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.
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