5468_14001pitfalls_0206.qxd 5/6/06 9:36 AM Page 12
THE ROUTE TO 14001:2004 THE ROUTE TO 14001:2004
Avoiding the Pitfalls Avoiding the Pitfalls
POLICY
KEY REQUIREMENTS
a19 OR ✘ COMMENT/PLAN
Document, dated and approved?
The key features of this clause are:
Appropriate?
a73 A procedure for identifying Environmental Aspects and
deciding which are significant
Commits to:
a73 Identifying aspects which are related to issues that can be
a73 continual improvement?
‘controlled’ and those which can only be ‘influenced’
a73 prevention of pollution?
(sometimes called ‘direct and indirect’ aspects)a73 compliance with legislation?
a73 compliance with other requirements
a73 Using this as a basis for setting objectives and targets
(if any - and indicates what these
are if substantial)?
a73 Keeping this up-to-date
Provides framework for setting and
‘A PROCEDURE FOR IDENTIFYING ENVIRONMENTAL
reviewing objectives and targets?
ASPECTS AND DECIDING WHICH ARE SIGNIFICANT’.
Communicated to and known by
This means that you need to document a procedure in sufficient
all employees?
detail to ensure a repeatable and consistent process. There is also
Available to the public? a need to keep sufficient records to show that the procedure has
Is implemented? been effectively applied.
Delivers its promises? (Links to
significant aspects and objectives)
It must cover the following situations:
a73 Normal (what happens most of the time)
a73 Abnormal (planned but less frequent, the non-routine
operations)
4.3.1 ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS
a73 Potential Emergency (the things that could go wrong)
a73 Historic (Legacies of the business or site,
The standard refers frequently to ‘Environmental Aspects’, which
eg contaminated land)
raises the question ‘What is an Aspect?’
a73 Current operations
There is a not very helpful definition in ISO 14001, but perhaps
a73 Planned changes (the ‘maintaining’ part of the requirement)
the term is best understood as the cause of a noticeable or
measurable change to the environment. An aspect is usually
a73 Control/Direct Aspects (those things you have control over)
associated with a verb eg to use electricity, to dispose of
a73 Influence/Indirect Aspects (those things which are harder to
waste,waste, to discharge effluent. By the same token,
control, but may be influenced, eg customers and suppliers)
‘electricity’ and ‘waste’ cannot be classed as ‘aspects’.
a73 Aspects leading to negative impacts on the
These aspects are best identified by understanding your business
environment - pollution
processes and pinpointing the inputs and outputs.
a73 Aspects leading to positive impacts on the environment
- eg improving eco-systems, helping others improve
their performance
- 12 - - 13 -
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52