Family Of ISO 14000 Standards

Family of ISO 14000 include standards as follows:

1. ISO 14001: Environmental management systems—Requirements with guidance for use.

2. ISO 14004: Environmental management systems—General guidelines on principles, systems and support techniques.

3. ISO 14015: Environmental assessment of sites and organizations.

4. ISO 14020: Include series (14020 to 14025) Environmental labels and declarations.

5. ISO 14031: Environmental performance evaluation—Guidelines.

6. ISO 14040: Include series (14040 to 14049), Life Cycle Assessment, LCA, discusses pre-production planning and environment goal setting.

7. ISO 14050: Terms and definitions.

8. ISO 14062: Discusses making improvements to environmental impact goals.

9. ISO 14063: Environmental communication—Guidelines and examples

10. ISO 19011: which specifies one audit protocol for both 14000 and 9000 series standards together.

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 Standards – Complying with Environmental Laws and Regulations

One of the most commonly cited reasons for implementing an ISO 14001 environmental management system is that it helps an organization comply with environmental laws and regulations.
ISO 14001 registration will provide additional assurance to City Council, senior management, regulators and key stakeholders that appropriate procedures have been implemented to identify, track, and communicate environmental laws and regulations. ISO 14001 registration will also provide assurance that our Administration is controlling, monitoring, and improving performance, relative to these laws/regulations.
A strong environmental management system, aimed at legal/regulatory compliance, will serve the City of Edmonton by increasing the likelihood of avoiding convictions, fines and judgments; avoiding internal legal costs; and promoting positive relations with regulators.

Five Steps to Implementing ISO 14001:2004

ISO 14001 provides a logical, common-sense approach for
businesses to adopt. To start it is recommended to carry out an
environmental review of the business and the Annex to the Standard
provides guidance on the approach required. The Standard then
requires a management system to be developed that addresses the
key environmental issues that were identified by the review as being
relevant to the business, through a rational programme of control and
continual improvement.
There are five key steps to ISO 14001 EMS implementation, and
subsequent operation which are clearly laid out in just three pages of
text.
The five key steps are:
1. Environmental Policy
2. Planning
3. Implementation and Operation
4. Checking and Corrective Action
5. Management Review
Step 1. Environmental Policy
The company or organisation must write an environmental policy
statement which is relevant to the business activities and approved by
top management. Their full commitment is essential if environmental
management is to work. The ISO 14001 Standard clearly sets out
what to cover in the policy. Often a one page document is sufficient.
Produce a first issue and expect to amend it several times before
assessment and registration as knowledge grows in the company.
Step 2. Planning
Plan what the EMS is to address.
Environmental aspects
First make lists of the environmental aspects (issues) that are relevant
to the business. The environmental review mentioned earlier should
provide most of this information and the Annex to ISO 14001 provides
guidance on the format for doing this.
Consider the inputs, outputs and processes/activities of the business in
relation to;
a) emissions to air
b) releases to water
c) waste management
d) contamination of land
e) use of raw materials and natural resources
f) other local environmental and community issues
Consider both site (direct) and offsite (ie. indirect) aspects that you
control or have influence over (such as suppliers) and in relation to
normal operations, shut-down and start-up conditions and reasonably
foreseeable and emergencies situations.
A simple written procedure is then required to determine which of the
aspects identified are really or probably significant (important) and
training needs, outline the key stages of the project and dates that will
lead to the target achievement).
Gradually apply environmental management programme thinking to
such things as the introduction of new products, new or improved
processes and other key activities of the business. In particular,
ensure existing projects become environmental management projects
where there is a significant environmental impact involved, so that the
EMS becomes company wide. This is a frequent oversight found
during ISO 14001 assessments. The EMS must cover the whole
business – like a net thrown over the whole business and for example
including such things as engineering and maintenance
Step 3. Implementation and Operation
Structure and responsibility
Appoint one or more people, depending on the size of the business, to
have authority and responsibility for implementing and maintaining the
EMS and provide sufficient resources. (It’s worth monitoring costs
carefully and benchmarking these against key consumption figures so
that improvements delivered by the EMS become apparent).
Training, awareness and competence
Implement a procedure to provide environmental training appropriate
to identified needs for management, the general workforce, project
teams and key plant operators. This can have far reaching benefits
on employee motivation. The workforce is usually very supportive of
moves to achieve genuine environmental improvement. Every
company has its share of cynics but even some of these can be won
over with time. Training will vary from a general briefing for the
workforce to detailed environmental auditor training.
Communication
Implement procedures to establish a system of internal and external
communication to receive environmental information and respond to it
and to circulate new information to people that need to know. This will
include: new legislation, information from suppliers, customers and
neighbours and communications both with employees and for
employees about progress with the EMS. This process can often
generate worthwhile ideas from employees themselves for future
environmental improvements.
Environmental management system documentation
The EMS itself needs to be documented with a manual, procedures
and work instructions but keep it brief and simple. The Standard
clearly states where procedures are required. Eleven system
procedures are required to maintain the EMS, plus operating work
instructions but if you already have ISO 9000, this will cover most of six
of the procedures required and a quality system can certainly be
expanded to cover ISO 14001 as well. Cross reference the EMS
manual to other environmental and quality documents to link the EMS
and to integrate it with existing business practices.
Operational control
Implement additional operating procedures (work instructions) to
control the identified significant (important) aspects of production
processes and other activities. Some of these will already exist but
may need a ‘bit of polish’. Don’t forget significant aspects that relate to
goods and services from suppliers and contractors.
Emergency preparedness and response
Implement procedures to address reasonably foreseeable
emergencies and to minimise their impact should they occur. (eg. Fire,
major spillages of hazardous materials, explosion risks etc.)
Step 4. Checking and Corrective Action
Monitoring and measurement
Implement procedures to monitor and measure the progress of
projects against the targets which have been set, the performance of
processes against the written criteria using calibrated equipment (verify
monitoring records) and regularly check (audit) the company’s
compliance with legislation that has been identified as relevant to your
business. The most effective way of doing this is through regular
progress meetings.
Nonconformance and corrective and preventive action
Implement procedures to enable appropriate corrective and
subsequent preventive action to be taken where breaches of the EMS
occur (eg. process control problems, delays in project process, noncompliance
with legislation, incidents etc.).
Records
Implement procedures to keep records generated by the
environmental management system. The Annex to the Standard
suggests those that are likely to be required.
Environmental management system audit
Implement a procedure to carry out audits of each part of the EMS and
company activities and operations to verify both compliance with the
EMS and with ISO 14001. Audit results must be reported to top
management . A typical audit cycle is one year but more critical
activities will require auditing more frequently.
Step 5. Management Review
At regular intervals (typically annual), top management must conduct
through meetings and record minutes of a review of the EMS, to
determine that it is still appropriate and effective or to make changes
where necessary. Top management will need to consider audit
results, project progress, changing circumstances and the requirement
of ISO 14001 for continual improvement, through setting and achieving
further environmental targets.

Evaluation Of Compliance Of ISO 14001 EMS

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 jurisdiction’s 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.