EMS Key Terms

This summary lists major components of an EMS and summarizes action items associated with EMS.

Environmental Policy

Develop a statement of your organization's commitment to the environment. Use this policy as a framework for planning and action.

Planning

Environmental aspects - Identify environmental attributes of your products, activities and services. Determine those that could have significant impacts on the environment.
Legal and other requirements - Identify and ensure access to relevant laws and regulations, as well as other requirements to which your organization adheres.
Objectives and targets - Establish environmental goals for your organization, in line with your policy, environmental impacts, the views of interested parties and other factors.
Environmental management program - Plan actions necessary to achieve your objectives and targets.

Implementation

Structure and responsibility - Establish roles and responsibilities for environmental management and provide appropriate resources.
Training, awareness and competence - Ensure that your employees are trained and capable of carrying out their environmental responsibilities.
Communication - Establish processes for internal and external communications on environmental management issues.
EMS documentation - Maintain information on your EMS and related documents.
Document control - Ensure effective management of procedures and other system documents.
Operational control - Identify, plan and manage your operations and activities in line with your policy, objectives and targets.
Emergency preparedness and response - Identify potential emergencies and develop procedures for preventing and responding to them.

Checking/Corrective Action

Monitoring and measurement - Monitor key activities and track performance. Conduct periodic assessments of compliance with legal requirements.
Nonconformance and corrective and preventive action - Identify and correct problems and prevent their recurrence.
Records - Maintain and manage records of EMS performance.
EMS audit - Periodically verify that your EMS is operating as intended.

Management Review

Periodically review your EMS with an eye to continual improvement.

Source: National Science Foundation (with EPA Funding). 2001. Environmental Management Systems: An Implementation Guide for Small and Medium-Sized Organizations. Second Edition. Available on EPA's Office of Water Web Page.

EMS Key Terms

Environmental Policy

Management Review

Local Navigation