Environmental Review

Question 1

How do you identify internal issues when doing an env. Review ?

Answer 1

Some of these internal issues could be opinions of employees who feel the company is not doing enough for the env.
It could also be the company principles or culture that does not suit or benefit the env.

Question 2

How do you identify external issues when doing an env. Review ?

Answer 2

These are issues that are usually out of the control of the organization.
They could come in the form of debates discussing how the companies activities do not benefit the environment.
They could also be changes in consumer preferences and market trends .
In the national context could laws and regulations of the country the organization;is located in . ( some strict laws could cause changes to EMS structure ).

These external issues are often linked to interested parties eg. Customers, env. Authorities , NGO’s etc.

Question 3

What are some of the benefits of understanding the organization ?

Answer 3

This will help you understand the type company it is and help you efficiently identify the internal and external issues relevant to help the company achieve its EMS goals. These issues include environmental conditions being affected by the organization or are capable of affecting the company .

Question 4

What does understanding the needs and expectations of interested parties mean (stake holder analysis)

Answer 4

This involves about 3 steps:

1. The organization has to identify the interested parties relevant to the EMS .
2. Then the organization has to identify the relevant needs and expectations from these parties .
3. The organization has to identify which of these expectations become its compliance .

These must be done regularly!!

Question 5

What can you say about determining risks and opportunities?

Answer 5

The organization must identify the risk and opportunities related to its significant environmental impacts, compliance objectives and other issues and requirements identified in 4.1 and 4.2.

Question 6

What more can be said about risks and opportunities ?

Answer 6

The organization must map out all risks and opportunities. Risks go both ways some risks are env. Conditions that affect the company and some are the company’ activities that affect the env. You must always aim to include risks for accidents and emergencies. Aim for continual improvement.

It is always good to present this as a table !

Question 7

Is the following true or false: the organization must always document risks and opportunities that need to be addressed as well as the processes from 6.1 to 6.4 to instill confidence that they are being carried out as thought

Answer 7

True

Question 8

What does a well defined scope do for an EMS?

Answer 8

This determines the boundaries and applicability of the EMS. This is to identify the relevant areas the EMS covers and where it applies

Question 9

When determining a scope in an EMS what should you take into consideration?

Answer 9

The external and internal issues
The compliance obligations
The organizational units , functions and physical boundaries
It’s activities, products and services
Its authority and ability to exercise control and influence.

Question 10

Is this statement true or false : all activities, products and services should be included in the EMS and it should always be documented and available to interested parties.

Answer 10

True

Question 11

What can be said about identifying env. Aspects in an organization?

Answer 11

Within the boundaries of an EMS the organization needs to figure the env impacts that it’s products, services and activities has both in activities it can directly control and in activities it has some influence in. The org can do this by assessing the env. Impacts throughout the lifecycle of its products , activities and services.

Question 12

When determining env aspects what should you take into consideration ?

Answer 12

1. Change , which includes planned or new developments in products, activities and services.
2. Abnormal conditions and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations .

Question 13

Who determines what impacts are significant or not ?

Answer 13

The organization

Question 14

Are there positive environmental impacts ? Give an example .

Answer 14

Yes there eg. A company with a robust recycle procedure tends to have positive impact on the env.

Question 15

There are two types of env. Aspects what are they ?

Answer 15

Direct and indirect env aspects

Question 16

What are direct environmental aspects?

Answer 16

These are the activities that the company has control and influence over . Eg. Emissions from processes .

Question 17

What are indirect environmental aspects?

Answer 17

These actual or potential activities that the company can be expected to influence over but no control. Eg : their supply chain logistics, how consumers use their product like how much petrol a car actually consumes after it’s been sold .

Question 18

Why is an initial environmental review done?

Answer 18

An initial env. Review is done because it is a solid basis for all EMS-activities

Question 19

Is this statement true or false : always quantify env aspects so you can compare and determine significant aspects . ( most appropriate one if possible is CO2 equivalent .

Answer 19

True

Question 20

Is this statement true / false: when assessing significant env. Aspects always look at it from an environmental point of view, then influence from other aspects ( eg. Interested parties )

Answer 20

True

Question 21

Assessing significant environmental aspects can be done two main ways. Name and describe them.

Answer 21

1. Point system : this is a method of assessing significant environmental impacts where you assign points or specific scores to issues based on their impact. The final combined score will inform/influence decision making .
2. Expert discussion : this is a method of assessing significant env. Aspects where experts in the field would gather for discussions /debates to ascertain what aspects are significant or not. Their expertise influence decision making .

Question 22

What are some of the other aspects of a company aside environmental ones?

Answer 22

1. Technical aspects
2. Economical aspects( costs ,profit,market position)
3. Stakeholders views ( neighbors view, requirements from customers)
4. Owners demands( the company owners may have different demands they want met )
5. Forthcoming legislations the company has to anticipate and prepare for future legislations.
6. Profile of the company ( the reputation of the company )

Question 23

What can you say about compliance obligations?

Answer 23

The back bone of compliance obligations are legislations.
Som compliance obligations also conform needs and expectations of interested parties.
Some also come from the category other relevant requirements as seen in the old ISO14001 version.

Question 24

What are some of the other relevant requirements that exist in the old ISO14001 version?

Answer 24

1. Agreements ( with the municipalities, Neighbour s)
2. Code of conduct ( OECD’s guidelines for large companies )
3. Public commitment ( like th epromise to phase out lead).
4. Customer requirements ( eg. Volvo’s black list of chemicals ).
5. Commitment ( ICC responsible lane, the global compact ]

Question 25

What is involved in the planning of compliance obligation?

Answer 25

The organization shall:
1. Determine and have access to compliance obligations relevant to its env. Aspects .
2. Determine how these compliance obligations apply to the organization.
3. Take thes obligations into consideration during the establishment, planning, implementing and continuous improvement of its EmS.

Question 26

True / false: the compliance obligations must be documented ?

Answer 26

True

Question 27

What are the components of evaluating compliance obligations?

Answer 27

The organization shall:
1. Determine the frequency for evaluating compliance
2. Evaluate compliance and take action if needed
3. Maintain knowledge of its compliance status .

Question 28

True/false : the compliance evaluation should be documented as evidence of the compliance

Answer 28

True

Question 29

What can you say about reviewing existing environmental practices?

Answer 29

This part consists of a lot writing . Because you need to describe how the company functions today .

It includes :
The appointed environmental manager
Education of the company
The company stance on the environment
Any environmental practice in place
Resources available
Environmental requirements when purchasing

Question 30

What are 5 Practical things to help you during your initial environmental review?

Answer 30

1. Interview past and current employees to get a good understand the companies past and present activities,products and services .
2. Evaluating external and internal communication that might have taken place in the organization with the interested parties includes complains, legal matters.
3. Gather information related to current management practices :
   i. Waste disposal
   ii. Process controls for purchasing hazardous chemicals .
   iii. Emergency preparedness and response equipment.
   iv. Use of resources.

Question 31

Accidents and incidents: Emergency preparedness and response . What can you say about this ?

Answer 31

The company is responsible for establishing and implementing processes needs to prepare for and respond to emergency situations identified in 6.1.1.

Question 32

How can the organization establish preparedness for emergencies?

Answer 32

The organization shall:

1. Plan actions to prevent and mitigate adverse env. Impacts from emergency situations.
2. Respond to actual emergency situations.
3. Periodically test out planned actions
4. Periodically review and revise planned out emergency responses and actions after emergencies or tests to ensure continuous improvement.
5. Provide relevant training and education about emergency preparedness and response actions to relevant interested parties especially person who work in potential emergency areas

Question 33

True/false : the organization should document their emergency preparedness and response to show evidence that the processes are being followed cars planned .

Answer 33

True