Can Compliance to Legal Requirement be chosen as an EMS Objective?

[jackyyhu]

hi guys,

If identified legal requirement stated our factory is not allowed to discharge effluent contain free chlorine greater than 1 mg per liter while we are not able to control it in this moment, can we establish a programme to achieve it (i mean, set it as one of our objective)?


thanks,
jacky

 

[Stijloor]

hi guys,

If identified legal requirement stated our factory is not allowed to discharge effluent contain free chlorine greater than 1 mg per liter while we are not able to control it in this moment, can we establish a programme to achieve it (i mean, set it as one of our objective)?


thanks,
jacky

Hello Jacky,

I am not an environmental expert but it seems to me that if you establish an objective and implement a program to achieve it without a valid measurement, how would you know if you are actually achieving it? It is similar to playing a sport with the aim to win the game, but no score is kept....

Stijloor.

 

[Jen Kirley]

Hello from me too Jacky.

Here is a site to help guide you in setting up an environmental management system.

I hope this helps!

 

[Duke Okes]

hi guys,

If identified legal requirement stated our factory is not allowed to discharge effluent contain free chlorine greater than 1 mg per liter while we are not able to control it in this moment, can we establish a programme to achieve it (i mean, set it as one of our objective)?thanks, jacky

You could establish an objective to reduce it from its current level to a lower level ... improve it! Or if you have had difficulty consistently meeting the requirement (e.g., unstable system) you could establish an objective to achieve control, thereby always meeting it.

 

[dhammonds]

If you follow what the standard says, then reaching compliance to a legal requirement can be an objective, but you also have to commit to continuous improvement. Your target can be one year to attain compliance with the legal requirement but then the next year it would have to be to improve upon that level, not staying at that level.

 

[Sidney Vianna]

can we establish a programme to achieve it (i mean, set it as one of our objective)?

Since your organization is committed to comply with the regulations, the word can in your question is out of place. You MUST plan for the achievement of the requirement.

but then the next year it would have to be to improve upon that level, not staying at that level.

The organization is not required to improve all aspects. So, they could consider the regulatory compliance maximum levels for this specific discharge as sufficient, and not commit to improve it in the future. Continual improvement could come elsewhere in the system.

Some people might benefit from the US Approved Clarifications of Intent of ISO 14001:2004 document.

 

[Paul Simpson]

hi guys,

If identified legal requirement stated our factory is not allowed to discharge effluent contain free chlorine greater than 1 mg per liter while we are not able to control it in this moment, can we establish a programme to achieve it (i mean, set it as one of our objective)?


thanks,
jacky

You can set it as an objective - just don't expect to get certification until you achieve your objective (of legal compliance).

• One requirement is that you have a policy that includes a commitment to legal compliance (that you can't meet if you start off operating illegally)
• Another requirement is that you have a procedure for demonstrating compliance with legal requirements - which again you cannot meet currently

 

[tyker]

:
[*]Another requirement is that you have a procedure for demonstrating compliance with legal requirements - which again you cannot meet currently
[/LIST]

This is my attempt to win the Pedant of the Month award.

The procedure requires the organization to evaluate compliance.

'tis the auditor who requires them to demonstrate it.

 

[Paul Simpson]

This is my attempt to win the Pedant of the Month award.

The procedure requires the organization to evaluate compliance.

'tis the auditor who requires them to demonstrate it.

I'm making a late application to steal your October crown ....

The organization shall keep records of the results of the periodic evaluations.

And the winner this month is ........ entries close at what time GMT?

Now surely this has to be a monthly poll in the Water Cooler discussion area.

 

[jackyyhu]

thanks everybody

thank you very much, paul simpson, i think i found my answer thru your reply.