Environmental Protection and Management 18CV753

MODULE 3
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

3.1 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (EMS)

 An Environmental Management System (EMS) is a set of processes and practices that
enable an organization to reduce its environmental impacts and increase its operating
efficiency.
 An Environmental Management System (EMS) is a framework that helps an organization
achieve its environmental goals through consistent review, evaluation, and improvement
of its environmental performance.
 Some of the primary environmental issues that are affecting businesses today include
pollution, waste disposal, water quality, and water supply issues, and climate change

3.1.1 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM PROCESS

1. Environmental policy: Develop a statement of your organization’s commitment to the
environment. Use this policy as a framework for planning and action.
2. Environmental aspects: Identify environmental attributes of your products, activities and
services. Determine those that could have significant impacts on the environment.
3. Legal and other requirements: Identify and ensure access to relevant laws and
regulations (and other requirements to which your organization adheres).
4. Objectives and targets: Establish environmental goals for your organization, in line with
your policy, environmental impacts, views of interested parties and other factors.
5. Environmental management program: Plan actions to achieve objectives and targets.
6. Structure and responsibility: Establish roles and responsibilities and provide resources.
7. Training, awareness and competence: Ensure that your employees are trained and
capable of carrying out their environmental responsibilities.
8. Communication: Establish processes for internal and external communications on
environmental management issues.
9. EMS documentation: Maintain information on your EMS and related documents.
10. Document control: Ensure effective management of procedures and other system
documents.
11. Operational control: Identify, plan and manage your operations and activities in line
with your policy, objectives and targets.
Environmental Protection and Management 18CV753

12. Emergency preparedness and response: Identify potential emergencies and develop
procedures for preventing and responding to them
13. Monitoring and measurement: Monitor key activities and track performance.
14. Nonconformance and corrective and preventive action: Identify and correct problems
and prevent recurrences.
15. Records: Keep adequate records of EMS performance.
16. EMS audit: Periodically verify that your EMS is operating as intended.
17. Management review:Periodically review your EMS with an eye to continual
improvement.

3.2 EMAS (ECO-MANAGEMENT AND AUDIT SCHEME)

 It is one of the Voluntary instruments of environmental protection, i.e., it positively
motivates organizations to responsible approach and to improving its environmental
performance beyond the legal requirements.
 Established by the European Union in order to detect and monitor the impacts of the
activities of organizations on the environment and to publish information in the form of
individual environmental statements
 EMAS is a proactive approach of the company to monitoring, control and gradual
reduction of the impact of the activities of the organization on the environment.
 It is designed for organizations functioning in the private sector (joint stock companies,
limited liability companies, etc.) as well as for organizations of state and public
administration (ministries, municipalities, etc.) or its parts (producing unit, remote
workplaces).

 EMAS system is one of two ways which an organization can use to implement the EMS

 The second tool used to implement the environmental management system is ISO
 Both ways are similar to each other in many parts - environmental policy, continuous
improvement, objectives and target values, programs, the implementation of the system
and its operation, monitoring, and management review

 EMAS, however, extends the ISO 14001 system, especially in terms of transparency
when organizations with an established system according to EMAS are obliged to publish
environmental statements and hold open discussions with the public and other interested
Environmental
parties. Protection and Management 18CV753

3.3 ISO 14000

1. ISO 14000 is the international standard that specifies requirements for an effective
environmental management system (EMS).
2. The primary objective of the ISO 14000 series of standards is to promote effective
environmental management systems in organizations. It provides a framework that an
organization can follow, rather than establishing environmental performance
requirements.
3. 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 (EMS).
4. Other standards in this series include ISO 14004, which gives additional guidelines for a
good EMS and standards that are more specialized dealing with specific aspects of
environmental management.
Environmental Protection and Management 18CV753

3.3.1 ISO 14001 requires an organization to:

1. Develop an environmental policy with a commitment to compliance;
2. Have a procedure for identifying and having access to environmental laws and
regulations;
3. Set objectives and targets that are in line with its environmental policy (which includes
a commitment to compliance);
4. Establish operational control procedures;
5. Establish procedures for emergency preparedness and response;
6. Establish a procedure for periodically evaluating compliance

3.3.2 ISO 14001 requires an organization to:

 Environmental policy
 Environmental laws and regulations;
 Objectives and targets
 Operational control procedures;
 Emergency preparedness and response;
 Evaluating compliance

3.3.3 ISO 14000 HISTORY

According the most recent reports, there are more than 10,000 companies worldwide certified to
ISO 14000. Of these, the majority are in Japan (2600), (2,600), followed by Germany (1,600),
UK (1,200),Sweden (650), Taiwan(500), USA (590), the Netherlands (475), Korea (460),
Switzerland (400) and France (360).

The Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of India provides grants of up to 50% of the cost incurred in
obtaining the EMS certificate to export oriented units
Environmental Protection and Management 18CV753

Certification of EMS ISO 14001 has the following benefits to companies

 Prove that its activities have been evaluated and accepted by an accredited, independent
third party.
 It shows that an external ‘stamp’ of approval of the EMS has been given and that, the
organization’s commitment to improve environmental performance is valid
 Shows commitment to the protection of the Environment. Possibly, the greatest positive
impact to the environment will be in the reduction of hazardous waste
 This would apply to reduction, reuse or recycling, all of which maximize natural
resources. There is thus conservation of other natural resources in the process.
 Gives new organizations more chance with regulators that the written documentation
necessary to demonstrate compliance with the regulations will be abide by.
 Overall, relations with regulators would improve after ISO 14001 certification. ‘The
agency will know the certified organization care for the environment and has systems in
place even before visiting the operation’. This positive relation is extremely valuable and
would help foster a better working relationship.
 It levels the playing field of international trade bringing more competitors to the scene.
These means companies certified to ISO 14001 have market access all over the world.
 Insurance companies these days find it easier transacting business with companies that
have effective EMS like ISO 14001 as they view such a company as having limited
liability. Investors these days also try to invest in environment friendly companies.

3.4 BENEFITS OF EMS

Environmental Protection and Management 18CV753

⚫ Improved environmental performance.

⚫ Enhanced compliance.
⚫ Prevention of pollution.
⚫ Resource conservation.
⚫ New customers/markets.
⚫ Increased efficiency/reduced costs.
⚫ Enhanced employee morale.
⚫ Fewer accidents.
⚫ Enhanced image with the public, regulators, lenders, investors; i.e. stakeholders.
⚫ Employee awareness of environmental issues and responsibilities.
⚫ Reduced liabilities.
⚫ Competitive advantages.

3.5 CONCEPT OF CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT AND POLLUTION

PREVENTION
Continual Improvement is an important aspect of any EMS and ISO 14001.
⚫ Pollution prevention is generally defined as “the use of processes, practices, materials,
products or energy that avoid or minimize the creation of pollutants or wastes at the
source”.
⚫ Organizations that implement continuous improvement achieve this by making small,
gradual improvements over time.
⚫ Pollution prevention also includes practices that reduce the use of energy, water or other
resources through conservation or more efficient use.
⚫ Where pollution prevention is not feasible, the EMS should include options for recycling,
treatment and disposal, considered in that order.

3.5.1 CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AIMS TO:

 Increase Efficiency
 Increase Quality
 Reduce Costs

3.5.2 POLLUTION PREVENTION TECHNIQUES AND PRACTICES

FOCUS ON
 Substances of concern
Environmental Protection and Management 18CV753

 Materials and feedstock substitution

 Operating efficiencies
 On-site reuse and recycling
 Training
 Purchasing practices
 Product design
 Equipment modifications
 Product reformulation
 Process changes
 Clean production
 Avoidance of cross-media transfer of pollutants or waste
 Life-cycle assessment

1) Materials and feedstock substitution are methods of source elimination.

 Polluting materials in a production process or embedded in a product are replaced with
less polluting or nonpolluting substances
 Opportunities for materials and feedstock substitution include:
⚫ Painting applications
⚫ Parts cleaning
⚫ Metal finishing
⚫ Printing operations
⚫ Building and grounds maintenance
2) Operating efficiencies and training are examples of how normal parts of good operation can
provide effective ways to prevent pollution.
Examples include
⚫ Changing production schedules to minimize equipment and feedstock change overs
⚫ Improving maintenance schedules
⚫ Segregating by-products at the source
⚫ Training staff to improve material handling and recognize opportunities
3) Product design and reformulation includes methods for preventing pollution associated
with the entire life cycle.
⚫ Addressing environmental concerns at an early stage can avoid environmental impacts
throughout the product life cycle in a cost-effective manner.
⚫ Results of redesigning or reformulating a product include
 Reducing toxicity of a product
 Reducing waste material
Environmental Protection and Management 18CV753

 Extending the life of a product

 Extending the life of the materials used
 Reducing energy and material intensity needed to produce, use and dispose of the product.

4) Equipment modifications and process changes involve new technologies or approaches to

existing operating systems processes and practices to improve production efficiencies and
reduce pollution and waste.
 An example is mechanical stripping instead of using solvents to remove paint and varnish
5) The Value of Waste
⚫ Waste can also be viewed as a loss of valuable process materials that could have
economic and environmental benefits if reused or recycled.
The following approaches reflect this perspective on the value of waste.
⚫ On-site reuse and recycling is considered pollution prevention because it occurs at the
same place as the original activity.
⚫ Reuse means using materials again in their original form or in new applications.
⚫ Recycling extends the effective life of resources. Environmentally sound recycling is
usually preferable to end-of-pipe solutions.
⚫ Raw materials, chemicals and treated and untreated wastewater are examples of materials
that could be reused or recycled.
⚫ Some examples of reuse and recycling are
 Recovering metals by ion exchange or reverse osmosis
 Recycling cooling water
 Reusing trim and cuttings from plastic moulding in on-site production rather than taking
them for off-site disposal

3.6 ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

What is an environmental policy?

⚫ An environmental policy is a statement about an organization’s environmental position
and values
⚫ The ISO 14001 standard states that an environmental policy is the organization’s overall
environmental performance intentions and direction formally expressed by top
management
Environmental Protection and Management 18CV753

⚫ An environmental policy is usually published as a written statement, expressing the

commitment of the senior management to improving appropriate environmental
performance.
⚫ Environmental policy is the commitment of an organization or government to the laws,
regulations, and other policy mechanisms concerning environmental issues.
⚫ These issues generally include air and water pollution, waste management, ecosystem
management, maintenance of biodiversity, the protection of natural resources, wildlife
and endangered species.
⚫ The ISO 14001 standard is probably the best reference standard for the development of an
environmental policy
Environmental policy must be:
⚫ appropriate to the organization;
⚫ include a commitment for continual improvement and prevention of pollution;
⚫ include a commitment to comply to relevant legal and other requirements; and,
⚫ provide the framework for setting and reviewing environmental objectives and targets

3.6.1 BENEFITS OF DEVELOPING AN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

⚫ An organization can publicly advertise that it has considered its environmental
performance and has adopted best practice or is working towards improving its
environmental performance.
⚫ It is all relative to the organization and the type of industry but the environmental policy
can advertise the environmental status and environmental objectives of the organization
to all stakeholders.
⚫ Current and potential clients can read the statement and are able to determine whether
they would like to continue or start business with the organization. It also can provide
clear direction to all stakeholders about the organization’s environmental values.

3.6.2 Who should develop an environmental policy?

⚫ A senior manager or managing team should endorse the environmental policy but not
necessarily be directly responsible for developing the policy.
⚫ Should appoint someone talented, familiar with the organization and who has the ability
of writing interesting factual statements.
Environmental Protection and Management 18CV753

⚫ Choose someone which can inspire and communicate the true environmental policy of
the organization.
3.6.3 What is the usual procedure for maintaining an environmental policy?
⚫ Similar to an environmental management system environmental policy should be
regularly be reviewed
⚫ When there has been change or change is planned, or when there has been a significant
performance issue the environmental policy should be reviewed.
⚫ Otherwise, more general reviews should occur periodically (e.g. annually).
3.6.4 What should be included in an environmental policy?
⚫ The ISO 14001 standard is probably the best reference standard for the development of
an environmental policy.
In summary, an environmental policy must be
⚫ Appropriate to the organization;
⚫ Include a commitment for continual improvement and prevention of pollution;
⚫ Include a commitment to comply to relevant legal and other requirements; and,
⚫ Provide the framework for setting and reviewing environmental objectives and targets.
⚫ Understand whether the organization presents a direct environmental risk to their
operations;
3.7 INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
⚫ The first step in creating an EMS is to perform an Initial Environmental Review.
⚫ This process will enable organization to understand what aspects of the organization have
a significant environmental impact.
⚫ This tells organization where they are and creates a road map for the organization.
⚫ The initial environmental review is the starting point for a good environmental
management system.
⚫ The Environmental Review is an initial assessment to help to create an EMS.
⚫ The Environmental Audit assesses the performance of the organizations’ EMS.
There are four main areas
 Review previous environmental issues
 Consider any regulations which have operational impact
 Identify and evaluate possible environmental issues in organization.
 Outline current operations and how it is managed; also consider indirect impacts
Initial Environmental Review enables organization to:
Environmental Protection and Management 18CV753

⚫ Identify how existing site operations have an environmental impact – eg. the impact of
normal operating conditions, abnormal conditions and emergency situations
⚫ establish which of these impacts are significant and need improvement by setting
objectives and targets
⚫ identify breaches or potential breaches of environmental legislation
⚫ identify relevant EMS documentation which needs to be put in place
⚫ quantify emissions, discharges, and material and utility use
⚫ identify opportunities for improving performance and minimizing waste
⚫ evaluate previous emergency situations and accidents
⚫ develop your environmental policy

3.7.1 BENEFITS OF AN INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW

Helps determine the organization’s environmental position, and should include
 Environmental statutory and regulatory requirements
 Recognize items/areas with environmental impact
 Environmental Performance Criteria
 Feedback of previous experiences
 Opportunities for improvement in-house as well as external (contractors, vendors, etc.,)

3.8 ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECT AND IMPACT ANALYSIS

⚫ Identification and evaluation of significant environmental aspects,
especially in the planning phase, is the most fundamental part of EMS.
⚫ To understand the environmental aspects and impacts is one of the key success factors of
implementing an ISO 14001 EMS.
The following definitions used in ISO 14001 provide a clear understanding of the terms.
⚫ Environmental Aspect: Element of an organization’s activities, products, or services
that can interact with the environment.
⚫ Environmental Impact: Any change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial,
wholly or partially resulting from an organization’s activities.
The organization needs to establish and maintain procedures to identify the environmental
aspects that it can control and have influence over. Direct and indirect aspects need to be
distinguished. Direct aspects result directly from facility operations, such as raw material use in
Environmental Protection and Management 18CV753

production.
Indirect aspects can only be indirectly connected to a facility operation, such as aspects related
to the production of raw materials that are purchased from a supplier.
⚫ The term ―aspect‖ is neutral. Environmental aspects can be either:
⚫ Positive (such as manufacturing a product out of recycled materials).
⚫ Negative (such as creating toxic materials).
Environmental Protection and Management 18CV753

3.9 LEGAL AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Almost all organizations implementing ISO 14001 are aware that legal requirements are the
foundation and basic requirement of ISO 14001
Some of the important legislations for environment protection are as follows:
⚫ The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
⚫ The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010
⚫ The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
⚫ The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
⚫ The Environment Protection Act, 1986
⚫ The Hazardous Waste Management Regulations,
etc. Legal requirements include:
⚫ National, regional and local requirements.
⚫ Standards in locations where an organization sells products /services.
⚫ Permit conditions.
⚫ Regulatory obligations.
Other requirements might include (for example):
⚫ Organization-specific codes.
⚫ International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Charter for Sustainable Development.

3.10 OBJECTIVES AND TARGETS

Setting objectives requires an analysis of the exposure to different environmental aspects:
⚫ Environmental aspects which have high public priority and to which the organization
contributes heavily. Here environmental objectives should be set.
⚫ Environmental aspects which have low public priority and to which the organization
contributes heavily.
⚫ Environmental aspects which have high public priority and to which the organization has
a low contribution.
How to Establish Objectives for Environmental Management
⚫ “Objectives and targets help an organization translate purpose into action”. An attempt
should be made to connect these goals with other existing strategic plans.
Environmental Protection and Management 18CV753

The best objectives are referred to as S.M.A.R.T. objectives

⚫ specific,
⚫ measurable,
⚫ achievable,
⚫ realistic and
⚫ time-based,
and this way of creating objectives makes a target an integral part of the objective.

3.11 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS

⚫ An Environmental Management Program is the roadmap the organization will follow to
achieve its environmental objectives and targets.
⚫ It is a document that provides the details of what must be done, by whom, how, and
when, for each of the defined objectives and targets.
⚫ The objectives and targets themselves must be assigned priorities at the start.
Environmental Protection and Management 18CV753

When devising the environmental program:

⚫ Management must designate responsibility
for achieving the objectives and targets at each
function and level within the organization.
⚫ Management must provide the means for
fulfilling the objectives and targets. A time frame in
which objectives and targets will be achieved needs
to be established.
The environmental management program should be
integrated into the company's overall strategic plan.
Within the spirit of the EMS, environmental management programs should be reviewed
periodically and revised regularly to reflect changes in the company's objectives and targets.

1. Air Emissions: Program includes performance standards for the boilers, emergency
generators and incinerators. This program also encourages and supports alternative
transportation including bus, carpool.
2. Energy Management: This program seeks to reduce electricity consumption associated
with laboratory, utility, office, and outdoor operations and support the agency wide
efforts to reduce campus building energy intensity and increase usage of renewable
energy.
3. Green Purchasing: Program encourages the purchase of recycled content materials,
energy-efficient equipment, alternative fueled vehicles, bio-based products,
environmentally preferable products, and non-ozone depleting substances.
4. Hazardous Materials Management: Program provides criteria for the safe and
environmentally sound storage, handling, transportation and disposition of hazardous
materials used in laboratory research, support and maintenance operations, and
construction activities
5. Hazardous Waste Management: This program provides for the management of
hazardous wastes to ensure that such wastes are identified, accumulated, stored,
transported, treated, and disposed or recycled in an environmentally sound manner
6. Pesticides: This program follows integrated pest management (IPM) principles when
controlling pests in the animal facilities, inside campus buildings, and on campus grounds
Environmental Protection and Management 18CV753

through limited pesticide application in a manner that is effective yet safe for the
environment, personnel, and research activities
7. Solid Waste Management: Program ensures that solid wastes are identified, classified,
collected, transported, stored, recycled, treated and/or disposed safely and in a manner
protective of human health and the environment. Maximization of the quantity of
material diverted from the landfill, either by recycling, reuse, or reduction in quantities
used, is a primary objective
8. Storm water Management: Program focuses on reducing the potential for outdoor
petroleum and chemical spills, and minimizing the impact of construction projects on the
storm water conveyance system.
9. Wastewater: Program reduces the potential for pollutants to enter the sanitary sewer
system through effective pretreatment, source reduction, proper chemical disposal, and
other wastewater management programs
10. Water Consumption: Program seeks to reduce water consumption associated with
laboratory, utility, facility, and domestic operations.

3.12 STRUCTURE AND RESPONSIBILITY

⚫ For EMS to be effective, roles and responsibilities must be clearly defined and
communicated. In an organization, the commitment of all employees is needed.
⚫ Top management plays a key role by providing the resources needed to ensure that the
EMS is implemented effectively
Top management should appoint a management representative.
This representative:
1. ensures that the EMS is established and implemented;
2. Reports on its performance over time; and
3. Works with others to modify the EMS when necessary.
The management representative:
⚫ Ensures that the EMS is established and implemented as planned.
⚫ Regularly reports on its performance.
⚫ Works with others to modify and improve the EMS as needed.
⚫ Coordinates actions and projects for the continuous im-provement process
Environmental Protection and Management 18CV753

3.13 TRAINING AWARENESS AND COMPETENCE COMMUNICATION

⚫ EMS training is basically intended “to explain the importance of the EMS to staff, and to
explain their responsibilities for EMS operations”.
⚫ Passive management support is often caused by management’s ignorance about the EMS.
Competence:
⚫ The first step is to identify what skills and abilities are required for a person to perform
the job function so as to avoid the potential significant impacts.
⚫ This competence can be gained in the form of outside education, training, or experience.
Environmental Protection and Management 18CV753

Training:
⚫ After identifying what competencies are required for the processes to avoid potential
significant environmental impacts, you need to find people with these competencies to
fill these positions.
⚫ Of course, in reality there will often be a choice of candidates who have many of the
required competencies, but not all of them.
⚫ This is where training comes into place, especially when you are first implementing your
environmental management system
Training of all employees is very important because every employee:
⚫ Can have potential impacts on the environment through his or her daily activities.
⚫ Can be a useful resource for generating ideas about establishing operational control for a
process, defining environ-mental aspects or defining structural responsibilities.
Training must take place when:
⚫ New employees are hired.
⚫ A change in job descriptions takes place.
⚫ The corrective action process notes failure to follow instructions.
⚫ New procedures are introduced or already existing procedures are altered.
⚫ EMS aspects/objectives/targets have changed.
Key Steps in Developing a Training Programme:
Step 1: Assessment of training needs & requirements.
Step 2: Defining training objectives.
Step 3: Selecting suitable methods and
materials. Step 4: Preparing training plan.
Step 5: Conducting training.
Step 6: Tracking of training (and maintaining records).
Step 7: Evaluating training effectiveness.
Step 8: Improving training programme
Awareness:
Even those who have the desired competencies need to be made aware of how their tasks can
lead to the identified potential environmental impacts.
The requirements of ISO 14001 separate the need for awareness into four distinct areas:
Environmental Protection and Management 18CV753

⚫ Conforming to the environmental policy and procedures

⚫ Significant environmental aspects and potential impacts
⚫ Roles and responsibilities to achieve conformity
⚫ Potential consequences of departure from procedures

3.14 COMMUNICATION
Communication is the glue that holds together the elements of an environmental management
system. Effective environmental management requires effective communications.
Communications will help:
⚫ motivate the workforce;
⚫ explainthe environmental policy (both internally and externally) and how it relates
to the overall business vision / strategy;
⚫ ensure understanding of roles and expectations;
⚫ demonstrate management commitment;
⚫ monitor performance; and
⚫ Identify potential system improvements.
An effective EMS should include procedures
for:
⚫ communicating internally (between levels and functions), and
⚫ Soliciting, receiving, documenting and responding to external communications.
Internal and External Communication
⚫ An effective EMS requires this information to be communicated both internally and
externally.
⚫ Internal communication is the communication within a facility or organization that is
directly related to the EMS. It is required to establish communications on and between all
relevant levels of functions within the organization.
Internal communication will:
⚫ Motivate the workforce.
⚫ Gain acceptance for management’s plans and efforts.
⚫ Explain the environmental policy and the EMS and how they relate to the overall
organizational vision.
Environmental Protection and Management 18CV753

⚫ Ensure understanding of roles and expectations.

⚫ Demonstrate management commitment.
⚫ Monitor and evaluate performance.
⚫ Identify potential system improvements.
External communication is the communication between the organization and interested parties
outside the organization. There are numerous benefits resulting from effective communications.
⚫ Effective external communication will:
⚫ Demonstrate management ‘s commitment to the environment.
⚫ Make others aware of the organization’s environmental policy and commitment to
environmental responsibility.

3.15 DOCUMENTATION AND DOCUMENT CONTROL

EMS documentation consists of:
⚫ The environmental policy.
⚫ The organizational structure and key responsibilities.
⚫ A description or summary of how an organization satisfies EMS requirements
⚫ System-level procedures
⚫ Activity or process-specific procedures/work instructions
⚫ Other EMS-related documents
⚫ Documents are an important element of an environmental management system (EMS) as
they provide written evidence of procedures, records and instructions.
⚫ They can also provide a history of the EMS, enabling organization to check whether
improvements are continuing to being made.
Documents likely to be part of EMS include:
⚫ An environmental policy
⚫ Objectives and targets
⚫ Structure and responsibilities
⚫ Information on how the ems operates
⚫ How documents and operational procedures are controlled
⚫ Monitoring and measurement records
⚫ Corrective and preventive action
Environmental Protection and Management 18CV753

⚫ Records, training and auditing information

⚫ Management Review Decisions
⚫ Without a mechanism to manage these EMS documents, an organization cannot be sure
that people are working with the right documents.
⚫ To ensure that everyone is working with the proper EMS documents, every organization
should have a procedure that describes how such documents are controlled.
⚫ Implementation of this procedure should ensure that:
EMS documents can be located.
⚫ They are periodically reviewed.
⚫ Current versions are available where needed.
⚫ Obsolete documents are removed

3.16 OPERATIONAL CONTROL

⚫ Operational controls are required to control

significant environmental aspects and impacts, but also to
keep track of legal and other requirements, objectives and
targets as well as environmental policy,
⚫ Effective operational planning and control lies at
the heart of every effective EMS (Environmental
Management System).

The operation control defined must should take into consideration:

⚫ create controls in line with its environmental requirements to ensure that the design and
development process for the product or service considers the life cycle stage
⚫ define the environmental requirements for the procurement of products and services
⚫ communicate all relevant environmental requirements to external providers which include
contractors
⚫ consider the need to provide information in regards to the end-of-life treatment of
products and services with consideration in, transportation, delivery, use, and final
disposal.
Environmental Protection and Management 18CV753
⚫ maintain detailed documentation to ensure that the processes have been carried out as
planned.

3.17 MONITORING AND MEASUREMENT

⚫ An EMS without effective monitoring and measurement processes is like driving at
night without the headlights on you know that you are moving but you can’t tell where
you are going Monitoring and measurement enables an organization to:
⚫ Evaluate environmental performance.
⚫ Analyze root causes of problems.
⚫ Assess compliance with legal requirements.
⚫ Identify areas requiring corrective action.
⚫ Improve performance and increase efficiency.
⚫ Monitoring helps organization to manage business better.
⚫ An EMS without an effective monitoring and measurement program is like driving at
night without the headlights on — you know that you are moving but you can’t tell
where you are going!
Monitoring and measurement enables you to:
⚫ gauge your environmental performance;
⚫ analyze root causes of problems;
⚫ identify areas where corrective action is needed; and,
⚫ improve performance / increase
efficiency. Organization should develop
procedures to:
⚫ monitor key characteristics of operations and activities that can have significant
environmental impacts;
⚫ track performance (including how well organization meet objectives and targets);
⚫ calibrate and maintain monitoring equipment; and,
⚫ through internal audits, periodically evaluate your compliance with applicable laws
and regulations

3.18 MANAGEMENT REVIEW

⚫ Management review is intended to ensure that the environmental management system
is healthy, and to look for places that improvement can happen.
⚫ Management reviews also offer a great opportunity to keep EMS efficient and cost-
effective.
⚫ The management review process in ISO 14001 is basically the same as the internal
environmental audit for EMAS.
Environmental
⚫ ManagementProtection and Management
itself determines 18CV753
the intervals in which it per-forms reviews. Generally,
the scope of the review should be comprehensive, though not all elements of an EMS
need to be reviewed at once.
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. Other objectives of the management
review are to:
⚫ Review regulatory compliance and to determine the causes of non-compliance.
⚫ Determine whether or not operational controls, procedures, corrective actions,
preventive measures and continuous improvement efforts were able to improve the
environmental performance of the organization.
⚫ Determine process improvements due to EMS measures.
⚫ Determine if there are operational areas existing that could possibly be improved with
EMS measures.

1. State the benefits of implementing ISO 14001 in an organization

2. What is continual improvement in environmental performance? How can it be
planned in an organization?
3. State the requirements and recommended approach to implementing clause 4.2
of ISO 14001-2004 (environmental policy) within an organization?
4. Write a note on identifying environmental aspects and impacts within an
organizational set up?
5. With a neat sketch. Explain the components of EMS.
6. Define environmental policy; write the benefits of developing environmental
policy.
7. With a neat sketch of pollution prevention hierarchy, explain pollution
prevention techniques?
8. What is Initial environment review? Give its benefits
9. Explain the basic principles of ISO 14001.
10. Explain the importance of Initial environment review.
11. Explain environmental aspects and impacts with examples.
12. Explain the key steps involved in developing a training program.
13. Explain the core element of EMS, with a schematic diagram.
14. List any six benefits of EMS.
15. Discuss the benefits and barriers of EMS as per ISO 14001
16. Write any four principles and structures of ISO 14000 series.
17. Write a short note on Documentation and operational control.
18. Explain EMS and EMAS.
19. Mention the contents of ISO 14001
20. Write a short note on i) Initial environment review ii) Objectives and Targets
iii)Document Control iv) Management review
21. Explain the concept of continual improvement of environment quality.
Environmental Protection and Management 18CV753