ISO 14001 - 4.4.4 Environmental Management System

[Angela-2007]

Can anyone explain 4.4.4 Environmental Management System documentation to me?

The organization shall establish and maintain information, in paper or electronic form, to

a) describe the core elements of the management system and their interaction;
b) provide direction to related documentation.

What exactly do they want here? Any help is appreciated.

Thank you
Angela

Where's Randy when you need him?

 

[Randy]

Basically what this is requiring if taken literally is a "Manual".

We're not talking some huge 5,000 page monstrosity that would give King Kong a hernia. Read what is says....

a) describe the core elements of the management system and their interaction;

Describe in YOUR own format how YOUR system addresses the "CORE" elements of ISO 14001. The "CORE" elements are 4.2-4.6. How are YOU going to do it?

Look at the 2nd part now....

b) provide direction to related documentation.

This can be something as simple as the Table of Contents of a book (and it can look the same too). All you need to do is list all of your related system documents (procedures, records, etc) and show how they relate to the "CORE" elements.

Taaa Daaa!!!!!!!!!

We have some examples here in the Cove free for you to download and paruse. Use the "search" mode Marc has provided.

If what you come up with is more than a half dozen pages or so, your killing trees and wasting ink.

 

[Angela-2007]

Randy;

Your genius is never taken for granted. I will have to name my next born after you.

Thanks for your help and quick response.

Angela