5468_14001pitfalls_0206.qxd 5/6/06 9:36 AM Page 8
THE ROUTE TO 14001:2004 THE ROUTE TO 14001:2004
Avoiding the Pitfalls Avoiding the Pitfalls
THE INTRODUCTION TO ISO 14001 STATES a73 You will be sure that you have identified and understood
‘Many organisations have undertaken environmental
all the legal requirements affecting your business and
“reviews” or “audits” to assess their environmental
you will be sure that you comply with them all
performance. On their own, however, these “reviews” or
The notes below are preceded by the Clause number of
“audits” may not be sufficient to provide an organisation
ISO 14001 (2004) and are presented in the order they appear
with an assurance that its performance not only meets, but
in that standard.
will continue to meet its legal and Policy requirements.’
This crystallises the purpose of ISO 14001. Not only does an
effective EMS improve and establish control, it also instals and
4.2 ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
drives a system of continual improvement in environmental
performance. An organisation’s Environmental Policy is the cornerstone of the
EMS. Ideally, to truly reflect the business, it should be produced
AN ‘ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT’ = ‘AUDIT OF THE ENVIRONMENT’
after identifying the organisation’s impacts upon the environment.
If you simply audit a site or business, identify its environmental
problems and then fix them you could well come back a year later KEY REQUIREMENTS
to find that all of the problems have reappeared simply because
The Policy must:
there is no management system in place.
a73 be available to the public
On the other hand, if you instal an Environmental Management
a73 be appropriate
System, make it work and then audit that system you deliver real
control and genuine ongoing improvement.
a73 commit to preventing pollution and to continual improvement
a73 commit to compliance with relevant legal and
AN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
other requirements
An ISO 14001 EMS provides a system of inter-linking processes.
a73 provide a framework for setting objectives and targets
It is a simple and effective toolkit of mechanisms for managing
a73 be documented, implemented, maintained and communicated
environmental issues in any kind of organisation. It is only
to all employees and people working on behalf of
prescriptive in terms of what must happen, leaving the how to
the organisation
the organisation to decide or devise for itself.
Taking these in turn:
This approach means that ISO 14001 can be applied to any kind
and scale of organisation. It also explains why, from time to time,
AVAILABLE
there are misunderstandings of its intent and in its application.
This is something which can be stated but can only really be
An ISO 14001 management system will mean that:
tested by interview or by actually trying to obtain a copy.
a73 On interviewing staff, eg receptionist or sales-person, to
a73 You understand all of the bad (and good) impacts your
organisation has on the environment
check what would happen if someone asked for a copy of
the Policy, or by telephoning and asking the same question
a73 You know what you are doing to manage and improve
these impacts
it is not uncommon to find that this first point of contact in
a organisation has not been briefed. This of course means
a73 You put good environmental management into all your
that the Policy is, in practice, not available.
future plans and the heart of your business
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