ISO 14001 - Identify Environmental Aspects and Impacts

Helmut Jilling

Auditor / Consultant
#21
Not sure if it is the same with "your" msds system (I think it is from distant memory.) but the msds also lists disposal considerations and affects when used in water / exposed to air - all valuable in discussing impacts or potential impact.

Not sure how you'd do it without referring to the compounds / chemicals as listed in the msds? :confused:
Gee, I certainly include them in my EMS audits (doc control of external documents). I realize they are regulated by OSHA, but I see them as having an EMS link. I don't spend a great deal of time on them, however.
 
Elsmar Forum Sponsor

Randy

Super Moderator
#22
Paul, in the US the msds came about after concerns related to employee exposure to hazardous materials in the workplace (this is called the hazard communication standard and it's detailed in 29CFR 1910.1200) as an add on they have been including disposal information but it it not a regulatory requirement because most of the time materials being disposed of are not the same as they were prior to use, they will have other "stuff" mixed in.....solvents wind up containing some of the stuff they cleaned off or disolved for example. Additionally a compound after it has set, dried or been used may not have the same hazards it originally had prior to its use (latex paint, sealing compounds, some glues, resins,etc...)

Under regulatory guidelines (primarily 40CFR in the US) waste materials must be evaluted primarily for flammability, reactivity, toxicity, and corrosivity prior to storage and disposal and using the msds is not really the appropriate way to do this...nor is it the reacognized acceptable method. The msds may provide some guidance but it will say to look at the specific leaglrequirements prior to disposal.

I don't get too wrapped around the axle with msds's either.
 

Paul Simpson

Trusted Information Resource
#23
Thanks for the information, Randy. It appears the US use of msds is the same as in Europe. Their use also came about as part of H & S legislation but, as mentioned earlier, they do contain useful environmental information that I would use in implementing an EMS or that I would expect a client to have access to in determining significance of impact for use, waste disposal or in the event of a spill.

Here is an example of an msds with environmental content.
  • In section 3 you get chemical compounds and risk phrases including (in this case that the product is harmful to aquatic life
  • In section 6 it describes accidental release measures (esp. for preventing release to drains)
  • In section 10 it describes any reactivity issues (in this case a risk of HF in the event of a fire)
  • In section 12 the ecological information reconfirms the risk phrases (from above)
  • In section 13 are the disposal considerations (in this case the usual cop out "Disposal should be in accordance with local, state or national legislation"

That is why I think they are useful.
 

Randy

Super Moderator
#24
In the US your sections may be meaningless because there is really no mandated format for an msds. We have 6 setion, 9 section, 12 section and 21section msds's and they are all valid.
 

Paul Simpson

Trusted Information Resource
#25
In the US your sections may be meaningless because there is really no mandated format for an msds. We have 6 setion, 9 section, 12 section and 21section msds's and they are all valid.
Isn't that just missing the point?

However many sections the msds has the example I showed (of a standard msds from the EU) has a whole load of environmental information. My distant memory of looking at US msds is that they have the same.
 
Last edited:

Sidney Vianna

Post Responsibly
Staff member
Admin
#26
MSDS-Wikipedia

Some extracts:

In some jurisdictions, the MSDS is required to state the chemical's risks, safety and impact on the environment.
In the U.S., the Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires that MSDS be available to employees for potentially harmful substances handled in the workplace under the Hazard Communication regulation. The MSDS is also required to be made available to local fire departments and local and state emergency planning officials under Section 311 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act.
In the U.K., the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 2002 - known as CHIP Regulations - impose duties upon suppliers, and importers into the EU, of hazardous materials. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations govern the use of hazardous substances in the workplace in the UK and specifically require an assessment of the use of a substance. Regulation 12 requires that an employer provides employees with information, instruction and training for people exposed to hazardous substances. This duty would be very nearly impossible without the data sheet as a starting point. It is important for employers therefore to insist on receiving a data sheet from a supplier of a substance.
The duty to supply information is not confined to informing only business users of products. MSDSs are now commonly available to anyone using the web sites of manufacturers and large retail suppliers as well as by written or telephone requests for paper copies
 

Helmut Jilling

Auditor / Consultant
#27
Isn't that just missing the point?

However many sections the msds has the example I showed (of a standard msds from the EU) has a whole load of environmental information. My distant memory of looking at US msds is that they have the same.

Didn't really mean to make an issue of MSDS, just used it as an example. The simple reason I mentioned them earlier is all of my clients include them in their EMS systems as part of emergency preparedness. Once they include them, they are part of the auditable ISO 14001 system, and I think they should be.
 

Paul Simpson

Trusted Information Resource
#28
Didn't really mean to make an issue of MSDS, just used it as an example. The simple reason I mentioned them earlier is all of my clients include them in their EMS systems as part of emergency preparedness. Once they include them, they are part of the auditable ISO 14001 system, and I think they should be.
I would hope the organisation uses them earlier than emergency preparedness. The MSDS give information about environmental aspects that I hope the organisation would use at the EMS planning stage.

Thanks to Sidney for the Wiki MSDS info. The infomration on the MSDS is primarily for H & S information but, as mentioned - provides EMS info as well.
 

Stijloor

Staff member
Super Moderator
#30
Here are a couple of msds's for some serious workplace chemicals to help us understand the valuable environmental and disposal information they may contain.
Thank you Randy for posting. What I found interesting is that if the same workplace environmental and safety rules/regulations would be applied to a household, most would be fined and/or shut down...;)

Home...where most tragic accidents occur. :( :yes:

Stijloor.
 
Thread starter Similar threads Forum Replies Date
C ISO 14001:2015 6.1.3 Compliance Obligations - Legal requirements monitoring ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 0
A Environmental Compliance obligations and risks (ISO 14001:2015 6.1.3) ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 3
Z Auditor Findings ISO 14001:2015 vs. 45001:2015 ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 6
J Audit Checklist for Integrated Management System for ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001 & OHSAS18001 (IMS) ISO 9000, ISO 9001, and ISO 9004 Quality Management Systems Standards 7
G ISO 14001 - 6.1.3 Compliance Obligations ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 1
A Question on ISO 14001:2015 - Are annual audits required? ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 11
J ISO 14001 revision process ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 1
Raffy ISO 14001 9.2.2 Internal Audit Programme Content Internal Auditing 10
Jacquie Collins 6 Risks and Opportunities ISO 14001:2015 ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 6
M Intention of Planned Arrangments term in ISO 14001 2004 vs 2015 ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 3
S ISO 9001:2015 & ISO 14001 Re-Certification Audit Preparation ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 8
Sidney Vianna Informational ISO 14001 Certificates Top 15 Countries - 1999 to 2017 ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 3
S ISO 9001:2015 & ISO 14001:2015 - I need a format for Design & Development planning ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 2
I Environmental Policy Content - ISO 14001 Clause 5.2 ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 2
Q ISO 14001:2015 accredited but import most product - CB Raised minor NC on Life Cycle Perspective ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 2
Q Internal Auditor competence for ISO 14001 ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 11
S Necessity of Legal Register to conform to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, IATF 16949 ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 6
Q Internal Auditor Training requirements for ISO 14001:2015 ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 5
B Integrated management system - ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 - Is possible to have a joint certificate covering both standards? ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 6
P ISO 14001 - Looking for a Gap Analysis Template ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 3
K ISO 14001:2015 clause 8.1 on outsourced processes ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 1
J Facility Expansion and ISO 14001 ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 1
M PDCA cycle - Process mapping - Environmental ISO 14001 ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 1
A Operating criteria for production processes - ISO 14001 Cl. 8.1 ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 3
Sidney Vianna Support & Guidance Material for ISO 14001:2015 ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 0
C ISO 14001 vs Existing Quality System - How to keep them separate? ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 3
K ISO 14001:2015 certification for two locations required? ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 3
A ISO 14001:2015 transition from the 2004 standard ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 8
Q Risk/Opportunity in a combined ISO 9001 & 14001 System ISO 9000, ISO 9001, and ISO 9004 Quality Management Systems Standards 1
Q Risk & opportunity assessment - ISO 14001 ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 1
Q Correspondence between ISO 14001:2015 & OHSAS 18001:2007 ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 2
R Sequence and Interaction - Combined for both ISO 9001:2015 and EMS 14001:2015 ISO 9000, ISO 9001, and ISO 9004 Quality Management Systems Standards 5
R ISO 14001:2015 Life Cycle Perspective ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 11
R ISO 9001:2015 and EMS 14001:2015 combined audit checklist General Auditing Discussions 5
A ISO 14001:2015 transition audit - Major NC due to the procedure and audit plan ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 10
Q ISO 14001:2015 Clause 6.1: Actions to address Risks & Opportunities ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 2
Sidney Vianna IAF Ruling - No more ISO 9001:2008 nor ISO 14001:2004 audits after 2018-03-15 ISO 9000, ISO 9001, and ISO 9004 Quality Management Systems Standards 6
A EMS - ISO 14001:2015 Implementation ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 4
B ISO 14001:2015 4.3 - How to make the scope of the EMS available to interested parties ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 4
Sidney Vianna One year to ISO 9001 and 14001 transition deadline. ISO & IAF communique' ISO 9000, ISO 9001, and ISO 9004 Quality Management Systems Standards 12
D Is anyone changing their ISO 14001:2004 EMS Policy? ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 8
L ISO 14001:2004 - Legal and Other Requirements ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 4
B Moving (Transition) From ISO 14001:2004 to ISO 14001:2015 ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 3
T ISO 14001:2015 cover more than 1 company or business unit? ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 13
F ISO 14001:2015 EMS Procedures and Form Examples wanted ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 10
S ISO 14001 Clause 4.1 Organization and its context - What does an Auditor expect? ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 12
B ISO 14001:2015 Aspects and Impacts: Haze occurrence (Supplier related) ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 3
S ISO 14001:2015 Implementation in my company ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 13
M ISO 14001 - Should we list the standard itself in clause 4.3.2 ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 8
T Has anyone been through the ISO 14001:2015 process? ISO 14001:2015 Specific Discussions 12

Similar threads

Top Bottom