All posts tagged EMS

Environmental Management System Review-iso 14001 Gap Analysis Protocol Audit Checklist

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ISO 14001 really are a generic document also it doesn’t specify “how” to complete, but only states “what” to do. According to the standard, the Environment Management System ought to be documented and become demonstrable in the manner in conjuction with the requirements of ISO 14001 models. The entire demonstration in the Environment Management System includes four tiers of documents.

1.Environment Manual

2.Procedure Manual

3.Work Instruction/Operating Procedure Manual

4.Forms, Records

The amount of documentation should support and efficient Environment assurance system without developing a paper bureaucracy. The details for documenting above four tiers of documents is described in this paper.

NEED FOR DOCUMENT CONTROL: –

Environmental surroundings System includes a number of documents. Some system ought to be provided for safe keeping of complex records. It is important to clearly define regarding where they should be kept and for how long, and who is accountable for them. Each written procedure ought to be checked and signed by a certified person, with issue number and issue date. The management representative should have a summary of all completed procedures, applicable to the individual departmental activities. Against each listed document the amount ought to be shown together with the date of the latest change. It is also called a “Master Copy”. It’s a yardstick against which any other controlled copy can be judged.

Every once in awhile the Committee for Management Review and Corrective Action may put forward strategies for alternation in the procedure. The Management Representative should be accountable for implementing the modification. To make a change, the new page ought to be circulated to the keeper from the controlled copy from the document by having an instruction to insert the new page in order and return the replaced page towards the Management Representative. Thus outdated documents is going to be removed from circulation. The modification, which has been made, ought to be recognized to the staff and everyone should implement the new procedure. When a number of major changes have been made, a complete new manual has to be issued. The retention period for these records can be predefined either contractually or by the policy which is to be mentioned in the Environment Manual.

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Here’s your opportunity to download an Environmental Management System Audit Checklist template with 254 inquiries to assist you to conduct efficient internal EMS auditing programs needed by the ISO 14001:2004 standard. Our EMS audit tool can also be flexible enough that will help you audit a whole organization or system, or simply a particular a part of an organization (unit, site, operational area, team, activity, etc). Follow our well worn steps to EMS auditing today. We now have done all of the effort for you personally. Just download the MS Word documents to get started today.

Environmental Management Systems For The Construction Industry

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Currently harmonized Environmental Management Systems (EMS) is generally taken in the business scene. As we know, environmental management systems first established in Japan (in the electronic industry) in the 1980s and later spread out to USA and Europe. In latter places, EMS was used primarily by great harming establishments including chemical and power. Later on it was steadily brought in to other fields which had fewer environmental shocks.

A great number of construction businesses all around the world are experiencing a great number of environmental setbacks. Such as, strict and complex environmental laws and regulations, bringing up compliance costs and hefty penalties for violation could affect every construction companys success regarding profitability and development. Apart from these rising situations, increasing public interest on environmental concerns has catalysed the construction enterprises to think in another way or look for state of the art techniques to strengthen or sustain their solvency.

In the same way, a great number of construction firms (either small or large) have demonstrated that a sensible EMS is not simply beneficial in many different ways but in addition a innovative tactic to remain competitive in a tremendously erratic sector.

Toward ecologically sustainable enhancement

The construction market creates streets, railways, schools, hospitals, local community and recreational functions and various installations that shape our built environment and contour our landscape. Up until recently, economic advancement, social regimens and environment protection came about mostly in seclusion from one another. These days, however, there is a rising understanding that these arrangements are interconnected and that social, economic and ecological targets are interdependent. Ecologically Sustainable Development has actually been described as: using, conserving and enhancing the communitys resources so that ecological processes, on which life depends, are maintained, and the total quality of life, now and in the future, can be increased.

It is a well-known reality that countless number of construction corporations internationally have exceptionally benefited through implementation of EMS. To illustrate, the benefits are many:
Cutting down expenses due to judicious utilization of resources and waste minimization
Ability to comply with rigorous environmental laws and regulations. Thus, reducing consequences, delays and refrain from fees and penalties.
Ability to observe or observe environmental concerns concerning many phases of construction projects
Increased competitiveness and discover market options simply by environmentally friendly construction programs available to environmentally sensitive patrons
Facilitate highly effective correspondence and dialogue involving all stakeholders involved internally as well as externally. In other words, fostering better relationships with regulators or law enforcement agencies including the communities.
Greater business image as a socially and ecologically accountable construction firm,
Producing a highly involved (or encouraged) and responsible team or a open environmental crew inside of the group

A highly effective EMS signifies not merely always keeping the exterior working environment healthy but additionally maintaining a safe and healthy working situation through Occupational and Healthy (OH&S) procedures. Fundamentally, the previous will incorporate implementation of ISO14001 and the second incorporate occupational health and safety steps specified in OHSAS18002:2008. This demonstrates EMS and OH&S precautions should combine together for effective implementation of an EMS in a construction firm.

The ISO14001 international standards stipulates the precise prerequisites for an EMS. It basically applies to environmental issues which the construction firm has the control over and at the same time many of these issues can have an impact on its efficiency.

In simple terms, ISO14001 is a voluntary standard that may be used by any construction company. It mostly supports the business to carefully deal with construction actions that have a negative influence on the environment. Particularly, it consists of 17 elements or attributes grouped into five essential areas:
Environmental Policy
Planning
Implementation and operation
Checking and corrective action
Management Review

Mainly, ISO14001 can help any kind of construction organization to abide by relevant environmental law regulations whilst boosting the environmentally connected tasks on a repeated basis.

Actually, any Environmental Management System (EMS) is a special management process which goes after Plan-Do-Check-Act model or method. It presents a strategy to ascertain all environmental aspects related to operations of a construction business. Also, it will help the entity in question not just to build up, implement, keep tabs on, review, and modify action plans and methods on frequent basis but moreover boost the construction companys all round operations that have a direct effect on the environment.

A sound environmental procedure in construction ventures means:

Conducting for all projects a Comprehensive environmental impact analysis, encompassing all stages straight from inception right through to operation and, finally, decommissioning or demolition. All of the detected impacts must be removed (where possible) or mitigated through the lifecycle of the project.

Integrating during the entire project lifecycle the Environmental management principles and systems.

Applying Environmental consciousness strategies to make certain contractors can potentially complete their environmental management assignments and duties.

Resource preservation and management needs to be an important consideration at every stage from project inception right through to operations and, eventually, decommissioning or demolition.

The crucial need for effective environmental management is that environmental situations should be found, examined and maintained throughout every stage of a projects life: from start off through design, building and operation to eventual demolition/disposal.

In summing up, EMS is mainly a management tool for modern construction company. With rapidly raising environmentally involved client base, any construction company must adjust a very good EMS in order to boost its market share or maintain its business. It will obviously gather well known gains such as:
Improved environmental regulatory compliance requirements
Minimise risks and liabilities
Appreciably reduce or minimize waste and pollution
Substantial cost savings through increased performance and motivated staff
Establishes procedures or system for continual improvement
Enhance corporate image among all stakeholders such as investors, potential customers, community groups and regulatory authorities.

Integrated Management Systems – Advantages To Integrate High Quality, Ohs And Ems

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The actual Integrated Management Systems (IMS) has become a hot theme not only among manufacturing corporations but also amongst numerous service institutions for example construction. The main reason for this trend is because of the growing quantity of management systems or standards which are implemented globally. IMS needs the amalgamation of numerous individual management systems for example AS/NZS ISO 9001, AS/NZS ISO 14001, AS/NZS 4801 and several more. Therefore, the main objective of an IMS is always to manage an organisation by way of a single harmonized management system rather than numerous management systems.

The thought of IMS became very related with the introduction and execution of ISO 14001 which envisaged integrated organizational method (or systems method) to environmental sustainability. In the same way, IMS has become a lot more important with the introduction of many standards. As much more and a lot more management systems are obtainable today, it is important for any organization to perform towards a harmonized, easy and simply implementable IMS.

It is really likely that any business implementing AS/NZS ISO 14001 (or the environmental management program), has a high quality management method (such asISO 9001) currently in location. Today, not just consumers but also regulatory authorities insist that the suppliers or service organizations (for example construction organisations) should implement AS/NZS ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems (QMS) whilst moving towards ISO 14001.

When a person closely examine the AS/NZS ISO 9001, AS/NZS ISO 14001 and AS/NZS 4801 Occupational Well being &Safety (OHS), he/she would discover that each one of these systems have many common processes and procedures. Also, its essential to note that there are no ISO standards for OHS. However, implementation OHS or adhering to OHS requirements in an organization may be easy if it has the QMS and EMS accreditation currently in spot.

Why any business seeks for IMS ?

In order to preserve or satisfy clients, several institutions mandate its suppliers or service providers (for example construction contractors) developing and implementing their own quality, OHS and environmental management systems.

To overcome trade barriers, many institutions or construction companies (operating in global markets like USA, EU, and Australasia) adapt and implement ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 accreditations. Such accreditations not just enhance the image of any organization globally as quality and environmentally conscious organization but in addition such an organization is readily accepted by consumers in the global markets.

Cost reduction by way of lower insurance payments: – Many corporations that have implemented AS/NZS ISO 14001 and AS/NZS 4801 can be eligible for reduced Insurance premium offered by insurance companies. The organisations for example construction businesses which are operating in highly risky and constantly changing work environment may be able to get appreciable benefit by way of IMS which comprised of AS/NZS ISO 9001, AS/NZS ISO 14001 and AS/NZS 4801.

It demonstrates not merely their commitment to top quality and also its adherence to processes and procedures required for the safety of the workers at the work place including the environment.

To boost the effectiveness of the QMS, EMS and OHS,
To demonstrate the sensitiveness to the environment and commitment to safety by doing the right thing at the first time, as described in ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and AS/NZS 4801.
To reduce the manufacturing and operating costs and enhance Return on Investment (ROI) through implementation of QMS, EMS and OHS

Aside from above, any business can get a higher ROI by way of IMS which uses the advantage of similarities of ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and AS/NZS 4801. Also, it can minimize ambiguities and confusion amongst employees when implementing the QMS, EMS and OHS associated standards.

Latest statistics reveal that several institutions have successfully integrated partially or fully all the management systems. For example, automotive, electronics, steel, chemical and service (construction industry) industries have proven the effectiveness of IMS via improved ROI. Basically, they were capable to decrease operating costs, time required to implement the processes, complexity (or ambiguity) of the management systems, through IMS. Similarly, such companies were able to have higher employee satisfaction and moral by way of integrated or simplified strategy to defining function instructions or job descriptions and tasks or performance standards.

There are a number of rewards could be derived via implementation of an IMS in an organization:

Since QMS, EMS and OHS has similarities, all three can be simply combined to have common organizational goals and objectives;
Can have a harmonized and simplified management program in the organization; in essence, workers or staff can be provided with one set of clear instructions rather than multiple instructions that can lead to confusion and conflicts. Therefore, much documentation and reporting on each system can be minimized.
The training of employees can be streamlined under single system rather than multiple training required under a number of systems.
Optimum use of resources resulting from maintaining a single process for all activities required under IMS. In other words, staff training, document control, management review, corrective and preventive actions need only less time and effort compared to implementing multiple management systems.
Can enhance organizational performance in terms of reduced customer complaints, product non-conformities, accident, wellness and environmental related risks; similarly, it can reduce top quality related risks or issues as well.
It helps the organization to combine high quality, environmental and OHS objectives into the overarching corporate strategy.
It emphasise the top management and the staff at all levels to consider top quality, environment and safety with equal priority.
It puts in place a broad agenda for continual improvement of top quality, environmental and OHS systems.

In summing up, one can conclude that Integrated Management Method will allow any construction organization (or any other) to combine quality (AS/NZS ISO 9001), Environment (AS/NZS ISO14001) and Wellness and Safety (AS/NZS 4801) into a single management system. It will not just make the organization effective in terms of compliance on high quality, environmental and wellness & safety but additionally be able to improve its efficiency and productivity resulting in higher ROI.