Environmental
Management System
Documentation Services
Helping You Reach Your Environmental Goals
ISO14001
EMS Manual
EMS Procedures
FSC Documentation
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ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
What is an Environmental Management System?
In its simplest of terms, an Environmental Management System (EMS) is an approach to identifying the ways in
which the environment is impacted by our work activities. An Environmental Management System helps to set
priorities for action, and it challenges each and every employee to continually look for ways to lessen those impacts,
and to protect the environment.
An EMS is defined as a self-correcting and continual improvement system that seeks to reduce environmental impacts
associated with a facility's activities while helping to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. It provides a
structured method for incorporation of environmental considerations into day to day operations while promoting continual
improvement of the environment and therefore, human health.
Objectives
Environmental management systems written to
the ISO14001 standard do not require a pre-defined
minimum level of performance. For example, they
do not prescribe that you recycle all your waste
chemicals, take at least 90% of your travel by
public transit, or purchase all your products from
sustainable resources. Of course, if you want
to commit to these objectives, then they can
form part of your EMS, but it is up to you.
What an EMS does require is that you look at your company and identify what your significant environmental
impacts are, and what your legal requirements are. This establishes where you are now. Once identified, you then
can write an environmental policy that describes your commitment to continuous environmental improvement as a
minimum. The rest of the management system involves setting objectives and targets to progressively improve your
environmental performance and meeting legal requirements.
SMART Objectives
All businesses need to set objectives for themselves or for the products or service they are launching. Setting
objectives are important. It focuses the company on specific aims over a period of time and can motivate staff to meet
the objectives set. A simple acronym used to set objectives is called SMART objectives.
SMART stands for:
1. Specific - Objectives should specify what they want to achieve.
2. Measurable - You should be able to measure whether you are meeting the objectives or not.
3. Achievable - Are the objectives you set, achievable and attainable?
4. Realistic - Can you realistically achieve the objectives with the resources you have?
5. Time - When do you want to achieve the set of objectives?
In addition to writing your Environmental Management System Manual, EMS Documentation Services provides
you with assistance in developing your EMS, which includes helping you identify your significant environmental impacts
and legal requirements, writing your environmental policy, and even providing help with setting objectives and targets.
Your EMS Manual and procedures will describe in detail your system for performing each of these important functions
plus your system for continuous improvement of the environment.
EMS Documentation Services will assist you with implementing an Environmental Management System
that creates new opportunities and increased company value. We'll assist you and your organization in reaching
the highest level of performance and sustainability by using the most highly regarded and widely adopted
environmental standard in the world today, the internationally acclaimed ISO14001 EMS standard. Your EMS
Manual and procedures will clearly describe your system for protecting the environment to your employees,
suppliers, and stake holders, plus enhance your organizations brand and reputation, and improve access
to highly environmentally sensitive markets.
When EMS Documentation Services documents your environmental management system,
countless hours of your time and your staff's time is freed to focus on your core business.
Additional Benefits
Your EMS Manual and procedures are sent to you ready to use. Written to run in parallel, both documents are
numbered for precise document control, and referenced and integrated to work together in a seamless system.
For your convenience, both documents are written in Microsoft Word so there is no software for you to purchase
or learn. With a MS Word version of your EMS Manual you're able to distribute your manual via paper, CD,
Internet, or Intra net. And your MS Word version also allows you to easily make revisions.
1. How big does an organization need to be to successfully implement an EMS?
EMS have been implemented by organizations ranging in size from a couple of dozen employees to many thousands
of employees. The elements of an EMS are flexible by design to accommodate a wide range of organizational types
and sizes.
2. Will an EMS help us to prevent pollution?
A commitment to preventing pollution is a cornerstone of an effective EMS and should be reflected in an organization’s
policy, objectives and other EMS elements.
3. To implement an EMS, do we have to start from scratch?
Much of what you have in place now for environmental management probably can be incorporated into the EMS.
There is no need to “start over”.
An EMS will not result in more or less stringent legal compliance obligations. But an EMS should improve your efforts
to comply with legal obligations, and, in some cases, may lead to more flexible compliance requirements.
5. Do we need to be in 100% compliance in order to have an EMS?
No. The concept of continual improvement assumes that no organization is perfect. While an EMS should help your
organization to improve compliance and other measures of performance, this does not mean that problems will never occur.
However, an effective EMS should help you find and fix these problems and prevent their recurrence.
Read Today's Environment, a weekly commentary
by George Andersen that explores the world of
environmental management. Subjects covered
include: EMS standards, training, sustainability,
ISO14001, certification, and emergency
preparedness.
For an in-depth look at these and other related
topics, check out a special twenty part series
that includes steps for implementing your EMS.
Posted To Date
1. Program Intent
2. Program Advantages
3. Integration of Your EMS
4. Scope of Your EMS
5. Writing Your Policy
6. Environmental Aspects
7. Objectives and Targets
8. Environmental Management Program
9. Structure and Responsibility
10. Training, Awareness and Competence
11. EMS Communications
12. EMS Manual
13. EMS Document Control
Project Examples:
- desk side recycling
- lighting improvements
- weatherization
- alternative work schedule
- solar and geothermal heating
- wind and solar electric systems
- motors and motor controls
- building management and control systems
- district heating
- HVAC systems
- methane gas recovery
- central steam plants
- cogeneration and hydroelectricity
- water heating improvements
- irrigation system improvements
- alternative fuels for transportation
EMS Documentation Services
Helping You Reach Your Environmental Goals
971-409-5745
CustomerService@emsdocumentationservices.com
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