ISO 14001 "ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS - SPECIFICATION WITH GUIDANCE FOR USE"

DEVELOPMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STANDARDS: ISO 14000/BS 7750

In 1993 the ISO established the Technical Committee on Environment (ISO/TC 207). The purpose of TC 207 is to develop a global environmental systems standard which will serve to promote:

1. A common approach to environment management
2. Enhancement of measurement of environmental performance
3. Facilitation of international trade

Six technical subcommittees have been created and are now drafting standards

The first three subcommittees address organizational environmental criteria

· Environmental Management Systems

· Environmental Auditing

· Environmental Performance

The last three involve generic product attributes.

· Environmental Labeling

· Life Cycle Analysis

· Environmental Product Standards

The ISO 14001 standard entitled "ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS - SPECIFICATION WITH GUIDANCE FOR USE" is the key (mother) standard which is certifiable. It describes the essential mandatory requirements of the environmental management standard and requires CAREFUL attention to:

POLICY

PLANNING

IMPLEMENTATION AND OPERATION

CHECKING AND CORRECTIVE ACTION

MANAGEMENT REVIEW

CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT

ISO 14001 is copyrighted and must be purchased from ANSI (212-642-4990) or directly from ISO (022)749 01 11

Outline:

FOREWORD

INTRODUCTION

1. SCOPE
2. REFERENCES
3. DEFINITIONS

3.1 continual improvement.
3.2 environment
3.3 environmental aspect
3.4 environmental impact
3.5 environmental management system
3.6 environmental management system audit
3.7 environmental objective
3.8 environmental performance
3.9 environmental policy
3.10 environmental target
3.11 interested party
3.12 organization
3.13 prevention of pollution

4. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
--4.0 General
------4.1 Environmental policy
------4.2 Planning
----------4.2.1 Environmental aspects
----------4.2.2 Legal and other requirements
----------4.2.3 Objectives and targets
----------4.2.4 Environmental management programmers
------4.3 Implementation and operation
----------4.3.1 Structure and responsibility
----------4.3.2 Training, awareness and competence
----------4.3.3 Communication
----------4.3.4 Environmental management system documentation
----------4.3.5 Document control
----------4.3.6 Operational control
----------4.3.7 Emergency preparedness and response
-----4.4 Checking and corrective action
----------4.4.1 Monitoring and measurement
----------4.4.2 Non conformance and corrective and preventive action
----------4.4.3 Records
----------4.4.4 Environmental management system audit
-----4.5 Management review

Annex A (informative) Guidance on the use of the specification

Annex B (informative) Bibliography

Annex C (informative) Links between ISO 14001 and ISO 9000


SCOPE

This International Standard specifies requirements for an environmental management system, to enable an organization to formulate a policy and objectives taking into account legislative requirements and information about significant environmental impacts. It applies to those environmental aspects which the organization can control and over which it can be expected to have an influence. It does not itself state specific environmental performance criteria.

This International Standard is applicable to any organization that wishes to

a) implement, maintain and improve an environmental management system;

b) assure itself of its conformance with its stated environmental policy;

c) demonstrate such conformance to others;

d) seek certification/registration of its environmental management system by an external
organization:

e) make a self determination and declaration of conformance with the standard.

All the requirements in the standard are intended to be incorporated into any environmental management system. The extent of the application will depend on such factors as the environmental policy of the organization, the nature of its activities and the conditions in which it operates. The standard also provides informative guidance on the use of the specification in Annex A.

The scope of any ISO 14001 application must be clearly identified.

FAQ - Who or What is "ISO"? ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (over 107 members), one in each country. The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO technical committees. ~~~ The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is the U.S. member body of ISO. ASQ is the U.S. member of ANSI responsible for quality management and related standards.

FAQ - What is the "origin" for the ISO name? The name ISO originated from the idea of "Equal" as in ISObar ... to promote convergence between the various national systems of the kind and to avoid their becoming obstacles to trade, international guidelines ...

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