L
Larry99
Do we need to have a siginificant aspect?
Do we need to have a Significant Aspect? ISO 14001 Aspects and Impacts
Helmut Jilling
Auditor / Consultant
Re: Significant aspects
I think this answer from ANAB Clarification of Intent should help.
04-03.A1
Question
Is it permissible for a small organization to declare that they have no Significant Aspects and still be conformant to the ISO 14001 standard?
Answer
Although there is no explicit requirement in ISO 14001 that an organization will identify one or more significant environmental aspects, there is an underlying assumption that the organization will do so. The intent of the requirement to determine those aspects that an organization considers significant is to enable the organization to focus attention and resources on its most important environmental aspects, recognizing that not all aspects require or deserve the same degree of management. ISO 14001 does not define “significance” nor does it identify any external or absolute standard for what will be considered significant. Significance is intended to be a relative term. What is significant for one organization may not be for another, and what an organization considers a significant aspect may change over time. The use of ‘significance’ in ISO 14001 was intended to be an aid in managing a range of environmental aspects.
There is no special category of requirements in ISO 14001 for “small” organizations. The requirements for an ISO 14001 EMS, including those regarding significant aspects, are intended to apply to “…all types and sizes of organizations…”
I think this answer from ANAB Clarification of Intent should help.
04-03.A1
Question
Is it permissible for a small organization to declare that they have no Significant Aspects and still be conformant to the ISO 14001 standard?
Answer
Although there is no explicit requirement in ISO 14001 that an organization will identify one or more significant environmental aspects, there is an underlying assumption that the organization will do so. The intent of the requirement to determine those aspects that an organization considers significant is to enable the organization to focus attention and resources on its most important environmental aspects, recognizing that not all aspects require or deserve the same degree of management. ISO 14001 does not define “significance” nor does it identify any external or absolute standard for what will be considered significant. Significance is intended to be a relative term. What is significant for one organization may not be for another, and what an organization considers a significant aspect may change over time. The use of ‘significance’ in ISO 14001 was intended to be an aid in managing a range of environmental aspects.
There is no special category of requirements in ISO 14001 for “small” organizations. The requirements for an ISO 14001 EMS, including those regarding significant aspects, are intended to apply to “…all types and sizes of organizations…”
Re: Significant aspects
ANAB has also a Advisory notice on this:
20. Significant Environmental Aspects and Impacts
ANAB has also a Advisory notice on this:
20. Significant Environmental Aspects and Impacts
L
Larry99
Re: Significant aspects
Thanks, your reply is helpful and makes it more clear. It seems we do need to have a significant or two as most of the standard is about managing significant aspects.
Thanks, your reply is helpful and makes it more clear. It seems we do need to have a significant or two as most of the standard is about managing significant aspects.
Re: Significant aspects
Here are some interesting threads related to your query.
ISO 14001 with No SIGNIFICANT Environmental Aspects - Small Service Company
ISO 14001 Influenced Aspects? Does anyone have an influenced aspect in your EMS?
Here are some interesting threads related to your query.
ISO 14001 with No SIGNIFICANT Environmental Aspects - Small Service Company
ISO 14001 Influenced Aspects? Does anyone have an influenced aspect in your EMS?