ISO 14001 Standard & Environmental Issues

ISO 14001 Standard & Environmental Issues

ISO 14001 is a systematic tool that enables an organization in any market sector to focus on their situation, identify the relevant environmental issues and to lessen their impact to their benefit and the environment. It is part of a global response to the recognition that we are damaging the environment in which we all live. The cause and effect of the foremost world environmental issues, which are all due to mankind, are generally too vast and too intangible for us to grasp and so the slightly cliché expression ‘think global, act local’ is very relevant. Once the EMS is implemented and to become registered to ISO 14001, the external auditor will assess your EMS in two separate stages, on site. The first stage to understand your business activities and determine formal readiness for assessment and the second to check practical compliance with ISO 14001. After registration he will return at regular intervals every year to verify continual improvement and regulatory compliance, against your set objectives and your EMS. The external auditor should be seen as a wise friend, not a policeman. He should certainly explain his findings and assist the company to find ISO 14001 registration is not a cure for all environmental problems but I hope I’ve demonstrated that it is a worthwhile, if not essential business initiative that could enable your management to better manage your business, gain commercial advantage and minimize its environmental impact.

How to Get an ISO 14001 Accreditation

If you are someone who is looking into getting an ISO 14001, then you may be wondering exactly why it is that you have to get this accreditation. First, you have to understand that ISO stands for the International Organisation of Standardisation. This is a series of standards that have been developed with a singular level of guidance for all companies to measure up to. The particular 14001 deals with the requirements that you will need to have in order to measure up to the environmental standards that have been set forth by the ISO.

While you do not necessarily have to get the ISO 14001 accreditation to operate your business, it is something you can do to prove to your clients and customers that you are doing your part to help out with the environment. However, you may be confused on how to go about getting this important accreditation, but it is not as difficult to attain as you might think, and most businesses should be able to get the certification within a year of the application. You should know that they will want to make sure that you have been following some form of environmental standards for at least three months prior to your application. To do this you can write an environmental review of your company’s environmental impact as it is in its current operating state. You will then want to make sure that you provide this information when you send off your initial paperwork to begin the overall process.

In order to help prove that your company is doing its part to be environmentally aware you will have to go through an initial audit once the application has been filled out and filed. After the audit has been completed you will get a list of issues that the auditor feels you need to resolve before you can be certified for the ISO 14001. You will need to work on and correct these issues before the second audit is conducted, and they will give you a time period (usually three to six months) when they will return to check on your progress.

When the second audit occurs they will once again assess the overall business and then they will address the issues that were laid out in the previous audit. If everything goes well then your company will have proven that they are doing what they can to meet the standard set forth in ISO 14001, and they will then receive accreditation. However, this is not the end of the process. Even though you are now recognised as having environmentally conscious policies that are congruent with the international standards, you will have to go through periodic audits every three years to make sure that you are still operating correctly. Not only this, but every three months partial aspects of your company will be analysed to see that they are still working within the standards as well. As long as you remain within the compliance terms you will continue to receive your ISO 14001 certification.

About ISO 14001:2004 Standards

The ISO 14001 aims to reduce the environmental carbon footprints that many businesses leave behind today because of not taking the right steps to be environmental sustainable. This standard promotes the decrease in the waste of necessary business resources and also reduces the pollution that can sometimes be a by product of a business.

About ISO 14001

The most updated version of the ISO 14001 was released in the year 2004 by the International Organisation of Standardization (ISO), which was attended by members from all the committees from around the world. In order for a company to be awarded the ISO 14001 standard certificate, an external auditor has to audit the company by an audit body that has been accredited by an accreditation body. The certification auditors are required to be accredited by the International Registrar of Certification Auditor and the certification body has to be accredited by the Registrar Accreditation Board in the USA or by the National Accreditation Board in Ireland.

The structure of ISO 14001 is very much like the ISO 9000, which is management standard, so these two standards can be implemented side by side to achieve the best results. As a part of the ISO 14000 family, which deals with different aspects of environmental issues, ISO 14001:2004 and ISO 14002 deal with environmental management system (EMS). ISO 14001 gives the requirements for the

EMS and ISO 14002 gives the basic guidelines for EMS.

Environmental Management System with ISO 14001:2004

The EMS, as per the requirements of the ISO 14001, enables the company, may it be of any size, location and income to:

• It helps the company improve its environmental strategy and this positively affects their environmental performance.
• It helps in identifying and controlling the environmental impact that the activities, services or products of the company might have.
• And it helps in carrying out a systematic approach to set environmental targets and objectives, to achieve these and also to demonstrate that they have been achieved.

How does it work?

ISO 14001 does not specify or chalk out a definite level that each business has to reach. If the performance was determined, then it would have to be done for every specific business. But that is not how it works and has a very different approach, like:

• The ISO has various standards dealing with environmental issues. ISO 14001 deals with a framework provided for a strategic and holistic approach to the businesses environmental policy, actions and plans.
• It gives the general requirements for the EMS.
• This also states the reference to the communication requirements for the communication of the environmental management issues between the company, stakeholders, the public and the regulators.
• As these standards are not company specific, any and every business can undertake them as long as they are dedicated to the continued and improved environmental performance and they have a commitment to comply with the set norms.

The new edition of ISO 9001 is an amendment and not a revision; in other words, the changes are very small. They are broadly as follows: - the user-f

ISO 14001 Standard & Environmental Issues

ISO 14001 is a systematic tool that enables an organization in any market sector to focus on their situation, identify the relevant environmental issues and to lessen their impact to their benefit and the environment. It is part of a global response to the recognition that we are damaging the environment in which we all live. The cause and effect of the foremost world environmental issues, which are all due to mankind, are generally too vast and too intangible for us to grasp and so the slightly cliché expression ‘think global, act local’ is very relevant. Once the EMS is implemented and to become registered to ISO 14001, the external auditor will assess your EMS in two separate stages, on site. The first stage to understand your business activities and determine formal readiness for assessment and the second to check practical compliance with ISO 14001. After registration he will return at regular intervals every year to verify continual improvement and regulatory compliance, against your set objectives and your EMS. The external auditor should be seen as a wise friend, not a policeman. He should certainly explain his findings and assist the company to find ISO 14001 registration is not a cure for all environmental problems but I hope I’ve demonstrated that it is a worthwhile, if not essential business initiative that could enable your management to better manage your business, gain commercial advantage and minimize its environmental impact.

ISO 14001 Standards Environmental Management System

Global warming, ozone depletion, pollution and extinction of numerous species of animals. These are just a few of the environmental issues that the world faces, in the name of development. As responsible corporate citizens, SMEs can play their part in preserving our natural environment for our next generation.

Both individuals and businesses especially have a social and environmental responsibility to fulfil. With the rapid development in today’s industrialised world, the issue of preserving and managing our environment has become crucial. The increasing awareness of the importance of good environmental management systems is evidenced by the amendments made to the Environmental Quality Act 1974 and other environmental regulations which serve to ensure stricter compliance of environmental standards. Malaysia also adopted the National Environment Policy in 2002 as a means of addressing environmental issues in an integrated manner while more and more companies are striving to attain the MS14001 EMS certification.

WHAT SMEs CAN DO TO SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT
As responsible corporate citizens, SMEs have a major role to play in preserving the environment. For starters, they can help the Government to achieve its recycling goals, by creating mechanisms to facilitate the segregation of recyclable wastes and to ensure that these wastes are sent to the relevant parties instead of being dumped in landfills and illegal dumpsites. Furthermore, SMEs must also ensure that proper waste management systems are in place in conducting their day-to-day businesses.

Below are a few steps that SMEs can take to do their part for the environment:
• Dispose off company wastes properly and responsibly.
• Encourage employees to reuse items where possible, for example, printing on both sides of the paper, etc.
• Practise recycling in the office, by introducing a recycling programme. Among the items that can be recycled are papers, cardboards, glass, aluminium cans and scrap metals.
• Implementing an Environmental Management System (EMS).

WHAT IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (EMS)?
An EMS provides a framework for managing environmental practices that integrates with overall business goals in a systematic way. Various models can be applied to develop, implement and maintain an EMS. One of the more common models used by industries is the model described by the ISO 14001 standard which was developed by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO). The ISO 14001 standard EMS model focuses on continuous improvement through an on-going cycle of actions called the continual improvement cycle which incorporates the elements of planning, doing, checking and acting.

An EMS typically begins with a strong environmental policy which describes the organisation’s approach in managing its environmental affairs and reflects its commitment to protect the environment and human well-being. The environmental policy establishes the framework for environmental leadership and serves as a contract between an organisation’s employees and its stakeholders. As such, commitment and strong support from top management is essential in making an EMS a success. Developing the environmental policy also helps to lay the groundwork for the planning phase of the EMS cycle. It is in this stage that active management support is sought, a multi-disciplinary EMS implementation team is formed and an introduction meeting is held to brief employees on the implementation of EMS. On top of that, the scope and budget for the implementation of EMS is also pre-defined. In other words, it is important that management provides all the resources necessary for the successful implementation of EMS.

CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES
It is evident that some SME has put in place various initiatives to preserve the environment while utilizing resources efficiently. These initiatives include the following:

1. Discouraging open burning in fields and plantation sites while encouraging the composting of felled trees and crops in an environmentally-friendly way which in turn prepares land for replanting by using natural fertilizer;
2. Discouraging the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in various industrial, commercial and household appliances; and
3. Encouraging the recycling of resources for example, in the plastic manufacturing industry, materials are being regenerated through the forming process in an effort to reuse biodegradable products in an environmentally-friendly way.

WHAT IS WASTE MANAGEMENT?
Waste management involves collecting, transporting, processing, recycling and disposing waste materials, in an effort to reduce their adverse effects on human health and the environment. Waste materials include solid, liquid or gaseous substances. The implementation of waste management requires careful planning and also adequate financial resources and is the responsibility of all parties involved such as individuals, businesses and corporations, including SMEs.

INCENTIVES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND WASTE MANAGEMENT
In an effort to support an enhanced level of environmental pro activity, the government provides a range of fiscal activities which includes the Pioneer Status tax exemption and the Investment Tax Allowance for the manufacture of environmentally-friendly products, the provision and supply of environmentally-friendly services and specific activities which contribute towards the presentation of the environment. The said incentives are available for the following activities:

• Storage, treatment and disposal of toxic and hazardous waste
• Waste recycling activities which are high-tech in nature for instance, recycling agricultural wastes, chemicals and the production of reconstituted wood-based panel boards or other products
• Energy-generating activities using biomass which are renewable and environmentally-friendly. Examples of biomass resources include palm oil mill waste, rice mill waste, sugar cane mill waste, timber/sawmill waste and paper recycling mill waste
• Energy conservation services

Accelerated Capital Allowance with a special initial rate of 40% and an annual rate of 20% for total write-off within three years is given to organisations that are waste generators, for their capital expenditure on machinery and equipment incurred, to set up facilities to store, treat and dispose their waste. This incentive is also available to companies undertaking waste recycling activities.

ISO 14001 Template

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ISO 14001 Template

The ISO 14001Template were created to help you to prepare the ISO 14001Quality Manual, ISO 14001 Operating Procedure & ISO 14001 Forms. This ISO 14001 Template contains prewritten Quality Manual, Operating Procedure along with sample forms and checklists included as Microsoft Word & Excel format. It provides sample practical documentation in the proper ISO format required by the latest ISO 14001:2004.

The ISO 14001 Template features:-

• Specifically designed to be very easy to customize so that the entire documentation that is required by ISO 14001 : 2004 can be quickly and easily developed.
• Professional design and layout.
• It is designed to fulfill the ISO 14001 : 2004 requirements. .
• Easy to read, easy to understand, and easy to implement.
• Easy to audit as it follows the structure of ISO 14001: 2004..
• Includes the required Process Flowchart.

The ISO 14001 Template series itself is generic, and is designed to be applicable to any manufacturing or service process. The ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS) Template are consist of:

a. ISO 14001 EMS Manual Template
The Policy is fundamental to meeting the needs of ISO 14001. It essentially defines the rules and requirements of the organization with respect to the standard/EMS and as such is a central plank of the initiative.
ISO 14001 Manual Template Consist of:
• Section 1: General EMS Requirement
• Section 2: Environment Policy – Objectives, Targets & Programmes
• Section 3: EMS Planning
• Section 4: Implementation & Operation
• Section 5: Checking & Monitoring
• Section 6: Management Review

b. ISO 14001 Operating Procedure
The ISO 14001 Operating Procedure Template includes and integrates ISO 14001 EMS requirements, thus containing the most difficult part of the ISO 14001 documentation. The ISO 14001 Operating Procedure Template include the detailed samples of the Operating Procedures to fulfill the ISO 14001 : 2004 requirements for the procedures, making the customization process even easier. The entire manual follows the structure of ISO 14001 : 2004.

ISO 14001 Operating Procedures Consist Of:
• Objective & Targets Procedure
• Environmental Management Program Procedure
• Environmental Aspect & Impact Identification & Evaluation Procedure
• Environmental Monitoring & Measuring Procedure
• Legal & Others Requirement & Evaluation Of Compliance Procedure
• Emergency Preparedness & Response Procedure
• Chemical Control Procedure
• Waste Management Procedure
• 5S House Keeping Procedure

c. ISO 14001 Forms
ISO 14001 Forms Consist Of :
• Environmental Non-Conformance Master List
• Environmental Non-Conformance Notice Form
• Environmental Management Program Form
• Environmental Aspect & Impact Identification Form
• Green Environment Internal Audit Master Plan
• Green Environment Plan & Activities Form
• Green Environment Material Purchase Master List
• ISO 14001:2004 Internal Audit Summary Report
• Equipment Monitoring Master List
• Environment Preventive Action Report (PAR) Master List
• Environment Preventive Action Report (PAR) Form.
• Environmental Responsible Form
• EMS Organization Chart.
• Waste Management Schedule Form
• Totally Abolish Banned Substances & Target Deadline For Total Abolishment Form

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Evaluation of Compliance In ISO 14001 Standards

Evaluation of Compliance In ISO 14001 Standards

The requirement to establish a procedure for periodically evaluating compliance with applicable legal and other requirements falls short of specifically requiring regulatory compliance audits but, in fact, a system of regular regulatory compliance audits may be the most practical means for meeting this requirement of the standard. In the U.S., determination of whether to conduct a compliance audit will be governed in part by the particular jurisdictions approach to allowing a legal privilege for the self-assessment audit.
Evaluation vs. Audit The difference between an evaluation and audit can only be determined by looking outside of ISO 14001. Consulting a dictionary reveals that an evaluation involves a determination of value or worth and that an audit is an examination of accounts done by persons appointed for the purpose. A better definition `is the more specific ISO 19011:2002, Guidelines for Quality and/or Environmental Management Systems Auditing, which defines an audit as a systematic, independent, and documented process for obtaining audit evidence and evaluating it objectively to determine the extent to which the audit criteria are fulfilled. Many organizations do not have a system for evaluating regulatory compliance other than their own records and the inspections of regulatory officials. This lack of a verification system can be a risky way to operate. Reports of enforcement actions and consent agreements show that many organizations are blindsided by rogue employees who violate rules and falsify documents to cover up environmental misdeeds. Although ISO 14001 does not prescribe a specific approach to evaluation of regulatory compliance, organizations should consider methods for going beyond verification of records by collecting and evaluating physical evidence.