Employees Of A Given Organization Should Be Able To Associate And Understand

Employees of a given organization should be able to associate and understand how their particular function fits into the wider environmental policy (Anthony, 2001). Depending on who uses or has access to the facility, it may also be advisable to train people other than internal staff, or at least raise their awareness of the EMS (Anthony, 2001).
9. What role does audit play within an EMS and what are the key features of a successful audit?
An audit within the EMS system is a systematic, documented, objective review of the manner in which environmental aspects of a program, project, facility or corporation are being managed (APPEGA, 2004: 7). The audit is necessary both to determine the design of the EMS at the start, as well as evaluate the progress of the EMS on a continual basis. An environmental audit at the start ensures that an industry has a good understanding of its environmental effects before it [designs a] competent strateg[y] to reduce its impact (OECD, 2001: 41). The EMS audit is a crucial necessity for any facility's EMS to ensure that the facility is meeting the requirements of the EMS, and that it is being properly executed and sustained (The Lexington Group, 2005). For an audit to be successful, it is vital that it be independent, objective and impartial (Praxiom Research Group, 2005). A sound audit must also concentrate on priorities, such as particular operations that are associated with high risk, or activities that were singled out in a previous audit.
10. How might you gain senior management approval for the implementation of an EMS and why is such approval important?
The Lexington Group, a management consulting firm, states that gaining the full and complete support of senior management is the single most important challenge in establishing a formal EHS management system in an organization or facility. Without the full support of the senior management, an EMS is unlikely to succeed. For example, senior management may approve an EMS but not really be committed, with environmental talk being rhetoric rather than reality (The Lexington Group, 2005:47). An EMS may not be a high priority because the senior management does not recognize the potential benefits. Making the case about the benefits of an EMS may be vital to gaining genuine senior management support. Presenting an account of improved community relations, higher employee productivity, reduced safety incidents, and reduced insurance premiums, all within the framework of cost-reduction, may be the means of gaining the necessary senior management approval (The Lexington Group, 2005).
Works Cited:
Anthony, A (2001) ISO 14001 Environmental Policy (4.2), available from: http://www.deq.virginia.gov/ems/pdf/mod5.pdf
APPEGA (2004) Guideline for Environmental Practice, available from: http://www.apegga.