and target? What happens when something doesn’t go
according to plan? Is corrective action taken?
How is management kept informed of the progress towards the targets?
How are employees informed of the progress towards the targets?
Look for graphs, information in newsletters, meeting minutes, and posters.
How does the organization plan to achieve objectives and targets?
Have responsibilities been defined?
Have time lines been defined?
How is progress monitored? Is it measurable?
Refer http://www.iso9001-standard.us for more information
Environmental aspects – What evidence exists that the organization has established, implemented and maintains (a) procedure(s) to identify the environmental aspects of its activities, products or services within the defined scope of the
Who was involved in determining aspects?
Were air emissions, posshible ground and surface water contamintation, landfill issues, use of natural resources, raw materials and energy considered as well as community issues such as noise, traffic and odor?
Are current, planned and modified activities considered? Look for potential aspects that have not been taken into consideration and ask why they were not considered. How are significant environmental aspects determined?
Does the decision making process take into consideration inputs and outputs, normal and abnormal operating conditions, start ups and shut downs, actual influences, potential influences and potential emergency situations, as well as those that are beneficial to the environment?
Does the decision making process take into consideration the amount of control and influence the organization has over its aspects? Look for procedures.
How/when are aspects reviewed and maintained; changes to processes, changes to regulations, introduction of new raw materials?
Does the documentation reflect this change?
Legal and other requirements – Has the organization established, implemented and do they maintain a procedure(s) to identify and have access to the applicable legal requirements and other requirements to which the organization subscribes, related to its environmental aspects and determined how these requirements apply to its environmental aspects?
What is the procedure regarding this requirement? How does the organization know what regulations and requirements they may be subject to? Do they subscribe to industry newsletters or websites? Do they have a third party environmental service monitor regulations for them and alert them as to any changes?
Is there a list of applicable rules and regulations?
Who is responsible for keeping this information updated and current?
Does the list include any voluntary standards?
How does the organization ensure it is complying with these regulations?
Speak with people in the organization to determine if they are aware of any regulations.
Did the organization consider national, international, state and local rules and regulations?
Does the organization have any agreements with public authorities, or with customers?
Do they subscribe to any voluntary guidelines or industry practices such as Responsible Care?
What process does the organization have for reviewing requirements to make sure they are current in the face of changing processes and business requirements?
Do regulations include such things as Federal Title V or Synthetic Minor, State Emissions Inventory and Permit Fee Program, Regulated Toxic Air Pollutants ENV-A 1400, SARA Title III Toxic chemical releases, SARA Title II Tier II report, Federal EPA clean water act, National Pollution Discharge Elimination systems (NPDES) and Storm water program permit?.
Check the organization’s objective and targets to determine if requirements are included. Was the selection of significant aspects based partially on applicable legal requirements and other requirements?
Objectives, targets and programs – Are the objectives and targets measurable, where practical, and consistent with the environmental policy, including the co mmitments to prevention of pollution, to compliance with applicable legal requirements and with other requirements to which the organization subscribes, and to continual improvement?
How does the organization develop objectives and targets? Who is responsible for developing them? What types of things were taken into consideration during development? Were reducing the creation of waste, reducing the release of specific elements to the air, reducing ground water contamination, reducing use of raw materials by reducing rework and scrap, taken into consideration? Was promoting awareness within
the organization and the surrounding community considered?
Do the objectives and targets reflect the vision of the EMS policy? Are they consistent with the policy?
Do they include commitments to the prevention of pollution and compliance with applicable rules, requirements and
regulations?
Have measurable targets been defined? If not, why not?
Are targets both short and long term?
What factors does the organization consider in setting objectives and targets? How are significant impacts considered? Are legal and other requirements, available technology, financial, operational and business requirements considered? Were interested parties involved in the development of objectives? If so, how?
How were objectives developed? Who participated in their development?
Has the organization established, implemented and does it maintain a program(s) for achieving its objectives and targets, including designation of responsibility for achieving objectives and targets at each relevant function and level of the organization and the means and time-frame by which they are to be achieved?
What plans have been developed to achieve objectives and targets? Do plans include responsibility for achieving the objectives and targets? Do plans reflect objectives and targets at lower levels of the organization? Does the plan include its own targets and timelines for reaching them?
Look at plans. Is there one for every objective and target? What happens when something doesn’t go
according to plan? Is corrective action taken?
How is management kept informed of the progress towards the targets?
How are employees informed of the progress towards the targets?
Look for graphs, information in newsletters, meeting minutes, and posters.
How does the organization plan to achieve objectives and targets?
Have responsibilities been defined?
Have time lines been defined?
How is progress monitored? Is it measurable?
Refer http://www.iso9001-standard.us for more information
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