ISO 14001

Backgrounds

ISO 14000 is a family of standards related to environmental management that exists to help organizations (a) minimize how their operations (processes etc.) negatively affect the environment (i.e. cause adverse changes to air, water, or land); (b) comply with applicable laws, regulations, and other environmentally oriented requirements, and (c) continually improve in the above.

ISO 14000 is similar to ISO 9000 quality management in that both pertain to the process of how a product is produced, rather than to the product itself. As with ISO 9000, certification is performed by third-party organizations rather than being awarded by ISO directly. The ISO 19011 audit standard applies when auditing for both 9000 and 14000 compliance at once.

The requirements of ISO 14000 are an integral part of the European Union‘s environmental management scheme EMAS. EMAS‘s structure and material requirements are more demanding, foremost concerning performance improvement, legal compliance and reporting duties.

The ISO 14000 family includes most notably the ISO 14001 standard, which represents the core set of standards used by organizations for designing and implementing an effective environmental management system. Other standards included in this series are ISO 14004, which gives additional guidelines for a good environmental management system, and more specialized standards dealing with specific aspects of environmental management. The major objective of the ISO 14000 series of norms is "to promote more effective and efficient environmental management in organizations and to provide useful and usable tools - ones that are cost effective, system-based, flexible and reflect the best organizations and the best organizational practices available for gathering, interpreting and communicating environmentally relevant information".

ISO 14001 is a voluntary international standard that establishes the requirements for an environmental management system (EMS). The objective of the standard is for an organization to establish an EMS that is integrated with the overall business management process. Elements of the EMS include Environmental Policy, Planning, Implementation and Operation, Checking, and Management Review. Integral to the model is the concept of continual improvement of the EMS. This improvement can take many forms, such as improved communications and employee awareness, improved environmental performance, and improved emergency planning and response programs. It is not necessary for all elements of the EMS to be improved simultaneously. ISO 14001 is known as a generic management system standard, meaning that it is applicable to any size and type of organisation, product or service, in any sector of activity and can accommodate diverse socio-cultural and geographic conditions. 

sample certificate of ISO14001

Benefits of implementing ISO 14001 :

• Providing a framework for a systematic and integrated approach for environmental management which allows the EMS to become part of the fabric of the organization's business.
• Making the EMS "system" dependent and not "person" dependent.
• Promoting sound environmental management which becomes a means of doing business and not an end in and of itself.
• Positioning the organization as an environmental leader and providing a framework by which to respond to environmental inquiries from customers, stockholders and other interested parties.

ISO 14001 planning

The organization must identify and plan for those elements of its business that could interact with the environment. Actions necessary to meet this element of the ISO 14001 standard include:

• Identifying the significant environmental aspects and impacts of its activities, products, and services -- Depending on the organization's business, significant aspects could include aspects such as air emissions, water discharges, chemical consumption, and energy consumption.
• Identifying and having access to applicable legal and other requirements that apply to the organization -- This includes understanding legal and permit requirements and ensuring that employees whose jobs could impact these requirements understand permit parameters.
• Setting and documenting environmental objectives and targets -- Objectives and targets are not required for every significant aspect. In some cases, the significant aspect may be under operational control.
• Establishing environmental management programs for achieving these objectives and targets -- The environmental management program should detail who is responsible for achieving the objectives and targets, the time frame, and the means.

ISO 14001 implementation and operation

Implementation and operation are the next steps in putting together an effective EMS. ISO 14001 requires the following:

• Define and communicate roles, responsibility, and authorities necessary to establish, implement, and maintain the EMS -- There must be an appointed management representative who, irrespective of other duties, is responsible for establishing, implementing, and maintaining the EMS.
• Communicate the Environmental policy, objectives and targets, and other elements of the EMS to employees and contractors -- Communication can take several forms such as training, poster campaigns, and/or bulletin board announcements.
• Ensure that those employees whose job can have a significant impact on the environment are appropriately trained -- These employees must be informed of the potential environmental consequences of their actions and must be competent to do their jobs.
• Establish procedures to handle environmental inquiries from interested parties -- These inquiries could be about the EMS; the organization's significant aspects, objectives, and targets; environmental performance; or other environmental issues.
• Identify and describe the core elements of the EMS -- These could include the Environmental policy, operating procedures, and instructions.
• Control EMS documents and procedures -- Ensure they are current, reviewed by the authorized person(s), and available at point of use.
• Maintain documented procedures to control operations that could impact the environment -- These include work instructions, preventive maintenance procedures, and other operational control procedures.
• Have an effective emergency preparedness and response plan -- Test it periodically, as appropriate, and update it, as necessary after the occurrence of environmental incidents.

ISO 14001 checking

To ensure effective implementation of the EMS it must be periodically checked and corrective/preventive action taken when needed by performing the following:

• Monitor and measure key characteristics of its operations and activities that can have a significant impact on the environment, such as energy use, chemical use, and waste, air, and water emissions.
• Handle nonconformances to the EMS efficiently by investigating root cause(s) and ensuring corrective and preventive action is taken.
• Identify and maintain environmental records such as permits, calibration records, training records, and monitoring and measuring data.
• Periodically conduct audits of the EMS, which include the whole EMS and not just compliance with regulations.

ISO 14001 management review

Top management must periodically review the EMS in order to:

• Ensure its continuing suitability, adequacy and effectiveness.
• Address possible needs for changes to the environmental policy, objectives and targets, and other elements of the EMS.
• Identify opportunities for continual improvement.

Keys to success of the implementation process for ISO 14001 include:

• Top management commitment.
• Adequate resources to establish, implement, and maintain the EMS.
• Assigned roles, responsibility, and authorities.
• Buy in from all levels.
• A structured and documented implementation plan.
• Adequate education, awareness, and training with respect to the EMS.
• Appropriate procedures and documentation.
• An effective audit program.

source: wikipedia