ISO 14001 is an Environmental Management system (EMS) which requires an organisation to identify how its activities impact on the environment, determine their significance and then implement a demonstratable program for controlling and managing them.

The benefits of an Environmental Management System are:

• Ensuring that an organisation is continually aware of any legislative requirements for its sites and their activities.
• It enables the organisation to ensure its continued compliance with those legal requirements.
• It manages your waste by adopting the three Rs of the environment: Reduce, Re-use and Recycle
• It encourages more efficient use of materials and resources.

Quite simply. it ensures an organisation operates in an efficient and environmentally responsible manner.

A typical ISO 14001 project would consist of the following stages:

• Initially we would carry out a full Environmental review to establish your position in relation to the requirements of both the standard and current legislation.
• A project plan would be agreed identifing, in detail, all the activities necessary to achieve Certification. It would define the timescale and personnel responsible for each area of activity.
• We would prepare a register of your Environmental aspects, highlighting the most significant ones as well as producing a detailed register of relevant Legislation.
• A series of initial Environmental objectives would be established, reviewed in detail and appropriate, meaningful targets to achieve them would be set.
• We would produce both an Environmental Policy manual and an Environmental Procedures manual in a ‘draft’ and in due course a ‘final’ form.
• We would train personnel in the use of the system and in particular the company policy and how to operate the procedures.
• At the same time we would carry out internal audit training for all relevant staff and construct a schedule for your internal audits.
• We would give advice and guidance on the choice of an appropriate UKAS Accredited Certification body, and once you have chosen one, we would help you with the application process.
• Prior to your Assessment we would carry out a full internal audit and conduct a management review
• We would also be in attendance when your chosen Certification body visit you to carry out a document review and pre assessment audit. We would carry out any additional work that may be required to the satisfaction of your Certification body to ensure you achieve your Certification.