ISO 14001 Compliance and Auditing Services
Established in 1996, ISO 14001 is a voluntary internationally accepted standard related to environmental management that exists to help organizations; 1) minimize how their operations and processes negatively affect the environment (i.e. cause adverse changes to air, water, or land), 2) comply with applicable laws, regulations, and other environmentally oriented requirements, and 3) continually improve in the preservation of the environment.
ISO 14000 Environmental Management Standard pertains to the process of how a product is produced, rather than to the product itself, as with the ISO 9000 Quality Management Standard. ISO does not directly perform audits or award certification; third-party firms perform certification.
ISO 14000 is designed to address the delicate balance between maintaining profitability and eliminating negative impact to the environment, with the commitment of every employee at every level within the company. Establishing an acceptable environmental management system can be complex, but, will certainly positively influence the effectiveness of a site’s environmental, health & safety and security (EHS&S) program and provide long-term reduction of pollution.
What is a management system?
A Management System is a framework based on a structured integration of best practice into operating systems, frequently built around the Plan-Do-Check Act cycle.
The best companies work as complete units with a shared vision. This may encompass information sharing, benchmarking, team working, and working to the highest quality and environmental principles. A management system helps a company achieve these goals through such things as optimization of processes, management focus, employee involvement, and discipline of management thinking.
What are the elements of the ISO 14001 Standard?
| 4.4.1 | General requirements |
| 4.4.2 | Environmental Policy |
| 4.3.1 | Environmental Aspects |
| 4.3.2 | Legal and Other Requirements |
| 4.3.3 | Objectives, Targets, and Programs |
| 4.4.1 | Structure and Responsibility |
| 4.4.2 | Competence, Training, and Awareness |
| 4.4.3 | Communications |
| 4.4.4 | EMS Documentation |
| 4.4.5 | Control of Documents |
| 4.4.6 | Operational Control |
| 4.4.7 | Emergency Preparedness and Response |
| 4.4.2 | Monitoring and Measurement |
| 4.4.3 | Evaluation of Compliance |
| 4.4.4 | Non-conformances, Corrective, Preventive Action |
| 4.4.5 | Control of Records |
| 4.4.6 | Internal Audit |
| 4.4.7 | Management Review |
ISO 14001 is relevant to the following companies:
Environmental impact is becoming an increasingly important issue across the globe, with pressure to minimize the negative impact coming from a number of sources including, federal, state and governments, regulators, trade associations, customers, employees, and shareholders. Therefore, ISO 14001 is relevant to almost every company that has the potential to impact the environment.
Total Environmental & Safety, LLC’s (Total) team of experienced environmental professionals have been assisting companies in the development and implementation of ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems (EMS) since its inception. Total’s offer several unique services, including:
- ISO 14001 EMS Development and Implementation
- Internal and External Auditing
- Environmental Aspects
- Aspect Team Advisor
- Gap Analyses and Pre-Certification Audits
- Internal Auditor and Employee Training