New to ISO14001 - Looking for advice on implementation

[rmalott]

I have no ISO experience, however the company I work for is ISO9001 and am tasked with implementing ISO 14001 within the next 12 months. I am currently working on an introduction course by DE Grandson on implementation of ISO14001. I also have purchased template documents for ISO 14001 from Certification Templates.com

What is a good starting point once I finish up my courses? I've started an aspect vs. impact register and working on a compliance guidance register. Any help or guidance is appreciated.

 

[Sidney Vianna]

What is a good starting point once I finish up my courses?

It might sound counterintuitive, but I would spend as much time as possible reading the threads in the ISO 14001 forum here. Even though many might not be immediately relevant to your implementation work, the understanding of typical challenges and the solutions offered here should be beneficial to you.

Also, be aware of using canned templates whenever dealing with a management system. It can constrain you in many ways and be detrimental to the business and workforce buy in.

Finally, assuming the QMS that complies with 9001 is working properly, build on that foundation to address the environmental issues. All of these processes should be seamlessly embedded in the organization business processes.

 

[Jen Kirley]

Welcome to The Cove rmalott!

What industry do you work in - what do you produce?

Do you own the building(s)?

 

[rmalott]

Welcome to The Cove rmalott!

What industry do you work in - what do you produce?

Do you own the building(s)?

It's a label manufacturing facility (Think Bourbon,Chocolates, Food). Yes, we own the building.

 

[Jen Kirley]

Okay, so do you print the labels?
- If yes, what kind of inks are used - water based, petroleum based, other?
Do you apply adhesive to the labels?
- If yes, what type?
- If yes, how much do you store?
How big is the building?
Where are you located?
Do you have permits now - are any needed for waste water, air emissions etc?

 

[rmalott]

Okay, so do you print the labels? YES
- If yes, what kind of inks are used - water based, petroleum based, other? UV BASED INK
Do you apply adhesive to the labels? NO ADHESIVE ALREADY ON ROLL FROM SUPPLIER BUT HAS ADHESIVE
- If yes, what type?
- If yes, how much do you store?
How big is the building? 150,000 SQ. FT.
Where are you located? OHIO
Do you have permits now - are any needed for waste water, air emissions etc? NO EXPOSURE, PTIO

 

[Jen Kirley]

Okay, it looks pretty basic.

Start with aspects and impacts. Make a list of your chemicals on the site and what they are used for, how much, and what potential environmental impacts they have. This includes production, as well as maintenance and specialty cleaning if any. If you have Safety Data Sheets (SDS), use them for this list. If you don't have SDS, get on the web sites of the manufacturers and download them - or ask Sales to get them for you.

If you don't already know what permits you have, ask your city or municipality what permits you have, what's needed and when they come due. Make a list of this information.

Aspects and impacts are closely interactive with what we used call legal and other requirements. Now it's "Interested parties."

Do you have an air conditioner for your building? If yes, find out what it runs on (coolant?) and its quantity, from your Maintenance department. If you have ac with refrigerants, you might be subject to Section 608.

Review how you handle your waste: solid, liquid going down the drain, what goes into waste water (if any).

Review your stormwater system and runoff against (broken link removed).

Ohio has a general information source here. I expect your city or municipality can point you in the right direction for legal and other too.

Once you list all of the legal and other requirements (if any) and when they come due, I strongly suggest making a compliance calendar for the sake of reference. You can use Excel, with embedded comments that contain contact information.

I put an EMS Planner tool in the Tracking External Oversight at a large Naval Shipyard thread, in case it helps.

 

[Randy]

BIG BIG BIG HINTS!!!!!

Get familiar with and use the entire 14001 standard, not just the stuff between 4.1-10.3

Wrap your head around Section 3 Terms and definitions (study this stuff, study, study........These things really mean something)

Next, get intimate with Annex "A" Guidance on the use of this International Standard (get really intimate, almost perverted because knowing this section can save you literally thousands of $$$ from a shake & bake consultant that has learned a few magic buzzwords)

I really recommend to people that pay additional attention to Annex "A" part A.2 Clarification of structure and terminology along with A.3 Clarification of concepts (most consultants and armchair "experts" have not one iota of the existence of this stuff). The rest of Annex "A" is important as well, but A.3 can save you a lot of pain (unless you're "mazzo", then have at it).

 

[rmalott]

Okay, it looks pretty basic.

Start with aspects and impacts. Make a list of your chemicals on the site and what they are used for, how much, and what potential environmental impacts they have. This includes production, as well as maintenance and specialty cleaning if any. If you have Safety Data Sheets (SDS), use them for this list. If you don't have SDS, get on the web sites of the manufacturers and download them - or ask Sales to get them for you.

If you don't already know what permits you have, ask your city or municipality what permits you have, what's needed and when they come due. Make a list of this information.

Aspects and impacts are closely interactive with what we used call legal and other requirements. Now it's "Interested parties."

Do you have an air conditioner for your building? If yes, find out what it runs on (coolant?) and its quantity, from your Maintenance department. If you have ac with refrigerants, you might be subject to YES WE HAVE A CLIMATE CONTROLLED FACILITY, DO I NEED TO KEEP RECORD OF REFRIGERANTS USED AND MAINTENANCE?

Review how you handle your waste: solid, liquid going down the drain, what goes into waste water (if any). WE DO NOT PRODUCE ANY WASTE WATER AT THE FACILITY.

Review your stormwater system and runoff against WILL DO

Ohio has a I expect your city or municipality can point you in the right direction for legal and other too.

Once you list all of the legal and other requirements (if any) and when they come due, I strongly suggest making a compliance calendar for the sake of reference. You can use Excel, with embedded comments that contain contact information. A CONSULTANT WE USE FROM TIME TO TIME HAS CREATED A BASIC COMPLIANCE CALANDER.

I put an EMS Planner tool in the thread, in case it helps.

 

[Jen Kirley]

Hello rmalott,

It is good that you have had help making a compliance calendar. I have seen people get in trouble because they missed renewing a permit.

Check with your Facilities people to see how much refrigerant is used in your main building AC units. Each of the single unit uses a certain quantity. Learn what type is used and then use the link I sent you to understand what is expected of you, if anything.

What else has your consultant done (or not done) for you, that encourages you still come here?