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
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