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EMS course

The document outlines the essential components and benefits of an Environmental Management System (EMS), emphasizing its role in reducing environmental impact while enhancing operational efficiency. It highlights the importance of leadership and commitment from top management, as well as the ISO 14001 standard for developing an EMS. The document also details a five-phase cycle for creating and improving an EMS, including policy development, planning, implementation, inspection, and management review.

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Nyagaka Bildad
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
16 views5 pages

EMS course

The document outlines the essential components and benefits of an Environmental Management System (EMS), emphasizing its role in reducing environmental impact while enhancing operational efficiency. It highlights the importance of leadership and commitment from top management, as well as the ISO 14001 standard for developing an EMS. The document also details a five-phase cycle for creating and improving an EMS, including policy development, planning, implementation, inspection, and management review.

Uploaded by

Nyagaka Bildad
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Learning Outcomes

Having completed this module you will be able to:

State the critical components of a successful EMS.

Identify the international standard for creating and implementing an environmental management
system.

Evaluate the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle.

Identify the five-phase cycle of the development and improvement of an EMS.

Recall the meaning of environmental aspects, impact and objectives

Purpose and Scope of an EMS

An Environmental Management System (EMS) is a collection of systematic processes and practices that
allow a company to reduce its environmental impact while improving its operational efficiency. The
EMS's range will be primarily determined by the operations' context: the company's size, activity, and
nature of its products and services.

COMPLIANCE

An environmental management system (EMS) assists a company in meeting its environmental


compliance obligations methodically and cost-effectively. This proactive strategy can assist in reducing
the risk of non-compliance and improve employee and public health and safety standards.

The idea of an EMS represents a significant shift from traditional reactive, compliance-based
environmental management programs toward a proactive, impact-predicting management system
centered on company goals and entrenched in daily business processes and activities.

ISO 14001

The international standard for creating and implementing an environmental management system is ISO
14001. ISO (International Organization for Standardization) publishes the standard. It is an international
organization that develops and distributes internationally recognized standards. The most current
edition of the environmental management system regulations, known as "ISO 14004:2016," was last
reviewed in 2021. Before being released and revised, the standard was agreed upon by a majority of
member countries, and as a result, has become an internationally recognized standard acknowledged by
a majority of governments throughout the world.

Preserve the Balance


It is now more imperative than ever before for organizations to preserve a balance between
socioeconomic requirements and environmental concerns. The easiest way to fulfill this goal is to put in
place an effective Environmental Management System, or "EMS."

An efficient EMS assists a company in achieving its environmental goals by maintaining consistent
control of its operations throughout the product or service life cycle.

This greater control is expected to improve the company's environmental performance. However, the
EMS does not mandate a certain degree of environmental performance; instead, each company's EMS is
tailored to the nature of its business and objectives.

The policies, methods, plans, practices, and records that establish the rules controlling how your firm
interacts with the environment are known as an environmental management system, or EMS. You must
customize this system to your company because only your firm has the exact legal requirements and
ecological interactions that match your business procedures. The ISO 14001 criteria, on the other hand,
provide a structure and instructions for developing your environmental management system, ensuring
that you do not ignore vital areas.

Advantages of an EMS

Top management will have the information they need to achieve long-term success in reaching
environmental goals if they use a systematic approach, which includes:

Recognizing important parts of the organization's activities, as well as the dangers and possibilities they
bring.

Reducing negative consequences and maximizing positive consequences.

Assisting the organization in achieving long-term success and meeting compliance requirements.

Continually upgrading the product at all stages throughout its life cycle.

Achieving substantial cost reductions as a result of implementing effective alternatives.

Putting people, procedures, and work habits into a formal structure ensures that the organization's
major environmental impacts are identified and handled.

Promoting continuous improvement in the EMS, including monitoring environmental performance


regularly

All members of the organization are involved.

Commitment and Leadership


Leadership and commitment are critical components of a successful EMS. Without it, the EMS will fail,
so let's take a closer look at these crucial principles.

LEADERSHIP

Top management is in charge of the organization at the highest level and is responsible for the EMS's
overall success. Managers should lead by example and encourage great performance from everyone,
not only to keep others in line but because they genuinely care about everyone and the EMS's success.

The EMS needs should be integrated into the company's fundamental business plans, priorities, and
procedures by management. The EMS is an integral part of the company's corporate vision and
objective, not separate from it.

COMMITMENT

According to a recent study, the most successful firms in terms of environmental changes have firm
senior management commitment. The top management has a responsibility to safeguard the
environment in all parts of the company's operations.

To accomplish this, it must express a firm commitment to:

- environmental protection

- fulfilling legal duties

EMS's MISSION

Leadership and commitment to the EMS's mission and goals can be seen when:

The EMS is owned by top management. Therefore, they bear responsibility for the EMS's successes and
failings.

Managers are involved in developing environmental policies and goals that are compatible with the
organization's context.

Management is dedicated to continuous improvement throughout the product or service life cycle, from
conception through disposal.

The EMS is designed by management to integrate seamlessly into all aspects of the organization's main
operational procedures.

Systems are in place to ensure that all supplies, equipment, machinery, and staff are available.

Managers at all levels of the organization emphasize the relevance of the EMS to employees.

Management scrutinizes the data to ensure that the EMS accomplishes its goals.
Managers ensure that all employees receive the necessary physical and psychosocial support for a
successful EMS.

CREATING EMS

Building an Environmental Management System (EMS) may appear to be a daunting initiative for a small
business, but it is not. When approached in stages, it is a task that any company can do.

Watch the video: The Model of Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle

The EMS is developed and improved in a five-phase cycle:

1. Environmental Policy - The employer signs and distributes an environmental policy statement to all
workers and the general public.

2. Planning phase - The organization conducts and documents a self-assessment in accordance with its
EMS policy and notifies the employer.

3. Implementation phase – The employer signs a formal plan for implementing the EMS that includes
scheduled dates, specified resources, timetables and organizational roles.

4. Phase of Inspection and Corrective Action.

5. Management Review - this feeds directly into the Planning phase to help make the necessary
modifications to reach and maintain the targeted level of performance.

Components of a Successful EMS

Be careful to incorporate crucial aspects that operate together as a system while creating an effective
EMS.

The essential features integrated within each of the five continuous improvement phases of an efficient
EMS will be covered later in the course

Policies

Environmental Policy - Develop an environmental policy that expresses the organization's commitment
to the environment.

Environmental Aspects and Impacts - identify environmental characteristics of products, activities, and
services and their environmental impacts.
Requirements and objectives

Legal Requirements - locate and make available applicable laws and regulations.

Objectives and Targets and EMS - Set environmental goals for the organization and prepare activities to
meet those goals, objectives and targets in the Environmental Management Program.

Responsibility and training

Structure and Responsibility - Establish roles and responsibilities within the organization's structure.

Training, Awareness and Competence - Ensure that staff are aware of and competent in carrying out
their environmental duties through training, awareness and competency.

Communication - Develop internal and external communication mechanisms for environmental


management issues.

Documentation and control

EMS Documentation - keep track of EMS-related information and documentation.

Document Control - Ensure that processes and other documentation are managed effectively.

Operational Control - Identify, plan, and manage the organization's operations and activities in
accordance with the policy, objectives, and targets, as well as important aspects.

Emergency Preparedness and Response - Prepare for and respond to probable emergencies by
developing methods for preventing and responding to them.

Monitoring and review

Monitoring and Measuring – keep track of critical tasks and evaluate performance on a regular basis.

Evaluation of Compliance - Develop a method for regularly evaluating compliance with legal and other
obligations.

Nonconformance and Corrective and Preventive Action - detect and correct problems and prevent them
from recurring.

Records - Maintain adequate records of EMS operations.

EMS Audit - Verify that the EMS is effective and meets objectives.

Management Review - Review the EMS with management.

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