Chapter 3 - EMS

Question 1

What is EMS?

Answer 1

EMS refers to the management of an organisation environmental programs in a comprehensive, systematic, and documented manner. When an organisation put in place a series of practices and procedures, that when put together, results in an environmental management system, it can be accredited into the ISO 14001.

Question 2

What is ISO 14001?

Answer 2

Specify requirements of an EMS
Provide Framework for Organisations using PDCA (Plan,Do,Check,Act)
Enable an Organisation to check for effectiveness, develop policies and achieve goals
Require commitment from all levels, esp from top Management, to achieve success

Question 3

What is ISO 14000?

Answer 3

ISO 14001 is under ISO 14000 which refers to a family of standards relating to environmental management
ISO 14000 provides a framework for development of Environmental Management
ISO 14000 includes other environmental issues
E.g. Environmental Auditing, Performance Evaluation, Lifecycle Assessment

Question 4

Major Requirements for an EMS

Answer 4

A policy statement is needed which include the commitment to prevent pollution and continuous improvement of EMS to achieve overall improvement in environmental performances

1. Plan. Identify organisation activities, products and services that has significant impact to environment. Set performance targets and objectives for EMS
2. Do. Implementing EMS to meet targets and set up a program to periodically audit the execution of EMS
3. Check. Checking and taking preventive and corrective actions when error occurs
4. Act. Period review by top management to ensure system sustainability