Hello all………..I am new to this profession as well as this forum. I just recently took a job offering as an ISO 14001 Administrator at a company with about 650 employees. I should add that I have no previous experience in the environmental field, or in auditing. Part of my job requirements is to be the lead auditor. In two weeks I will be going to a 5 day LA course in Virginia. Since I took this job (3 months ago), I have been studying the standard and have a pretty good understanding of it. When I come back from training, I will also attend a 2-day internal training course. My question is what else can I do to improve in this field? Like are there any college courses I could take? What type of requirements do companies look for when hiring a 14001 Specialist? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you……By the way, I’ve learned a lot already from this site.

My question is what else can I do to improve in this field?

My guess is, is that you are going to be trained in Reston, VA.

As for your question.....Keep an open mind and don't worry about being a whiz-bang expert in the environmental field. You are involved in a business management system that focuses on improvement of overall environmental performance.

As for what do companies look for? They make that up as they go along.

Hey Randy, are you teaching that class? ;)

Yes..... I'm going to Reston Virginia for the class. How is BSI Management? Anyone ever go to this class using them? If so how was it?

What type of requirements do companies look for when hiring a 14001 Specialist?

I dont know, but you must have it. Can you tell us why you got the job?
I`m sort of in the same boat as you, no environmental experience, but I did have some experience with quality systems auditing. Now I am the Quality/Environmental Systems Manager.

Ive been with the company for 8 years, and for the last two I've been a Trainer. I have written many procedures for ISO 9001. They just started to implement an EMS and they needed someone. The ISO 9001 Specialist reccomended me, because I helped him out alot with procedures for his system. And that was that. Plus I live in RI and its all about Politics around here.....LOL.....Just ask Buddy Cianci!!..LOL

Nope, I won't be teaching the one in Reston this time. Most likely the instructor will be Ken Clayman or maybe Joe Lissenden (VP BSI-Training). Both of those guys are great! I'm going to be in Newport Beach in 2 weeks doing a variety of EMS courses followed up the next week with an EMS-Lead Auditor course (busy, busy).

BSI is a great organization for both training and auditing as are most of the others, both large and small, in this business.

I tout BSI because they are a very good client and to be honest, the more business they get, the more potential there is for me. Don't be afraid to test the others though. Look at your value per dollar, check on the credentials of the instructor staff, make sure you get what you pay for.

Good luck..the EMS Lead course will fry your brain (I helped to develop it, snicker, snicker).

Thanks for all the advice......and I look foward to frying my brain. LOL

Albo,

Check with your state EPA or Dept. of Environmental Quality (or whatever they call themselves) to see if they offer any training specific to the requirements and regulations. Michigan provides some good one day overviews on regulations (federal and state) and reporting, and at $50 it is easy to justify the cost. Not sure what RI might do.

Tomhevoski;

Can you tell me where I might find information on that Michigan training? We were recently certified and regulations and laws were an area that we needed a little improvement. A class like that would be a great help.

Angela

Tomhevoski;

Can you tell me where I might find information on that Michigan training? We were recently certified and regulations and laws were an area that we needed a little improvement. A class like that would be a great help.

Angela

Angela, you can get a lot of information in the "Michigan Manufacturers' Guide to Environmental, Safety, and Health Regulations (Regulations 101). It is available on line at:
http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3307_3668_4148-15820--,00.html

It costs $25, but I think you can download it in parts for free. Hope that helps.

The guide is a great reference. It is free to download, or $15 for a hard copy. It is a 3" binder, double sided, so if you want a hard copy it is probably cheaper to order it.

You can also find all of their workshops, conferences, etc. on their web page. Go to www.michigan.gov/deq and you will see the links on the right hand side.

Tom

Thanks for all the advice......and I look foward to frying my brain. LOL

How did you like the course? I'm presenting it this week in Newport Beach.

Are you fried? :biglaugh:

The course was great!! I got alot of good information. And yes my brain is fried. My first night in virginia after the class, I dreamed about ISO 14001 all night (now thats scary). Tom taught the class by himself, cause there was only six of us. Tom was a great guy, and a couple of us went out to eat with him one night (Boy, can that man talk!!). I'm still waiting to hear how I did, but I feel like I did pretty good. I met Joe (the VP) and he seemed like a nice guy too. He sat in on one of our classes one day for a couple of hours. I think he was checking up on Tom.

I met Tom for the 1st time in June when we both went through internal training for BSI auditor auditors. And yes, he can talk ;)

Yes, Joe was checking up on him, sort of. All instructors who give accredited training, regardless of who the provider is, must be assessed or audited in the delivery of the course. Joe was doing that for BSI in this case. I was assessed in June. Last October I was also audited by the RAB during the delivery of a Lead Auditor course.

I'm sure you did well.

albo 193

The Michigan.gov site very helpful as stated. I also took classes at our community college. Most of the seminars offered reviewed information but did not give a clear understanding for the lay person, you may be able to write the procedure but not fully understand all it contains and why.

Read the regulations and standards (boring as it may be) over and over. The Michigan Manufacturers Guide used with MIOSHA General Industry Health and Safety standards will help you to apply the standards. MIOSHA is always willing to assist you if you need it. I contact them all the time. I also had a mock MIOSHA audit conducted by the Red Cross. Sounds like it is not related, but they knew what they were doing and it was better than having the State come in.

Keep in mind that you will need to show how you are qualified to be "administrator" of ISO 14001.

Good Luck

Cindy

albo 193
Keep in mind that you will need to show how you are qualified to be "administrator" of ISO 14001.

Good Luck

Cindy

What are the qualifications to be an ISO 14001 Administrator? This is new :confused:

Is the state of Michigan establishing a criteria for people to meet and doing the credential thing or something?

For employees whose actions can affect compliance, audits, and effective implementation of the system. This was one of the items our auditor checked during our audit. He asked in detail what my qualification were in reference to our environmental management system, how our auditors were trained in environmental audits, and how we confirmed compliance.

If I am not mistaken, this can also fall under providing resources essential to the implementation and control of the environmental management system for specialized skills. If you have no environmental knowledge, that impacts on the system. Personnel performing the tasks which can cause significant environmental impacts shall be competent on the basis of appropriate education, training and or experience.

As albo193 stated "Hello all………..I am new to this profession as well as this forum. I just recently took a job offering as an ISO 14001 Administrator at a company with about 650 employees. I should add that I have no previous experience in the environmental field, or in auditing."

JMO

Cindy