ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems

Clause 4 Context addresses the “context” of the organisation. Before proceeding with developing processes or procedures we need to understand the business in regards to how the business is run and what factors can hinder or contribute to the running of the business. In other words what does the business do. In determining the context we will identify internal and external issues, interested parties and the scope of the EMS.   

Clause 5 Leadership requires the company’s top management to actively lead the Environmental Management System and be able to demonstrate this through policies and responsibilities. Leadership has emphasis on environmental performance and waste with specific applications ranging from identifying aspects and impacts and any regulatory requirements and risks. The top management’s responsibilities include establishing an environmental policy, communication of the policy and the importance of the eMS and assigning responsibilities to ensure the effectiveness of the EMS. 

Clause 6 Planning addresses the process of determining the activities required to achieve a desired goal. Planning also involves thinking about the risks that may occur in future and addressing these through adequate control measures. Clause 6 of ISO 14001 deals with this highly critical activity and requires an organisation to identify its environmental aspects and address risk and plan for the uncertainties pro-actively preventing undesired impacts on the environment. Another aspect of planning is to identify objectives which can be used to monitor and track our progress. Additionally, this clause requires an organisation to plan for changes and follow a structured approach for any changes required in the management system.

Clause 7 Support requires the organisation to determine and provide the resources needed for the establishment, implementation, maintenance, and continual improvement of the Environmental Management System. In doing so the organisation should consider the capabilities of, and constraints on, existing internal resources and what needs to be obtained from external providers. This will include people, infrastructure, the working environment, monitoring and measuring resources, organisational knowledge, competence & awareness, communication, documented information.

Clause 8 Operation requires the organisation to plan, implement and control the processes needed to meet the requirements of the EMS and legal requirements. These include controls to ensure environmental performance is maintained and preparing and testing emergency plans.

Clause 9 Performance Evaluation require an organisation assess its own performance in meeting regularity requirements as well as its performance in meeting the requirements of its own EMS and the requirements of the ISO 14001 standard. These will include activities such as, establishing what needs to be monitored and measured, analysis and evaluation of data, completing internal audits and top management carrying out a formal review on the performance of the EMS.

Clause 10 Improvement requires and organisation to determine and select opportunities for improvement and implement any necessary actions to meet customer requirements and enhance environmental performance. These activities include improving aspects and impacts as well as to address future needs and expectations of interested parties. Correcting, preventing, or reducing undesired effects and improving the performance and effectiveness of the environmental management system and investigating and correcting environmental non-conformance.