ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (EMS) 101 - The Basics
An EMS is the part of an organization's overall management system that integrates environmental concerns and issues into the organization's management processes. An EMS helps organizations avoid environmental problems by increasing awareness of our impacts on the environment in addition to promoting sustainable activities and practices.
By December 31, 2005, each agency shall implement an EMS at all appropriate facilities.
The ISO 14001 standard assists implementation by providing a common set of requirements, terms and definitions.
An EMS based on ISO 14001 gives organizations a way to better manage their operations using a 'Plan, Do, Check, Act' model (see figure below) that attempts to continually improve environmental performance, assure regulatory compliance and minimize operational risks.
To read more about the ISO 14001 Standard go here.
Develop a statement of your organization’s commitment to the environment. Use this policy as a framework for planning and action.
Identify environmental attributes of your products, activities and services. Determine those that could have significant impacts on the environment.
Identify and ensure access to relevant laws and regulations (and other requirements to which your organization adheres).
Establish environmental goals for your organization, in line with your policy, environmental impacts, views of interested parties and other factors.
Plan actions to achieve objectives and targets.
Establish roles and responsibilities and provide resources.
Ensure that your employees are trained and capable of carrying out their environmental responsibilities.
Establish processes for internal and external communications on environmental management issues.
Maintain information on your EMS and related documents.
Ensure effective management of procedures and other system documents.
Identify, plan and manage your operations and activities in line with your policy, objectives and targets.
Identify potential emergencies and develop procedures for preventing and
responding to them.
Monitor key activities and track performance.
Identify and correct problems and prevent recurrences.
Keep adequate records of EMS performance.
Periodically verify that your EMS is operating as intended.
Periodically review your EMS with an eye to continual improvement.
An EMS is not intended to replace current environmental programs but to integrate existing efforts and improve functional coordination within an organization's operations. An EMS provides a formal process for developing, planning, communicating and acting on environmental information that could lead to benefits to the organization or minimize risk.
The end product is an environmentally aware and responsible employee, better environmental management and informed decision making.
Your existing environmental programs provide an excellent starting point for implementing a successful EMS. In most cases you will find that you already have EMS elements in place. By formally adopting an EMS, the process will provide a structured framework leading to the development and maintenance of an effective management system that directly supports your organization's goals and mission.
An EMS establishes a system for continual improvement that will eventually become the accepted way of doing business.
Many organization's are embracing the concept of Sustainability and are taking steps towards creating sustainable operations. An EMS is an effective vehicle to help organizations realize sustainability goals.
