Environmental Management System
Requirements and Guidelines
A General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China
China Standardization Administration
Table of Contents
Preface
Introduction
1 Scope
2 Normative references
3 Terms and DefinitionsTerms and Definitions
3 Terms and Definitions 3 Terms and Definitions4 Environmental Management System Requirements
4.1 General Requirements
4.2 Environmental Policy
4.3 Planning
4.3.1 Environmental Factors
4.3.2 Laws, Regulations, and Other Requirements
4.3.3 Objectives, Targets, and Programs
4.4 Implementation and Operation
4.4.1 Resources, Roles, Responsibilities, and Authorities
4.4.2 Competencies, Training, and Awareness
4.4.3 Information Exchange
4.4.4 Documentation
4.4.5 Documentation Control
4.4.6 Operational Control
4.4.7 Emergency Preparedness and Response
4.5 Inspection
4.5.1 Monitoring and Measurement
4.5.2 Compliance Evaluation
4.5.3 Nonconformities, Corrective and Preventive Actions
4.5.4 Record Control
4.5.5 Internal Audit
4.6 Management Reviews
Appendix A. Informative Appendix) Guidelines for the use of this standard
Appendix B (Informative Appendix) Links between GB/T 24001 and GB/T 19001
Bibliography
Figure 1 Environmental management system (EMS) model of this standard
Preface
This standard is equivalent to the adoption of ISO 14001: 2004, Environmental Management System Requirements and Guidelines for Use.
This standard amends GB/T 24001-1996. This standard replaces GB/T 24001-1996.
The secondary title of this standard from the 1996 version of the "norms and guidelines for use" to "requirements and guidelines for use".
This standard has made the following changes to the terminology:
-- "planning (planning)" to "planning";
In this standard, they are translated as "shall" and "should" respectively.
This standard is a GB/T 24000 series of standards.
This standard appendix A and appendix B is an informative appendix.
This standard is proposed by the China National Institute of Standardization and attributed.
This standard is responsible for drafting by the China National Institute of Standardization.
Introduction
Nowadays, organizations of all types are paying more and more attention to achieving and proving good environmental performance by controlling the environmental impacts of their activities, products and services in accordance with their environmental policies and objectives. This is due to stricter legislation, the development of economic policies and other measures to promote environmental protection, and a general increase in the interest of interested parties in environmental issues and sustainable development.
Many organizations have introduced environmental "reviews" or "audits" to evaluate their environmental performance. However, such reviews and audits alone may not be sufficient to provide an organization with the assurance that its environmental performance not only now meets, but will continue to meet, legal and policy requirements. To be effective, reviews or audits must be implemented within a structured management system that is integrated into the organization as a whole.
Environmental management standards are intended to define the elements of an effective environmental management system for an organization, which can be combined with other management requirements to help the organization achieve its environmental and economic objectives. As with other standards, they are not intended to create non-tariff barriers to trade, nor do they add to or change the legal responsibilities of the organization.
This standard specifies requirements for an environmental management system that enables an organization to develop and implement policies and objectives based on legal and regulatory requirements and information on significant environmental factors. This standard is intended to apply to any type and size of organization and to a wide range of geographic, cultural and social conditions. Its mode of operation is shown in Figure 1. Successful implementation of the system depends on the commitment of all levels and functions in the organization, especially the commitment of top managers. Such a system allows the organization to develop its environmental policy, establish objectives and processes to achieve the committed policy, take the necessary steps to improve environmental performance, and confirm that the system meets the requirements of this standard. The overall purpose of this standard is to support environmental protection and pollution prevention, harmonizing them with social and economic needs. It should be noted that many of these requirements can be covered simultaneously or repeatedly.
The revision of the second edition of this standard focuses on a clearer presentation of the contents of the first edition; at the same time, the contents of GB/T 19001 are taken into account as necessary to enhance the compatibility of the two standards, so as to meet the needs of a wide range of users.
For ease of use, this standard appendix A and the main body of chapter 4 of the relevant entries using the corresponding serial number. For example, A.3.3 corresponds to 4.3.3, the contents of which are all about the goals, objectives and programs of the discussion, A.5.5 and 4.5.5 of the contents of the internal audit and so on. In addition, the correspondence of similar technical contents between GB/T 24001-2004 and GB/T 19001-2000 is also given in Appendix B.
This standard specifies requirements for an organization's environmental management system, which can be used to certify/register and/or self-declare an organization's environmental management system, which is importantly different from non-certified guidelines that are used to provide general assistance to an organization in establishing, implementing, or improving an environmental management system. Environmental management has many facets, some of which are of strategic and competitive importance. By demonstrating successful implementation of this standard, an organization can assure interested parties that it has an appropriate environmental management system in place.
Other standards, in particular the various technical documents on environmental management developed by ISO/TC 207, provide guidance on the techniques that support environmental management. References to other standards are for informational purposes only.
This standard contains only those requirements that can be objectively audited. Organizations that need more comprehensive guidance on many issues in the environmental management system can refer to GB/T 24004-2004.
This standard does not provide absolute requirements for environmental performance, except for a commitment to comply with applicable legal and regulatory requirements and other compliance requirements in the policy, as well as pollution prevention and continuous improvement. organizations engaged in similar activities but with different environmental performance may both be in compliance with this standard.
Note: This standard is based on an operational model known as Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA). A brief description of the meaning of PDCA is as follows:
-- Planning: Establishing the objectives and processes required to achieve the results desired by the organization's environmental policy;
-- Implementation: Carrying out the processes;
-- Checking: Checking that the organization is in compliance with the environmental policy.
-- Inspection: monitoring and measuring the process against the environmental policy, objectives, targets, as well as legal, regulatory and other requirements, and reporting on the results;
-- Improvement: taking steps to continually improve the performance of the environmental management system.
Many organizations manage their operations through a system of processes and process interactions in what is known as the "process approach", which is advocated in GB/T 19001-2000. Since PDCA can be applied to all processes, the two approaches can be seen as compatible.
Figure 1 Environmental management system (EMS) model of this standard
Systematic adoption and implementation of a range of environmental management techniques can help to bring about better results for all parties involved. However, the adoption of this Standard, by itself, does not guarantee such results. An environmental management system enables an organization to consider the use of best available techniques to achieve environmental objectives, where appropriate and economically feasible, taking full account of the cost-effectiveness of adopting these techniques.
This standard does not contain requirements for other management systems, such as quality, occupational health and safety, financial or risk management system requirements. However, the elements specified in this standard may be harmonized or integrated with elements of other management systems. An organization can establish an environmental management system that meets the requirements of this standard by making modifications to an existing management system. It should also be noted that the application of the various management system elements may vary for different purposes and to different interested parties.
The level of detail and complexity of the environmental management system, the amount of system documentation, and the resources invested depend on a number of factors, such as the scope of coverage of the system, the size of the organization, and the nature of its activities, products and services. This is particularly true for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Environmental Management System Requirements and Guidance for Use
1 Scope
This standard establishes requirements for an environmental management system to enable an organization to develop and implement an environmental policy and objectives in accordance with laws and regulations and other requirements to which it is subject, as well as information on significant environmental factors. It applies to those environmental factors that the organization determines it can control, or has the potential to influence. However, the standard itself does not present specific environmental performance guidelines.
This standard applies to any organization that wishes to:
a) establish, implement, maintain, and improve an environmental management system;
b) satisfy itself that it can comply with the stated environmental policy;
c) demonstrate conformance with the standard by:
1) conducting a self-assessment and self-declaration;
2) seeking confirmation of compliance from relevant parties of the organization (e.g., customers);
3) seeking external confirmation of its self-declaration;
4) seeking certification/registration of its environmental management system by an external organization.
All of the requirements set out in this standard can be incorporated into any environmental management system. The degree of application depends on factors such as the organization's environmental policy, the nature of its activities, products and services, and the location and conditions under which it operates. This standard also provides informative guidance on how to use it in Appendix A.
2 Referenced Standards
No referenced standards. This chapter is retained to keep the chapter number in this edition and the previous edition (GB/T 24001-1996) consistent.
3 Terms and Definitions
The following terms and definitions apply to this standard:
3.1
Auditor auditor
Personnel with the ability to perform audits.
[GB/T 19000-2000, 3.9.9]
3.2
continual improvement
The process of continual enhancement of the environmental management system (3.8) to achieve the objectives of the organization (3.16) in accordance with its environmental policy ( 3.11) to achieve overall improvement in environmental performance (3.10) in accordance with the organization's (3.16) Environmental Policy ( 3.11).
Note: This process does not have to occur simultaneously for all aspects of the activity.
3.3
Corrective action corrective action
Measures taken to eliminate the causes of identified nonconformities (3.15).
3.4
Document document
The information and the medium on which it is carried.
Note 1: The medium may be paper, computer disk, CD-ROM or other electronic media, photographs or standard samples, or a combination thereof.
Note 2: rewritten according to clause 3.7.2 of GB/T 19000-2000.
3.5
Environment environment
Organization (3.16) The external existence of operational activities, including air, water, land, natural resources, plants, animals, people, and their interrelationships.
Note: In this sense, external existence extends from within the organization to the global system.
3.6
Environmental aspect
The elements of an organization's (3.16) activities, products, or services that can interact with the environment (3.5).
Note: Significant environmental factors are those that have, or are capable of having, a significant environmental impact.
3.7
Environmental impact
Any harmful or beneficial change in the environment (3.5) caused in whole or in part by an environmental factor (3.6) of the organization (3.16).
3.8
Environmental management system (EMS)
The part of an organization's (3.16) management system used to develop and implement its environmental policy (3.11) and manage its environmental factors (3.6).
Note 1: A management system is a collection of interrelated elements that are used to establish policies and objectives and, in turn, to achieve those objectives.
Note 2: A management system includes organizational structure, planning activities, responsibilities, practices, procedures (3.19), processes, and resources.
3.9
Environmental objective environmental objective
The overall environmental purpose that is consistent with the environmental policy (3.11) that the organization (3.16) seeks to achieve.
3.10
Environmental performance
The measurable results of an organization's (3.16) management of its environmental factors (3.6).
Note: Under the conditions of an environmental management system, results may be measured against the organization's (3.16) environmental policy (3.11), environmental objectives (3.9), environmental targets (3.12), and other environmental performance requirements.
3.11
Environmental policy
The overall intent and direction of the organization (3.16) as formally expressed by top management with respect to its environmental performance (3.10).
Note: An environmental policy provides a framework for taking action and establishing environmental objectives (3.9) and environmental targets (3.12).
3.12
Environmental target
Specific performance requirements that arise directly from the environmental objectives (3.9), or that must be defined and met in order to achieve them, and that can apply to the whole organization (3.16) or to parts of it.
3.13
Interested party
A person or group of persons who are concerned with (3.10) or affected by (3.16) the environmental performance of the organization.
3.14
Internal audit
A systematic, independent, and documented process for objectively obtaining and evaluating audit evidence to determine the extent to which an organization (3.16) meets the audit criteria it has established for its environmental management system.
Note: In many cases, especially for small organizations, independence can be demonstrated by having no responsibility for the activities being audited.
3.15
Nonconformity
Not met.
[GB/T 19000-2000, 3.6.2]
Note: This term is "non-conformity" in GB/T 19000-2000.
3.16
Organization
Companies, groups of companies, firms, enterprises and institutions, government agencies or associations, or parts or combinations of the above, whether or not they have legal personality, public or private, with their own functions and administration.
Note: For organizations with more than one operating unit, an operating unit may be considered as one organization.
3.17
Preventive action
Measures taken to eliminate the causes of a potential nonconformance (3.15).
3.18
prevention of pollution
The adoption (or combination of processes, practices, technologies, materials, products, services, or energy sources to avoid, minimize, or control the generation, release, or disposal of any type of pollutant or waste in order to reduce harmful environmental impacts (3.7).
Note: Pollution prevention may include source reduction or elimination, process, product, or service modification, efficient use of resources, material or energy substitution, reuse, recovery, recycling, reclamation, and disposal.
3.19
Procedure procedure
A defined pathway for carrying out an activity or process.
Note 1: A procedure may or may not be documented.
Note 2: rewritten according to clause 3.4.5 of GB/T 19000-2000.
3.20
Record record
Documentation that clarifies the results achieved or provides evidence of the activities performed.
Note: rewritten according to GB/T 19000-2000, clause 3.7.6.
4 Requirements for an environmental management system
4.1 General requirements
The organization shall establish, document, describe, implement, maintain, and continually improve an environmental management system in accordance with the requirements of this standard, and determine how it will achieve these requirements.
The organization shall define and document the scope of coverage of the environmental management system.
4.2 Environmental Policy
The top management shall define the organization's environmental policy and ensure that it is within the scope of coverage of the environmental management system:
a) is appropriate to the nature, scale, and environmental impacts of the organization's activities, products, and services;
b) includes a commitment to continuous improvement and pollution prevention;
c) includes a commitment to compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements related to its environmental factors;
c) includes a commitment to compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements related to its environmental factors.
b) includes a commitment to continuous improvement and pollution prevention;
c) includes a commitment to comply with applicable legal, regulatory and other requirements relating to its environmental considerations;
d) provides a framework for the establishment and review of environmental goals and objectives;
e) is documented, implemented and maintained;
f) is communicated to all persons working for or on behalf of the organization;
g) is accessible to the public.
4.3 Planning
4.3.1 Environmental Factors
The organization shall establish, implement, and maintain a process or processes for
a) identifying the environmental factors in its activities, products, and services that are covered by its environmental management system that it has control over, or that it is in a position to influence, considering factors such as those already included in the plan or newly developed, new, or modified activities, products, and services. activities, products and services;
b) Identify factors that have, or are likely to have, a significant impact on the environment (i.e. significant environmental factors).
The organization should document and update this information.
The organization shall ensure that significant environmental factors are considered when establishing, implementing and maintaining the environmental management system.
4.3.2 Legal, Regulatory, and Other Requirements
The organization shall establish, implement, and maintain a process or processes for
a) identifying legal, regulatory, and other requirements to be complied with that apply to its activities, products, and environmental factors in its services, and establishing access to those requirements;
b) determining how those requirements apply to its environmental factors.
The organization shall ensure that these applicable legal and regulatory requirements and other environmental requirements are considered when establishing, implementing and maintaining the environmental management system.
4.3.3 Objectives, targets, and programs
The organization shall establish, implement, and maintain documented environmental objectives and targets for relevant functions and levels within the organization.
Objectives and targets shall be measurable, if feasible. Objectives and targets shall be consistent with the environmental policy and include a commitment to pollution prevention, continuous improvement, and compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, as well as other requirements.
The organization should consider legal, regulatory and other requirements, as well as its own significant environmental factors, when establishing and reviewing environmental objectives. In addition, consideration should be given to optional technical solutions, financial, operational and business requirements, and the views of interested parties.
The organization shall develop, implement, and maintain a program or programs designed to achieve the environmental goals and objectives, which shall include:
a) a definition of the responsibilities for achieving the environmental goals and objectives for each of the relevant functions and levels within the organization;
b) a methodology and timetable for achieving the goals and objectives.
4.4 Implementation and Operation
4.4.1 Resources, Roles, Responsibilities, and Authorities
The manager shall ensure that the necessary resources are available for the establishment, implementation, maintenance, and improvement of the environmental management system. Resources include human resources and specialized skills, the organization's infrastructure, and technical and financial resources.
To facilitate effective environmental management, roles, responsibilities and authorities should be clearly defined, documented and communicated.
The top management of the organization should appoint a dedicated manager's representative, who, whether or not he/she has other responsibilities, should have clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and authority to:
a) ensure that the environmental management system is established, implemented, and maintained in accordance with the requirements of this standard;
b) report on the performance of the environmental management system (performance) to the top management for review, and provide recommendations on the performance of the environmental management system.
b>Report the performance of the environmental management system to the highest level of management for review and make recommendations for improvement.
4.4.2 Competence, Training, and Awareness
The organization shall ensure that all persons performing work for or on behalf of it that may have significant environmental impacts as determined by the organization have appropriate competence. This competence is based on the necessary education, training, or experience. The organization shall maintain relevant records.
The organization shall identify training needs related to its environmental factors and environmental management system and provide training, or take other measures to meet those needs. Relevant records shall be maintained.
The organization shall establish, implement and maintain a process or processes by which persons working for or on behalf of it are aware of:
a) the importance of conforming to the environmental policy and procedures and of meeting the requirements of the environmental management system;
b) the environmental significance of their work and the actual or potential environmental impacts, and the environmental benefits that can be gained from improvements to their individual work;
c) their roles and responsibilities in achieving the requirements of the EMS;
d) the potential consequences of deviating from the required operating procedures.
4.4.3 Information Exchange
The organization shall establish, implement, and maintain one or more procedures for the exchange of information about its environmental factors and environmental management system
a) at all levels and functions within the organization;
b) to receive, document, and respond to communications with external interested parties.
The organization should decide whether or not to communicate with the outside world about its important environmental factors and document its decision. If a decision is made to communicate externally, the manner of communication should be defined and implemented.
4.4.4 Documentation
Documentation of the environmental management system shall include:
a) environmental policy, objectives and targets;
b) a description of the scope of coverage of the environmental management system;
c) a description of the main elements of the environmental management system and their interactions, and access to relevant documents;
d) documentation required by this Standard, including records;
d) a description of the environmental management system, including records, and access to relevant documents.
e) Documents, including records, required by the organization to ensure effective planning, operation and control of processes involving significant environmental factors.
4.4.5 Control of documents
Control of documents required by this standard and the environmental management system shall be provided. Records are a special type of document and shall be controlled in accordance with the requirements of 4.5.4.
The organization shall establish, implement, and maintain a process or processes for:
a) approving documents prior to release to ensure their appropriateness;
b) reviewing and revising documents and re-approving them as necessary;
c) ensuring that changes to documents and the status of ongoing revisions are identified;
d) ensuring that applicable documents are
d) Ensure that appropriate versions of applicable documents are distributed to those who need them; (refer to ISO 9000)
e) Ensure that documents are legible and clearly labeled;
f) Ensure that external documents required to plan and operate the environmental management system are labeled and their distribution is controlled;
g) Prevent the misuse of outdated documents. If they are retained for some purpose, they are appropriately labeled.
4.4.6 Operational control
The organization shall identify and plan operations related to identified significant environmental factors in accordance with its policies, objectives and targets to ensure that they are carried out under specified conditions by:
a) Establishing, implementing and maintaining one or more documented procedures to control the lack of documented procedures that could lead to deviations from environmental policies, objectives and targets.
b) To provide operating guidelines in the procedures;
c) To establish, implement and maintain procedures for significant environmental factors identified in the products and services used by the organization, and to inform suppliers and contractors of applicable procedures and requirements.
4.4.7 Emergency Preparedness and Response
The organization shall establish, implement, and maintain a procedure or procedures for identifying potential emergencies and accidents that may have an impact on the environment and for specifying response measures.
The organization shall respond to actual emergencies and accidents and prevent or reduce accompanying harmful environmental effects.
The organization shall periodically review its emergency preparedness and response procedures. Revise them as necessary, especially after an accident or emergency.
When feasible, the organization shall also periodically test the above procedures.
4.5 Inspection
4.5.1 Monitoring and Measurement
The organization shall establish, implement, and maintain a procedure or procedures for routine monitoring and measurement of key characteristics of operations that may have significant environmental impacts. The procedures shall provide for the documentation of information to monitor environmental performance, operational controls, and compliance with objectives and targets.
The organization shall ensure that the monitoring and measurement equipment used is calibrated and tested, and properly maintained. Relevant records should be kept.
4.5.2 Compliance Evaluation
4.5.2.1
To fulfill its commitment to compliance, the organization shall establish, implement, and maintain one or more processes to periodically evaluate compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations.
The organization shall maintain records of the results of such periodic evaluations.
4.5.2.2
The organization shall evaluate compliance with other requirements. To do this, the organization may conduct it in conjunction with the evaluation required in 4.5.2.1, or it may establish separate procedures to conduct separate evaluations.
The organization shall maintain records of the results of these periodic evaluations.
4.5.3 Nonconformities, Corrective Action, and Preventive Action
The organization shall establish, implement, and maintain one or more procedures for addressing actual or potential nonconformities, corrective action, and preventive action. The procedures should specify requirements for:
a) identifying and correcting nonconformities and taking steps to minimize the resulting environmental impacts;
b) investigating nonconformities, determining their causes, and taking steps to avoid their recurrence;
c) evaluating the need for measures to prevent nonconformities; and implementing the appropriate measures that are developed to avoid their occurrence;
c) evaluating the need for measures to prevent nonconformities.
d) Document the results of corrective and preventive actions taken;
e) Review the effectiveness of corrective and preventive actions taken.
The measures taken should be appropriate to the severity of the problem and the environmental impact.
The organization should ensure that necessary changes are made to the environmental management system documentation.
4.5.4 Record control
The organization shall establish and maintain, as necessary, the records required to substantiate compliance with the requirements of its environmental management system and this standard, and the results achieved.
The organization shall establish, implement, and maintain one or more procedures for the identification, storage, protection, retrieval, retention, and disposal of records.
Environmental records shall be clearly written, labeled, and traceable.
4.5.5 Internal Audits
The organization shall ensure that internal audits of the environmental management system are conducted at planned intervals. The purpose is to:
a) determine whether the environmental management system
1) conforms to the planned environmental management arrangements and the requirements of this standard;
2) has been properly implemented and maintained.
b) Report the results of the audit to the manager.
The organization shall plan, develop, implement, and maintain one or more audit programs, taking into account the environmental significance of the operations involved and the results of previous audits.
The organization shall establish, implement, and maintain one or more audit programs that are used to define
--Responsibilities and requirements for planning and conducting audits and for reporting the results of audits, and for maintaining related records;
--Audit guidelines, scope, frequency and methodology.
The selection of auditors and the implementation of audits should ensure the objectivity and impartiality of the audit process.
4.6 Management Review
The top management shall review the organization's environmental management system at planned intervals to ensure its continued suitability, adequacy and effectiveness. The review shall include an evaluation of opportunities for improvement and needs for modification of the environmental management system, including the environmental policy, environmental objectives and targets. A record of the management review shall be kept.
Inputs to the management review shall include:
a) results of internal audits and compliance evaluations;
b) communication with external parties, including complaints;
c) the organization's environmental performance;
d) the extent to which objectives and targets have been achieved;
e) the status of corrective and preventive actions;
f) follow-up to previous management reviews;
f) the extent to which the environmental objectives and targets have been achieved.
g) Changes in the objective environment, including developments in laws, regulations, and other requirements related to the organization's environmental factors;
h) Recommendations for improvement.
The output of the management review shall include decisions and actions related to changes in the environmental policy, objectives, targets, and other elements of the environmental management system to achieve a commitment to continuous improvement.
Appendix A
(Informational Appendix)
Guidance for the Use of this Standard
A 1 General Requirements
The contents of this addendum are purely informational in nature, and are intended to prevent misinterpretation of the requirements of Chapter 4 of this Standard. This information elaborates on and is consistent with the requirements of Chapter 4 and is not intended to increase, decrease, or modify those requirements.
The implementation of an environmental management system as defined in this standard is intended to improve environmental performance. Therefore, this standard is based on the premise that the organization will periodically review and evaluate its environmental management system to identify opportunities for improvement and implement them. The pace, extent and timetable of this continuous improvement process are determined by the organization based on its economic situation and other objective conditions. Improvements to the environmental management system are intended to achieve further improvements in environmental performance.
This standard requires the organization to:
a) Develop an appropriate environmental policy;
b) Identify environmental factors in its past, current, or planned activities, products, and services to determine the significant environmental impacts thereof;
c) Identify applicable laws and regulations, and other requirements to which the organization is subject;
d) Determine priorities and establish appropriate environmental objectives and targets;
d) Identify and implement environmental management systems to ensure that the organization's environmental performance is maintained at a high level. objectives and targets;
e) Establishment of an organizational structure and program to implement the environmental policy and achieve the objectives and targets;
f) Planning, controlling, monitoring, corrective and preventive action, auditing, and reviewing activities to ensure compliance with the environmental policy and the appropriateness of the environmental management system;
g) Ability to make corrections in response to changes in the objective environment. .
An organization that has not yet established an environmental management system should first determine its current environmental status by means of an accreditation, so that all of its environmental factors can be taken into account as a basis for establishing an environmental management system.
The review should include the following four key elements:
-Identification of environmental factors. This includes environmental factors under normal operating conditions, abnormal conditions (e.g., startup and shutdown situations), and in the event of emergencies and accidents;
-Identify applicable laws and regulations and other environmental requirements with which the organization is expected to comply;
- -Review all current environmental management practices and procedures (including those related to procurement and contracting activities);
- Evaluate prior emergencies and accidents.
The review may be conducted by means of questionnaires, interviews, direct inspections and measurements, and reference to past audits or other reviews, depending on the nature of the activity.
The organization has the right to decide flexibly on its own the boundaries of the implementation of this standard, i.e., whether to implement this standard throughout the organization, or only in specific operational units, is left to the discretion of the organization. The organization shall define and document the scope of its environmental management system to clearly define the organizational boundaries for implementation of the environmental management system. Determination of scope is particularly necessary when the organization is part of a larger organization at a given site. Once the boundary is defined, all activities, products and services of the organization within that boundary must be included in the environmental management system. When determining the scope of the EMS, it should be noted that its credibility depends on the selection of the boundary. If a part of the organization is excluded from the environmental management system, the organization should be able to explain this. If this standard is to be implemented only in specific operating units, policies and procedures already established in other parts of the organization may be adopted to meet the requirements of this standard, as long as they are applicable to those parts that will be adopting this standard.
A 2 Environmental Policy
The environmental policy establishes the direction for implementation and improvement of the organization's environmental management system and serves to maintain and improve environmental performance. Therefore, the environmental policy should reflect top management's commitment to compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations and other environmental requirements, pollution prevention and continuous improvement. The environmental policy is the basis on which the organization establishes objectives and targets. The content of the environmental policy should be clear and unambiguous so that it can be understood by internal and external stakeholders. The policy should be reviewed and revised periodically to reflect changing conditions and information. The scope of application of the policy should be clearly definable and reflect the unique nature, scale and environmental impact of the activities, products and services covered by the environmental management system.
The environmental approach should be communicated to all persons working for, or on behalf of, the organization, including contractors working for it. In the case of contractors, it is not necessary to confine oneself to communicating the text of the approach, but may take other forms, such as rules, directives, procedures, etc., or communicate only those parts of the approach that are relevant to them. If the organization is part of a larger organization, the top managers of the organization should define their own environmental policy within the framework of the latter's environmental policy, document it, and have it endorsed by the parent organization.
Note: The top manager can be an individual or a collective who provides leadership and control of the organization from the highest level.
A 3 Planning
A 3.1 Environmental Factors
4.3.1 provides ? /div>