ISO 14000

INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS:ISO 14000

Extracted from the works of Isis Fredericks and David McCallum

A Consistent, Internationally Recognized Model for Environmental Management

ISO 14001 Environmental Management System Elements

How to Implement ISO 14000?

Maintaining an ISO 14000 Environmental Management System

Integrating the ISO 14000 Environmental Management System

Authors

A Consistent, Internationally Recognized Model for Environmental Management

ISO 14000 series of standards - the model for an environmental management system. Environmental Management is a tool for an organization to keep aware of the interactions that its products and activities have with the environment and to achieve and continuously improve the desired level of environmental performance. ISO 14000 is aimed at meeting customer requirements, control of the process and continuous improvement. Moreover, 'customer requirements' has expanded to include regulatory and other mandatory environmental requirements; and continuous improvement is not only driven by customer expectations but also by priorities and objectives generated internally by the organization.

The ISO 14000 series of standards is comprised of several guideline standards and one compliance standard -- ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems. Although publication of the standards is about a year away, five standards are in Committee Draft form and the Draft International Standards will be available shortly for public comment through the International Organization of Standardization(ISO) based in Geneva. When ISO 14001 is published, organizations meeting the requirements will be able to seek registration to the standard in a process similar to ISO 9000 registration.

An organization may elect to comply with ISO 14001 as a:

model for an Environmental Management System
format to audit the Environmental Management System against
method of demonstrating the Environmental Management System compliance
process for third party and/or customer recognition
public declaration of their Environmental Management System

Benefits of implementing an ISO 14001 Environmental ManagementSystem may include:

enhanced compliance to legislation
facilitated financial and real estate transactions, where environmental performance is a factor
reduced costs associated with consumer audits
ability to bid for contracts (protection or increase of marketshare)
market forces (a real or perceived 'greening' of the marketplace)
economic return from increased efficiency of resource use;and
increased ability to adapt to changing circumstances.

Some organizations may choose to implement an ISO 14001 program but not seek registration. Registration to ISO 14001 should be considered if it:

is a customer or industry requirement;
complements market strategy; or
is perceived as a valuable motivational factor.

Registration to an ISO 9000 standard generally requires twelve to eighteen months of effort depending on the complexity of the organization and the existing systems. It is anticipated that it will take at least the same length of time to develop and implement an Environmental Management System which compiles with the ISO 14001 requirements.

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ISO 14001 Environmental Management System Elements:

1		Environmental policy
2		Planning
	2.1	Environmental aspects
	2.2	Legal and other requirements
	2.3	Objectives and targets
	2.4	Environmental management program(s)
3		Implementation and operation
	3.1	Structure and responsibility
	3.2	Training, awareness and competence
	3.3	Communication
	3.4	Environmental management system documentation
	3.5	Document control
	3.6	Operational control
	3.7	Emergency preparedness and response
4		Checking and corrective action
	4.1	Monitoring and measurement
	4.2	Non-conformance and corrective and preventive action
	4.3	Records
	4.4	Environmental management system audit
5		Management review

How to Implement ISO 14000?

Senior management commitment is required before embarking on an ISO 14000 program.
Once senior management is committed to implementing an ISO 14001 program the project planning begins. This planning includes scheduling, budgeting, assigning personnel, responsibilities and resources, and if required, retaining specialized external assistance.
Senior management needs to provide a focus for the Environmental Management System by defining the organization's environmental policy. This policy must include, among other things, a commitment to continuous improvement, prevention of pollution and compliance with legislation and regulations. This environmental policy must be implemented, and maintained and communicated within the organization and made available to the public.
An initial review on the organization's existing environmental program is needed. This review includes the consideration of all applicable environmental regulations, existing processes, documentation, work practices and effects of current operations.
A strategic or implementation plan, including, definitions project management, steps, scope, time-frame, costs and responsibilities, of an Environmental Management System should be implemented. It should meets the organization's targets and objectives, and promotes continuous improvement. The strategic plan sets the framework for participation of the responsible and affected parties within the organization.
Environmental issues must be identified. The organization then needs to identify the aspects such as noise, emissions, environmental impact, waste reduction and energy use which can interact with the environment and it can control or influence.
Once the targets and objectives are set, the organization needs to implement the strategic plan. Beyond the 'environmental' challenges, management functions will have to be adapted to meet the requirements of the Environmental Management System Standard. The level of conceptual challenge this will present to ISO 9000 firms, where the corporate culture will already be changing, will be less than for non-ISO 9000 firms, but there will be some new areas that required attention.

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Maintaining an ISO 14000 Environmental Management System

Once the Environmental Management System is implemented, it's progress needs to be continually measured and monitored. Routine measurement and monitoring must be undertaken of the activities which have been identified as having the potential for a significant impact on the environment.

Routine auditing and review are the keys to continuous improvement. Environmental as well as management components will be required in the audit program. Audits of an organization's Environmental Management System do not replace, but rather complement, the issue specific environmental audits that may be conducted externally by regulators and consultants or internally by environmental engineers or other qualified personnel. Where issue specific audits address regulatory compliance, site assessment or emissions, the Environmental Management System audits address effectiveness of the management system.

Periodic Environmental Management System audits are needed to determine if the Environmental Management System conforms to the requirements of ISO 14001, and that the program is implemented and is continuously improving.

The measuring and monitoring activities and the internal Environmental Management System audits will identify areas for improvement. Action must be taken immediately to mitigate any negative impact of the non-conformance and corrective action must be implemented, proportional to the non-conformance, to eliminate reoccurrence.

To ensure the continuing effectiveness of the Environmental Management System, management needs to regularly review and evaluate information such as the results of audits, corrective action, current and proposed legislation, results of monitoring, and complaints. This review allows management to look at the system and ensure that it is, and will remain, suitable and effective.

The management review may result in changes to policies or systems as the organization evolves and as technology advances. An organization's Environmental Management System is not a stagnant system but must continually evolve to meet the organization's ever changing needs.

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Integrating the ISO 14000 Environmental Management System

The Environmental Management System must be integrated with the organization's other activities. If it is seen as a separate program,it will be difficult or impossible to maintain. The objectives, targets, procedures and systems must be part of routine operations related to the on-going activities of the organization.

It is important to remember that ISO 14000 is not an add on-program. Nor is it about "environmentalism" or being "green".An effective Environmental Management System is the consistent and systematic control of procedures or operations, products or services which can have a significant impact on the environment. It is obviously concerned with environmental performance, but what it is about is effective corporate management.

An organization which has effectively integrated an ISO 14001 Environmental Management System with its other business management systems is well on its way towards managing its processes with a view towards compliance, consistency and continuous improvement, and can accrue the accompanying benefits.

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Authors

Isis Fredericks is a Director at MGMT AlliancesInc. in Vancouver, British Columbia. She is specialist in theISO management standards and environmental management systems.Tel: (604) 669-6490 Fax: (604) 669-6496

David McCallum is the President of M+A EnvironmentalConsultants Inc. in Hamilton, Ontario. David is an impact assessmentand environmental management specialist. Tel: (905) 529-0678 Fax:(905) 529-9136

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Last modified: February 18, 1998