The Standard in Quality and
Environmental Consulting
Since 1985.
The Standard in Quality and
Environmental Consulting
Since 1985.
ISO 14000
ISO 14000 is made up of a series of standards concerning management of environmental issues within an organization. The standards guide companies to adopt a structured management system to identify, control, and improve environmental issues. Whilst no specific issues, starting point, or performance levels are identified in the standard, commitment to compliance with relevant laws and continual improvement are requirements. Obviously, the ultimate aim of the standard is to encourage better environmental performance.
This standard series is designed to give those companies who are committed to environmental management a framework within which to improve and a mechanism for demonstrating that commitment Through registration with an independent registrar.
There are a number of documents within the series of standards, ISO 14001 being the standard against which companies are audited (and registered) and ISO 14004 providing guidelines on how the requirements in ISO 14001 can be applied. Other documents in the series provide guidance on specific and technical aspects of environmental management.
Basically, the organization is required to document their working practices for establishing, monitoring, controlling, and improving environmental issues. The documentation is audited for conformance to the ISO 14001 standard and then the working practice of the organization is also audited.
The systems required to be documented by the standard concern issues which are technical and environmental in nature but also cover many management and administrative issues like responsibilities, management reviews, document control, and training. Consequently, when ISO 14000 is considered for implementation at the same time as ISO 9000, considerable savings can be made because of the significant overlap of the two standards. Similarly, if one standard is already in place, adding the next should not require starting from scratch.
A variety of benefits can be gained from ISO 14000. Regulatory authorities are likely to look favorably on organizations with formally recognized environmental management systems. In fact, in the US there have been instances where they have required the introduction of such a system as part of the penalties imposed for violations of environmental law. ISO 14000 also has commercial advantages. Some major corporations, for instance, Ford, have committed all of their own facilities to ISO 14000 compliance.
Cavendish Scott provides training, consulting and support to organizations seeking compliance with ISO 14000.
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