Environmental Management Systems

1
Environmental Management Systems

• Global Environmental Health in the 21st Century
• Edwin Piñero
• Federal Environmental Executive
• Office of the Federal Environmental Executive
• October 13, 2004

2
What is an Environmental Management System?

• It is the structured, systematic approach that
  incorporates environmental considerations into
  day-to-day operations throughout the
  organization, and is designed to promote
  continual improvement.
• ISO 14001 is the international standard model of
  an EMS and the one most commonly used by the
  Federal Government

3
Environmental Management is

• The tool and approach- EMS, and
• The measurements- metrics, and
• The behavior- Organizational culture, and
• The leadership- Top management support, and
• The linkages- Relating mission, operations, and
  the environment

4
Process vs. Performance

• An EMS defines a process- HOW to do something,
  in this case, manage environmental issues.
  
• It alone does not guarantee performance status-
  or WHAT needs to be done. For example, being
  in compliance is a measure of performance.
  
• The EMS is as process used to achieve performance
  goals.

5
Benefits of an EMS

• Facilitates meeting your mission by
  systematically and operationally capturing
  environmental issues
  
• Improves the environmental condition
• Minimizes accidents and problems, or lessens
  impact and response time if they do occur
  
• Reduces redundant paperwork and measurement
• Facilitates compliance with requirements
• Responds to public scrutiny trends
• Improves the return on investment

6
Measurement as a Management Tool

• We need to know what conditions are to make
  management decisions.
  
• An EMS directs and facilitates relevant
  measurements.
  
• Measurements include environmental conditions,
  status of programs, compliance, and the EMS
  itself.

7
Managing Aspects vs. Impacts

• It is more prudent and more efficient to manage
  how you interact with the environment than to
  manage what you have done to the environment
  
• An EMS is built around identifying, prioritizing,
  controlling, and improving upon, those elements
  of the organization that interact with the
  environment

8
Fixing the Root Causes

• An EMS is designed to identify the root causes of
  non-conformances and initiate corrective and
  preventive action.
  
• This helps minimize the bandage syndrome, where
  the fixes are simply superficial.

9
EMS and Compliance

• There is compliance management system embedded
  within the broader environmental management
  system
  
• First- the theme of compliance is seen throughout
  the plan-do-check-act elements
  
• Second, there are specific compliance-related
  requirements in an EMS (such as periodic
  compliance audits) that help address compliance
  issues before they occur.

10
Operational Benefits

• Better awareness of impacts, allowing the
  workforce to make more informed decisions
  
• Increased suggestions and initiatives
• Additional opportunities to recognize and reward
  performance
  
• More consistency in operations
• Faster response and more effective corrective
  action when problems occur
  
• Delegates responsibility to more people, and
  where better addressed
  

11
The Role of Management

• The management system model is built on the
  premise that senior management is consistently
  participating or otherwise involved.
  
• There are key points where senior management has
  a defined role (e.g., Policy, management review)
  
• Ongoing support is critical