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REVIEW OF EMS CERTIFICATION CRITERIA NORMS |
EMS - Environmental Management System according to
ÈSN EN ISO 14001:1997 ?
In 2003 and 2004 there was a sharp increase in
certifications according to ÈSN EN ISO
14001:1997. At our certification body the number of
certificates from 1.1.2004 to 30.9.2004 accounts for
20% of the total increase.
This concerns approx. 70 new EMS certificates issued
in that year.
EMS certification according to norm ÈSN
EN ISO 14001:97 verifies that the organisation is
meeting the specific requirements of the
environmental management system (environmental
protection) in its activities. |
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The norm
was created so it can be
enforced in organisations of all types and sizes and
various branches of business. The main objective of
the norm is to promote environmental protection and
prevent pollution. The norm does not determine the
absolute requirements for the organisation's
environmental behaviour, but basically requires
observance of national and local legislation.
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Environmental Aspects. Every organisation may,
by some of its activities, products and provided
services, under certain circumstances, negatively
affect the environment. The elements of these
activities, products and provided services are
defined as environmental aspects. Various "complexities"
of managment systems in specific organisations arise
from the character of these aspects. Obviously this
character is different. For example, aspects in
chemical production with outdated technology carry
different "weight" than those in a construction
design office. |
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Constant improvement is a basic requirement in
the sense of maintaining the EMS (Environmental
Management System). This involves the process of
improving the EMS which, in turn, improves the
general environmental profile in line with the
organisation's environmental policy. |
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International Validity.
ISO norms are
international norms which individual states
incorporate into their national norms. Norms marked
EN have been incorporated into the European system
of normalisation. ÈSN EN ISO 14001 or DIN EN ISO
14001 have completely identical wording and
requirements, and this means that the firm which
receives the certificate in one country, does not
need to re-establish the fact that it meets the
requirements in a different country. The certificate
has international validity. Only during the course
of certification is account taken of valid local
legislative regulations, so the level of "difficulty"
of the EMS depends on the level of requirements of
legislative regulations.. |
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What
branches does ÈSN EN ISO 14001 cover? Norm ÈSN
EN ISO 14001 is a universal norm and covers all
branches of business, production and services. The
only thing that needs to be verified is whether the
certification company has the accreditation for the
relevant branch. The following table shows the
extent of accreditation
(see
branches of business)
of our certification body no.3052. This extent
covers virtually all branches and is identical to
our accreditation for the certification of quality
management systems according to ÈSN EN ISO 9001 and
for the certification of occupational health safety
and protection management systems according to the
specification of OHSAS 18001. This structure enables
those parties interested in certification to even
select some combination of a constantly more applied
integrated management system. |
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Motive for EMS Rrealisation.
One of
the motives is the requirement for certification
based on social demand expressed by the state's
public benefit offer for ensuring support programmes
for organisations which create an environmental
protection system in their activities. (www/mpo/cz).
Another motive for introducing the EMS is the
requirement of an "enlightened" management which
this way declares its interest in not wishing to
endanger the environment at the site where its firm
operates or in the location of its subsidiary.The
third reason, which is gradually beginning to be the
major one, are customer - consumer requirements or
the party calling a tender. This requirement
particularly appears at large foreign companies
operating in various branches. A certificate is
relatively often required by customers (domestic and
foreign) in the construction industry. Over 30% of
certificates issued by our certification body no.
3052 is for enterprises operating in construction
activities. This is supported by the provisions of
Act No. 40/2004 Coll. of the Czech Republic on
Awarding Public Contracts - Section 37 establishing
the quality and fulfilment of the requirement of the
corporate management system with regard to
environmental protection. |
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On the
other hand, the introduction of the EMS will bring
you an increase in the efficiency of management,
improvement of organisation, increase in morale in
the company. |
Gradual steps to the introduction of the EMS.
a) Initial instruction of top and middle management
in the principles of the ÈSN EN ISO 14001.
b) Instruction of the EMS authorised representative.
Determining the Responsibilities.Assigning the
initial tasks.
c) Determining the environmental aspects and
evaluating the relevant environmental effects.
d) Determining the legal and other requirements, or
determining the internal criteria for the
environmental profile.
e) Determining the environmental policy,
environmental objectives and target values.
f) Compiling the EMS documentation - draft
procedures for documenting the EMS, operation
management, accident preparedness, procedures for
inspections, remedial measures and examination of
the organisation's management.
g) Launching the operation of the EMS.
h) Instructing the internal auditors.
i) Performing internal EMS audits.
j) Determining the measures according to the results
of the internal audit.
k) Examination of the EMS by the company's
management - determining the remedial and
realisation measures.
l) Amending the EMS documentation and manual.
Realisation of the remedial measures.
m) Performing the complex testing of the EMS -
evaluating the determined measures.
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Who
will issue the certificate?
Certification companies undergo an audit and
subsequent regular supervision by accreditation
companies, if they successfully meet the
requirements, they gain the Certificate of
Accreditation and thereby the authorisation to issue
certificates. Accreditation is granted to individual
branches of business.
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If you
already have experience and are acquainted with norm
ÈSN EN ISO 14001:97 but still need any further
explanation, do not hestitate to contact us by
e-mail
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