Practical ISO 14001 Aspect and Impact Assessment

[Luke Hannant]

Practical Aspect and Impact Assessment

Any tips on setting threshold values to determine if an impact is going to be significant before assigning a significance score (I take it this is better known as the Thumbs Up/Down Approach???

I am currently implementing ISO 14001 in a paper mill. We have been recommended 400 KWhr/day as an acceptable benchmark figure to detemine if any selected process unit would be signifcant and therefore scored for Energy Use. Does anyone know of any other usefull theshold values???

-------------------------In Other Words ----------------------------

In other words I trying to get a feeling for values for water, oil, energy usage (L/day, etc), whereby I can say, such and such process unit will has a significant impact on the environment (such as in Energy and Resource Use) because it uses x,y,z above the threshold values.

From this point the impact would be deemed significant (thumbs down) and scored accordingly

Thanks for your help

 

[Randy]

OK Luke welcome to the Cove.

Don't mess with those other sites, you'll find a good network here.

As I stated in our mail, I will try to find what I can, and you can be sure the others here will provide what assistance they can also.

I would recommend that you review the archived threads, you may find something there.

Free free to jump in anywhere you want and don't be shy. Marc is providing the best source of real world info you can get.

I'll get back

 

[Marc]

I can't help with respect to a paper mill personally. Sorry.

 

[Randy]

Luke alot of what you are asking for will be based on regulatory agency requirements. Those Aspects that are not governed by regulation may have some recommendations from industrial or scientific organizations. You should also investigate Best Business Practices for your type of industry. For paper one good source is Weyerhauser. Weyerhauser is leading the pack as far as I'm concerned with their EMS program.

When all else fails, set your own limits. Use sound reasoning when you do it, not arbitrary guesses. Document your methodology and then set you O&T's.

 

[Luke Hannant]

Randy,

Thanks for your help mate

I think industry best practice, will be the best starting point. If I find out any usefull threshold values, I'll post them, so that anyone else using such a bizarre assessment methology can make use of them!

 

[Larry99]

If we consider electricity, gas and water as aspects, not significant aspects, do we still need to measure them and have objectives to control them. We cant reduce use of utilities as they are required.

 

[Dr. L. Ramakrishnan]

Re: Practical Aspect and Impact Assessment

Any tips on setting threshold values to determine if an impact is going to be significant before assigning a significance score (I take it this is better known as the Thumbs Up/Down Approach???

I am currently implementing ISO 14001 in a paper mill. We have been recommended 400 KWhr/day as an acceptable benchmark figure to detemine if any selected process unit would be signifcant and therefore scored for Energy Use. Does anyone know of any other usefull theshold values???

-------------------------In Other Words ----------------------------

In other words I trying to get a feeling for values for water, oil, energy usage (L/day, etc), whereby I can say, such and such process unit will has a significant impact on the environment (such as in Energy and Resource Use) because it uses x,y,z above the threshold values.

From this point the impact would be deemed significant (thumbs down) and scored accordingly

Thanks for your help

Hi,

I would recommend that you see the case studies on Paper products in the WBCSD site: http://www.wbcsd.org/templates/Temp...type=p&MenuId=Nzk&doOpen=1&ClickMenu=LeftMenu. I am sure you will have some numbers that you are looking for by searching this site further.

With best regards,

Ramakrishnan

 

[dhammonds]

If we consider electricity, gas and water as aspects, not significant aspects, do we still need to measure them and have objectives to control them. We cant reduce use of utilities as they are required.

Some people judge utility expenses as overhead and are not controllable. However, with the proper monitoring and controls, you absolutely can reduce them. My company is in the middle of cutting all utility usages from 15-35%. If your electric bill is $20,000/month and reducing it 20%, you are saving $48,000 per year!

Don't think though utilities can't be significant however, picture water consumption in a desert area. I count my utilities usage as an aspect, and use my reductions to get noteworthy efforts.

 

[Randy]

If we consider electricity, gas and water as aspects, not significant aspects, do we still need to measure them and have objectives to control them. We cant reduce use of utilities as they are required.

What does the standard say?

ISO 14001:2004, 4.5.1 Monitoring and measurement
The organization shall establish, implement and maintain a procedure(s) to monitor and measure, on a regular basis, the key characteristics of its operations that can have a significant environmental impact.

Your answer is right here.