Q. What is ISO 14001: 2004?

A. It's an International Standard which is intended to apply to all sizes and types of organisation and specifies the requirements for development, implementation, and maintenance of an environmental management system.

Q. So what would be the potential benefits to my business?

A.  There are many, the key ones being:

• profit from marketing "green" products or services;
• provides a competitive marketing tool and opens new market opportunities;
• addresses an anticipated requirement to compete in local, national and international government purchasing departments;
• enhances public relations by being able to demonstrate and communicate a commitment to providing a safer, cleaner, healthier environment for all concerned parties;
• improves relationships with insurance companies resulting in obtaining pollution-incident coverage at best possible rates;
• process cost savings by reduction of input materials and energy;
• reduced waste costs and profits from recycled commodity sales;
• preferred government, client supplier status;
• faster track for authorisation / consents etc;
• reduction or elimination of compliance audits and monitoring;
• effective waste / cost reduction systems throughout the business;
• meet industry "peer pressure" to have a system in place;
• a green image that aids in creating a proud and motivated workforce;
• provides evidence of due diligence;
• etc. etc. 

Q. I want to operate an environmental management system to help reduce our impact on the environment and reduce waste costs, but don't feel that we would benefit from third party certification just yet, do we have to become certified?

A. No you don't. Many businesses operate excellent environmental management systems using the ISO 14001 as a specification and reap all of the benefits. Generally certification is sought by businesses due to pressure from their customers or simply wanting the certificate on the wall.

Q. What is the cost of obtaining ISO 14001 or ISO 9001?

A. This really depends on the following:

• the size and complexity of your business  
• how much of the work you do yourself or want us to do for you
• whether you want to go for full third party certification / registration or not
• the man days you require from us

Q. How long does it take?

A. Again this depends on the size, complexity and commitment of your business, as a rule of thumb the project duration is normally 3 - 9 months and the usual monthly visits by us would be 1 - 3 days. However that would depend on your requirements.

Q. Is it a complicated process and will be tied down with procedure manuals and paperwork etc?

A. Absolutely not, we tend to find that poor consultants are the principle cause for over complex systems. The ISO standards are very straightforward, sensible and extremely flexible. The standard is there to help and enhance your chances of continual improvement not hinder them in any way.

Q. What are the minimum procedural documents that 9001:2000 require?

These are absolute minimum: 1. Control of documents, 2. Control of records, 3. Internal Audits, 4. Control of non-conforming product, 5. Corrective action, 6. Preventive action.

We believe that effective training, competence and awareness negates the need for reams of procedures, however where significant risk to the business is a possibility we would recommend adequate procedures to reduce or eliminate the risk.

Q. So what does ISO 14001 EMS involve?

A. Obviously this depends on the business type, however a general guide to the steps (without going into too much detail) and hopefully taking away the mystery that appears to surround the standards. It involves the following:

• produce a business environmental policy statement (and manual if you wish)
• look at your business activities and consider the environmental aspects
• determine what significance / impact those aspects have on the environment
• identify what applicable legal and other requirements are related to those aspects and ensure that these are taken into account
• based on the aspects etc, develop improvement objectives, targets and program's to reduce the aspects / improve the system
• ensure availability of sufficient resources, competence, awareness etc
• ensure effective communication based on your needs and benefits to your business
• keep an adequate control of your system's records and documents (such as a manual if you want one, and waste consignment notes etc)
• where business risks were identified (such as fire, pollution, excessive waste, regulatory compliance breaches etc) provide controls to reduce or eliminate these risks to your business
• have adequate emergency preparedness and response arrangements in place so that your staff are able to prevent or respond to these situations in a professional, controlled and effective manner should the worst occur
• where problems do occur, investigate them, and improve controls 
• Monitor and measure your business performance against your objectives and targets
• periodically check that you continue to comply with applicable legal reguirements so you eliminate any risk or unknowingly breaking some obscure law!
• ensure that your system continues to operate to your planned arrangements by scheduling and conducting audits (these are an excellent improvement tool)
• periodically review your management system, set new targets, objectives etc and ensure its continuing suitability and effectiveness
• decide whether or not you wish to become third party certified / registered to ISO 14001: 2004.

Q. Do we need to employ an environmental manager?

A. That is entirely up to you, it is a common miss-conception that the ISO standards (quality or environmental) stipulate the need for a specific manager. You must have somebody within your business nominated as the "management representative" for the system but it is perfectly acceptable for this responsibility to be attached to a current staff member as say an additional duty. It really depends on what you feel is best for your business.

Q.How could ISO Systems UK, help us with the above?

A. We can help you with as little or as much of the above based on your needs and requirements. From advice, to writing up elements of your system or working with you throughout or beyond the entire project.

We are able to work with our clients remotely for much of the project or be based at your premises or a mixture of both depending on your needs.

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We hope that the above helps, but should you have any other questions please e-mail or telephone we shall be pleased to assist.

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e-mail questions to billynaisbett@isosystems.org     

•  More content to be added to this page as the questions are received.....