An Environmental Management System(EMS) is simply an efficient,
systematic, proactive approach to managing your organization's
environmental program. The expected outcome is continual improvement
in environmental performance and minimized risk resulting from
your operating activities. See the standard 'Plan, Do, Check,
Act' diagram below that forms the foundation of all EMSs.
By
first establishing an environmental policy, then making the environmental
concerns of the organization clear (Aspects) and defining what
will be done to control them (Objectives and Targets), planning
is accomplished after Management Programs have been established.
By
establishing organizational structure, personnel responsibilities,
competency and training, implementation begins. Communication
practices, documentation control, operational control and emergency
preparedness define the operation portion of an EMS.
An
organization's methods for measuring and monitoring its environmental
impacts is then conducted, along with practices for identifying
non-conformances and for implementing corrective and preventive
actions.
Routine
auditing constitutes the EMS checking and corrective action phase
of the program to ensure that your EMS is doing what it said it
would do.
Finally,
all EMSs should have regular senior management reviews to continually
evaluate the performance of your EMS and make recommendations
for improvement.
What is an EMS? A Snapshot