We started with a quick recap of ISO-14001 elements that we had studied already, like 4.1: Scope and 4.2: Environmental Policy. This class will be to discuss 4.3: Planning
Planning is the First phase of the PDCA Cycle; "IF YOU FAIL TO PLAN, YOU PLAN TO FAIL"
4.3 PLanning
4.3.1. Identifying and Assessment of Significant Aspects.
AN ASPECT is an element of the activity, product or service, that can have an impact on the environment. AN IMPACT is the change in the environmental condition, positive or negative. The system requires that Aspects of not only activities but also Products and Services have to be identified. These aspects are a part of the Environmental Management System only if they are under the control of the organization or the organization can have influence on the aspect.
We discussed the input-output model using the example of an activity like tea making. The inputs are e.g. Milk, Tea leaves, Sugar, water, LPG Gas, cups, mugs etc. The desirable output is Tea. There are quite a few un-desirable outputs, e.g. waste heat, waste water, packaging materials etc. These undesirable outputs can have an impact on the environment (hence can be classified as ASPECTS). These aspects for ALL the activities, products and services of the organization have to be identified and recorded. In one way of assessing these aspects, the following criteria are used to assess significance: a) the probability of occurrence, b) the intensity of the impact and c) the long term effect of the impact. To this one can also add the relevance of the aspect to any legislative requirement. We discussed as to how the significance will vary based on the "size" of the activity, product or service (e.g. emission of alcohol in a bottle and that in a 15 tons tanker). We also discussed that we have to identify DIRECT & INDIRECT impacts (e.g. of indirect impact, electrical energy used in the activity is related to emission of carbon dioxide at the thermal power station, leading to global warming), POSITIVE and NEGATIVE impacts, impacts due to START-UP, SHUT DOWN, ACCIDENTS etc. We also discussed that we need to capture ALL these impacts in the PAST, PRESENT and FUTURE, before assessing the ASPECT. We discussed as to how to use the assessment score to prioritize the aspects as significant as well as to ensure continual improvement. One of the requirements, which is not explicit in the ISO-14001 standard, is to RECORD all the Aspects and Impacts identified, including the significant aspects.
The next step (which can be started concurrently with the initial review) is to identify applicable legal and other requirements.
4.3.2. Legal and other requirements. The organization should establish a procedure to identify and access legal and other requirements.
Legal requirements may be local (e.g. Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, Consent for operations under the Air and Water Acts, Authorization under the Hazardous Waste (Management & Handling) Rules, etc.), Country / Region specific (especially if the organization exports to these countries, e.g. RoHS, WEEE, REACH etc.), or Global (where international protocols warrant action, e.g. Montreal Protocol, BASEL Convention etc.). Other requirements include company specific standards, guidelines, policies or industry specific requirements like "Responsible Care" of the Chemical Industry, "Electronics Industry Code of Conduct" of the electronics industry etc. It is a good practice to have a register of legal and other requirements and update it periodically.
The standard requires that the organization identifies as to how these legal and other requirements are related to the environmental aspects of the activities, products and services of the organization.
4.3.3. Objectives, Targets & Programmes
Once the organization identifies its significant environmental aspects and applicable legal and other requirements, it has to set its objecitves based on the overall intent provided by the Environmental Policy. Objetive is a goal to be achived by a particular time - say, for example, "to reduce energy consumption by 50 % by the year 2010". Target is specific measureable sub-goal, with well defined measurement index. Targets are normally SMART: S = Specific, M=Measureable, A=Achievable, R= Reasonable and T = Timebound. e.g. To reduce energy consumed per product (MJ/Piece) by 20 % by 2009. The Environmental Management Programme is an elaboration of how to achieve the target and goals, with specific responsibility, milestones for various activities, resources required, monitoring methods and review mechanism etc. Objectives on specific significant environmental aspects is one way of addressing significant environmental aspects, so that their impact is reduced once the programme is successfully completed
Significant aspects can also, apart from setting objectives, targets and programmes, be addressed through (a) training (competence building), (b) communication, (c) operational control procedures and (d) emergency and accident preparedness
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Lectures 4 and 5: ISO - 14001 on 08 February and 01 March 2011
We started with a discussion on the meaning of Management Systems. System is a set of procedures, processes and programmes which provide a framework for addressing a specific issue; Management is about the use of scarce resources (through planning, leading, organizing and controlling) to achieve the goals of the organization.
ISO-14001 Standard: Environmetal Management Systems - Requirements with Guidance for use was first published in 1996 and was revised in 2004. About 130000 organizations all over the world have got themselves certified to ISO-14001 standard by 2008. Japan leads the number of ISO-14001 certifications, followed by China. Both depend on international trade for growing/maintaining their economies. ISO-14001 provides a shield against the use of environmental issues as non-tariff trade barriers by western and other developed countries.
We started with the structure of ISO-14001 (2004) Standard - PDCA - Plan -Do -Check-Act.
There are Four sections in ISO-14001 Standard; the operative part is Section 4.
We quickly went through the meanings of various terms used in the Standard. (please see them in the document copy provided to you)
Before establishing an environmental management system, an organization may carry out an initial review of its environmental issues, procedures, practices, legal requirements and past practices/accidents etc.
4.1 is about the commitment of the organization to establish an environmental management system
4.2 is about the Environmental Policy. The Environmental Policy has to be issued by the TOP MANAGEMENT. The following are the requirement of the environmental policy:
a. It should be appropriate to the nature, scale and environmental impacts of the organization
b. It should commit the organization to compliance with applicable legal and other requirements
c. It should commit the organization to continual improvement and prevention of pollution
d. It should be available to the public
Apart from the above, the policy has to be documented, implemented and maintained. It should be communicated to employees as well as contractors,suppliers, service providers etc.
We discussed the meaning of CONTINUAL improvement; i.e. improvement that takes place in one or more areas of the organization, resulting in the overall system improvement. Improvements need not take place in all the areas at the same time or all the time; but some of the areas need to show improvement. These are determined by the resources available to the organization.
We also discussed the meaning of PREVENTION of POLLUTION; according to this standard prevention of pollution need not be complete elimination of the pollutant; it can be a reduction or control of pollution.
The meaning of "PUBLICLY AVAILABLE"is that the policy is not a confidential document and hence should be available to any stakeholder who has an interest in the policy.
We discussed the Environmental Policy of Exide; it was found to meet the requirement of section 4.2 of ISO-14001(2004). At this point I asked you to write an Environmental Policy for your department. As there was not much time available we agreed that you will be posting the two draft policies for your department at the comments space of this blog.
We also agreed that for the internal evaluation you will study an EIA report for any of the townships, large construction projects, SEZ/SEEPZ etc (e.g. Magarpata City, Amanora, Lavassa, Nanded city etc.) and write a two page summary of the environmental/social impacts of such projects, impact mitigation measures (environmental management programmes) and the final impact after implementing an Environmental Management Programme. I would request each one of you to provide me with the two page summary; you may work in groups - but I need one summary per student for evaluation.
I will not be available for the next class on 08 March 2011. We will meet on 15 March for the 6th Class.
ISO-14001 Standard: Environmetal Management Systems - Requirements with Guidance for use was first published in 1996 and was revised in 2004. About 130000 organizations all over the world have got themselves certified to ISO-14001 standard by 2008. Japan leads the number of ISO-14001 certifications, followed by China. Both depend on international trade for growing/maintaining their economies. ISO-14001 provides a shield against the use of environmental issues as non-tariff trade barriers by western and other developed countries.
We started with the structure of ISO-14001 (2004) Standard - PDCA - Plan -Do -Check-Act.
There are Four sections in ISO-14001 Standard; the operative part is Section 4.
We quickly went through the meanings of various terms used in the Standard. (please see them in the document copy provided to you)
Before establishing an environmental management system, an organization may carry out an initial review of its environmental issues, procedures, practices, legal requirements and past practices/accidents etc.
4.1 is about the commitment of the organization to establish an environmental management system
4.2 is about the Environmental Policy. The Environmental Policy has to be issued by the TOP MANAGEMENT. The following are the requirement of the environmental policy:
a. It should be appropriate to the nature, scale and environmental impacts of the organization
b. It should commit the organization to compliance with applicable legal and other requirements
c. It should commit the organization to continual improvement and prevention of pollution
d. It should be available to the public
Apart from the above, the policy has to be documented, implemented and maintained. It should be communicated to employees as well as contractors,suppliers, service providers etc.
We discussed the meaning of CONTINUAL improvement; i.e. improvement that takes place in one or more areas of the organization, resulting in the overall system improvement. Improvements need not take place in all the areas at the same time or all the time; but some of the areas need to show improvement. These are determined by the resources available to the organization.
We also discussed the meaning of PREVENTION of POLLUTION; according to this standard prevention of pollution need not be complete elimination of the pollutant; it can be a reduction or control of pollution.
The meaning of "PUBLICLY AVAILABLE"is that the policy is not a confidential document and hence should be available to any stakeholder who has an interest in the policy.
We discussed the Environmental Policy of Exide; it was found to meet the requirement of section 4.2 of ISO-14001(2004). At this point I asked you to write an Environmental Policy for your department. As there was not much time available we agreed that you will be posting the two draft policies for your department at the comments space of this blog.
We also agreed that for the internal evaluation you will study an EIA report for any of the townships, large construction projects, SEZ/SEEPZ etc (e.g. Magarpata City, Amanora, Lavassa, Nanded city etc.) and write a two page summary of the environmental/social impacts of such projects, impact mitigation measures (environmental management programmes) and the final impact after implementing an Environmental Management Programme. I would request each one of you to provide me with the two page summary; you may work in groups - but I need one summary per student for evaluation.
I will not be available for the next class on 08 March 2011. We will meet on 15 March for the 6th Class.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)