ISO 14001 Compliance
ISO 14001 compliance refers to a company's ability to follow closely the requirements of a set of environmental management standards issued by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Since these guidelines were first published in 1996, 138 countries have adopted ISO 14001 and 111,000 environmental management systems have received 14001 certification.
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Objectives
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Preservation of the environment has joined the agenda of several countries who believe that they can make an impact through the implementation of policies. ISO plays an active role in providing guidelines that gather under the same umbrella the requirements of different nations. ISO 14001 encourages companies to understand clearly the impact that their activities have on their surroundings and to monitor affected areas so that the consequences stay within a range that is safe to the environment.
Requirements
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ISO 14001:2004 represents the latest version of the standards. Although this document does not specify a target level of environmental performance, the guidelines emphasize three responsibilities that a corporation needs to embrace. First, it must evaluate how the presence of its facilities and activities changed the environment. Second, the standards call for identifying interventions that minimize the impact on the surroundings. Finally, corporations must include some environmental goals in their strategic plans. These objectives must be measurable and the organization must demonstrate that it successfully achieved its target.
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Examples
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Contamination of the air or water in proximity of the corporation facilities represents an example of an environmental impact that needs to be minimized. Audible noise and microwave energy containment fall under this umbrella also. More subtle situations involve the level of consumption of materials, such as paper or the ability to recycle consumables discarded within the company. Medical facilities concern themselves with the safety aspects of bacterial containment or the risks of discarding medical goods. Impact on road traffic from employing many employees within a location requires analysis and monitoring to protect neighboring schools or homes.
Emergency Management
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A powerful aspect of ISO 14001:2004 describes the accountability of planning for environmental disasters that may be caused by the company. It requires a clear outline of all possible negative scenarios that would cause a major environmental distress. It insists on the development of mitigation measures to reduce their risks. Then, the guidelines request the company to have plans of action in the eventuality that a disastrous situation surfaces. The plan must include responsibilities, actions and training for the staff to manage these situations.
Compliance
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Accreditation agencies establish compliance to ISO 14001:2004 by requesting an audit from auditing firms. Auditors spend time at the company's facilities to review corporate environmental plans, the actions that monitor environmental elements and control the impact, and the processes in place to manage emergency issues. Auditors typically work from the process documentation and note the gaps between practice and the documents. Upper management first meets with the auditors to demonstrate their commitment to the policies. The auditors then progress down the ladder to verify that the endorsement has infiltrated all levels of the organization.
Value
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Implementing ISO 14001:2004 gives a tool to management to control negative imprints on the environment. The monitoring tools alert the company of the onset of disastrous consequences that would damage the company image and reputation. Therefore, the management team gains peace of mind by implementing 14001:2004. Second, the environmental responsibility of the company aligns well with employees who want to be assured that they are working for an organization that values more than just its corporate success. The compliance with these standards opens the door to government incentives and benefits for environmentally friendly corporations.
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References
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