What are the Elements of an EMS?
A properly designed EMS must follow the “Plan-Implement (Do)-Check-Review (Act)” cycle that is based on the principle of continuous improvement.
Environmental Policy. An organization’s environmental policy serves as the basis for EMS design and implementation. It sets out the organization’s goals and defines the actions the organization will follow. Environmental policies should be well documented and demonstrate a commitment to compliance, pollution prevention, and the well being of employees, customers, and the local community. The policy must be approved by top management and communicated to all employees, since they will play an integral role in meeting the goals of the policy.
Planning. Careful planning allows the organization to proceed with implementation of an EMS in a logical, orderly manner. Planning should include comprehensive analysis of an organization’s operations and the inherent environmental aspects and related impacts that may be controlled and for which an influence can be achieved, as well as consideration of the steps necessary to meet new goals. As part of the EMS planning phase, an organization must consider its environmental aspects and impacts, legal requirements, internal performance criteria, environmental objectives and targets and environmental plans and management programs. While development of an Environmental Policy falls under the planning phase, it is usually recommended that it be developed as a first step with the goal of setting forth a vision statement that has top management endorsement.
Implementation and Operation. Implementation of an EMS will likely require new priorities and practices and across-the-board training and other forms of support to acclimate all levels of understanding among staff. Documented procedures help establish and maintain momentum towards the organization’s environmental and economic performance goals. To successfully meet the intent of this EMS key requirement, the following factors should be considered in the implementation and operation phase of the cycle: resources; EMS alignment and integration, accountability and responsibility (e.g., roles and responsibilities), environmental awareness, knowledge skills and training, communications and reporting, EMS documentation, operational controls, and emergency preparedness and response.
Checking and Corrective Action. A successful EMS uses various methods to monitor and improve on its performance. Auditing, monitoring, and measurement of environmental indicators are necessary to achieve the goals and objectives of the EMS as defined in the Environmental Policy. They also provide opportunities to create performance incentives for all levels of staff. An organization has the ability to meet this specific requirement via consideration of the following factors: measuring and monitoring data associated with daily performance, corrective and preventive action, EMS records and information management, and results of EMS audits.
Management Review. Management review ensures continuing suitability, adequacy, and effectiveness of the organization’s operations and practices. The development, implementation, and maintenance of a successful EMS must be strongly supported by an organization’s top management. Top management review strengthens the awareness and commitment through leadership of the EMS goals; it also assigns decisions regarding staff responsibilities and performance evaluation to the highest level of authority. To emphasize this key element, the first requirement of the official ISO 140011 guidelines stipulates that the organization’s environmental policy (the centerpiece of an EMS) be developed by the senior management.
Continual Improvement. It is critical to the success of an EMS to consistently look for opportunities to improve how your facility operates, and use the five key elements of an EMS to realize them. Performance reviews, audits and corrective actions can help guide this process. Improvements should emphasize preventive actions.
(From the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Program EMS Guidance for Massachusetts Facilities)
This page updated Wednesday July 21 2004