ISO 14001 Standards – Emergency Preparedness and Response Plans

ISO 14001 Section 4.4.7, Emergency Preparedness and Response, requires that organizations establish and maintain procedure(s) to:

1. Identify potential accidents and emergencies

2. Respond to accidents and emergencies

3. Prevent and mitigate the environmental impacts that may be associated with accidents and emergencies.

Section 4.4.7 also requires that organizations review and revise, when necessary, their emergency preparedness

and response procedure(s), especially after an accident or emergency situation. Organizations must also periodically test such procedures where practicable.

Most organizations have already developed and implemented emergency response plans to comply with various federal and state regulations that require such plans. Examples of federal regulations that require such plans include:

• Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Contingency Plans

• Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasures (SPCC) Plans

• Facility Oil Response Plans under the Oil Pollution Prevention Act of 1990

• Employee Emergency and Fire Prevention Plans under Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Some states have regulations that require similar emergency response plans. For instance, the state of Pennsylvania requires certain facilities to develop and implement a Preparedness, Prevention, and Contingency (PPC) Plan in addition to federal requirements.

The ISO 14001 requirements are similar to the requirements of most regulatory emergency plans. Whether your facility has emergency response plans or not, you should review the following sections to ensure you meet the ISO 14001 emergency response requirements.

ISO 14001 Section 4.4.7, Emergency Preparedness and Response, requires that organizations establish and maintain procedure(s) to:

1. Identify potential accidents and emergencies

2. Respond to accidents and emergencies

3. Prevent and mitigate the environmental impacts that may be associated with accidents and emergencies.

Section 4.4.7 also requires that organizations review and revise, when necessary, their emergency preparedness

and response procedure(s), especially after an accident or emergency situation. Organizations must also periodically test such procedures where practicable.

Most organizations have already developed and implemented emergency response plans to comply with various federal and state regulations that require such plans. Examples of federal regulations that require such plans include:

• Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Contingency Plans

• Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasures (SPCC) Plans

• Facility Oil Response Plans under the Oil Pollution Prevention Act of 1990

• Employee Emergency and Fire Prevention Plans under Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Some states have regulations that require similar emergency response plans. For instance, the state of Pennsylvania requires certain facilities to develop and implement a Preparedness, Prevention, and Contingency (PPC) Plan in addition to federal requirements.

The ISO 14001 requirements are similar to the requirements of most regulatory emergency plans. Whether your facility has emergency response plans or not, you should review the following sections to ensure you meet the ISO 14001 emergency response requirements.

Save The Environment – Implement ISO 14001 Standards

Environmental Management System (EMS)

Save The Environment - Implement ISO 14001 Standards

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 Quality Manual

ISO 14001 Standards – Quality Manual

What is ISO 14001 Quality manual

ISO 14001 manual is a document that describe all maters of ISO 14000 systems.

II. Contents of ISO 14001 manual:

1. Definitions of ISO 14001

2. Purpose of standard

3. Scope of standard

4. Environmental policies

5. ISO 14001 planning

6. Legal and others requirements

7. Environmental objectives and targets

8. Environmental management programs

9. Organization structure and responsibilities

10. Training, awareness and competence

11. ISO 14001 communication

12. Environment management system documentation

13. Document controls

12. Operational controls.

13. Emergency Preparedness and Response

14. Monitoring and measurement

15. Non-conformance and corrective and preventive actions

16. Environmental records

17. Environment management system audit

18. Management review

ISO 14001 Standards – Environmental Awareness

ISO 14001 Standards – Environmental Awareness

Save OUR EARTH!!!

Go For ISO 14001 Standards – Environmental Management System. If all companies implement ISO 140001 Standards – Environmental Management System in the organization, it will help us to protect our environment.

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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ISO 14001 – Application to Small and Medium Size Enterprises

ISO 14001 – Application to Small and Medium Size Enterprises

Most of the development and application of EMS has taken place in large companies. The use of such systems in small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) has been limited—although it is in this segment of industry that some of the largest benefits might be anticipated, because of the difficulty of regulating large numbers of small firms and the potential efficiency improvements that are believed to exist. In practice, however, the characteristics of the typical SME make the adoption of EMS difficult: most SMEs do not have a formal management structure, they lack technically trained personnel, and they are subject to severe short-term pressures on cash flow.

Anecdotal evidence indicates that an EMS cannot be used to drive improved performance in a poorly organized SME. Targeted training in management and quality control can improve overall performance, including its environmental aspects, and can provide a basis for more specific EMS development. Many firms can reap significant benefits from introducing quality management concepts, even where they are not aiming at formal certification. Any steps in this direction should be encouraged.

An EMS, as normally envisaged, builds on existing production and quality management systems. Where such systems are weak or ineffective, as is often the case in enterprises that have poor environmental performance, a better management framework has to be established before focusing on the details of the EMS. The costs of establishing an EMS will therefore obviously depend on the starting point in terms of both management systems and environmental performance.

The ecoefficiency savings can, in some cases, pay for the costs of establishing the EMS, particularly if most of the planning and organizational work is carried out in-house. However, a poor performer will very likely have to invest in production upgrading or pollution control in order to meet environmental requirements, and these costs can be significant.

A full EMS can be complex and can require an appreciable commitment of operational resources.

However, the final system can be reached reasonably through a series of discrete steps, starting from a basic, simple procedure and becoming more comprehensive and sophisticated as capabilities and resources allow. In this way, even a small enterprise can begin to put in place the basic elements of an ISO 14001 system and can develop them at an appropriate pace. Once the basic EMS is in place, it is possible to carry out a gap analysis and to make a balanced judgment on the costs and benefits of seeking certification.

A related issue is the coverage of the EMS. Certification is normally for specific sites or facilities.

A large enterprise may have a number of different sites and production facilities and may choose to seek certification only for a subset of the sites.

ISO 14001 Environmental management programmes

ISO 14001 Environmental management programmes

Introduce a series of projects as an environmental management programme to achieve the set targets. Apply normal project management disciplines (eg. assign a project leader, consider their 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