1 General Environment

Environmental Management Systems
Auditor Conversion Training Course
Pre Course Study material

1.General Environment
TERMS RELATED WITH ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT
1. Environment
“surroundings in which an organization operates, including air, water, land,
natural resources, flora, fauna, humans, and their interrelation.”
Understanding
Organisation surroundings in this context may extend
AIR
within an organization to the global system.
Environment nowadays is very commonly referred term
and very familiar to us. It's everything that makes up
organisation’s surroundings and affects its sustainability
WATER ORGANISATION LAND on planet earth. The organisation activities and product
have their impact on surrounding natural resources such
as Air, Water & Soil and life of the plants and animals
including humans either beneficially or adversely or in
LIVING
combination. In past decades , researchers have been
THINGS carefully examining the ways that organisation affect the
environment. They found that human activities are
causing air pollution, deforestation, acid rain, and other
problems that are dangerous both to life on planet earth
and natural resources. Today when we talk about “the
environment”, we are often referring to the overall
condition in organiasation and of our planet earth.
Jan 2020 PR 338 EMS ISO 14001:2015 Auditor Conversion Training Course (17961)
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2. Environmental Aspect
“element of an organization's (3.16) activities or products or services that
can interact with the environment”
Understanding
ISO 14001 requires organizations to identify the environmental aspects of
their activities, products or services and to evaluate the resulting impacts on
the environment. An organization should identify the environmental aspects
within the scope of its environmental management system, taking into
account the inputs and outputs (both intended and unintended) associated
with its current and relevant-past activities, products and services, planned
or new developments, or new or modified activities, products and services.
Some examples are such as emissions to air, release to water, land, natural
resource use, energy use, waste and by product. Most important is to
remember that the aspects which a organisation can control or influence
need identification.
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3. Environmental Impact
“any change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or
partially resulting from an organization's environmental aspects”
Understanding
Environmental Impacts are changes to the environment, either adverse or
beneficial, that result wholly or partially from environmental aspects. The
relationship between environmental aspects and impacts is one of cause
and effect. In some locations cultural heritage, Bio-reserve, national parks,
wild life sanctuary can be an important element of the surroundings in which
an organization operates, and therefore should be taken into account in the
understanding of its environmental impacts. Sometime the Environmental
aspects may be local but same time contributing to global impacts.
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3. Prevention of Pollution
“Use of processes, practices, techniques, materials, products, services or
energy to avoid, reduce or control (separately or in combination) the
creation, emission or discharge of any type of pollutant or waste, in order
to reduce adverse environmental impacts”
Understanding
ISO 14001, Clause 5.2 Environmental policy The Standard requires that top management
shall define the organization’s environmental policy and ensure that it includes a commitment to
prevention of pollution. Example: A paint company manufacturing epoxy paints and wall enamel
paints. It is expected to consider the environmental aspects of all processes and/or materials,
existing and new, and to apply best available technology, where appropriate, to demonstrate
organisation commitment for prevention of pollution. International laws are moving towards
encouraging prevention of environmental problems rather than abatement mechanisms. A more
holistic approach is becoming prevalent for sustainable preventive measures. To summarize an
auditor needs to ensure that,
All the appropriate preventative measures are taken against pollution; No significant pollution is
caused; Waste generation is reduced or prevented. When waste is generated, it is controlled.
Where this is technically and economically impossible, it shall be disposed of safely and shall
ensure no impact on the environment; Energy is used efficiently; The necessary measures are
taken to prevent environmental accidents and if, then limit their consequences; The necessary
measures are taken to avoid any pollution risk once the activities on the site are shutdown
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4. Waste
“substances or objects which the holder intends or is required to dispose of”
Understanding
In general Waste is considered as unwanted materials for an organisation.

This term is often subjective because a waste for one organisation may not
necessarily a waste to another organisation and sometimes objectively
inaccurate as some waste instead of treatment and disposal it requires to be
reduced first. There are various categories of waste which an organisation
may generate. Example: Hazardous Waste, Non-Hazardous solid waste,
waste water, effluents, Biomedical waste, gaseous waste, waste chemicals
etc. The organisation shall have an approach to Prevent
REDUCE and/or reduce waste generation and improving the
REUSE quality of waste generated by reduction of hazard,
RECYCLE and encouraging prevention, reduction at source,
RECOVER re-use, recycling and recovery. In many countries
TREAT there are regulatory requirements which focus on
DISPOSE controlling the limits of generation, segregation,
collection, transportation, treatment and final
disposal
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5. Effluent
“Liquid waste may be trade or domestic, treated or untreated discharged into
a water body or Land”
Understanding
Most of the Industries generates liquid waste, although an approach now is

developed to minimize such production or recycle such liquid waste within
the production process or reuse the same appropriate treatment. It is
important than an organisation must treat a generated effluent before its
further reuse or disposal to environment. In many countries there are
applicable regulatory norms under which the organisation shall dispose such
waste in compliance. These norms are prescribed based on important
Quantitative and Qualitative characteristics of effluent such as daily
discharge quantum, COD, BOD, DO, pH, TDS, TSS, TOC, Heavy Metals
etc. The effluent quality and quantity may vary from an organisation to other
as the effluent generation is dependent on the nature of processes, intake of
raw material including natural resource and output product.
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6. Ecosystem
“Community of living organisms such as plants, animals and microbes in
conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment such as air,
water, land and energy interacting in a system”
Understanding
Ecosystem is a delicate and complex set of
interrelationship between the living and non-living
components of nature. Ecosystems are mainly
classified in based on the chain of interaction
amongst the components. They are mainly
classified as Marine, Freshwater Ecosystems,
Grassland, Terrestrial, Forest Ecosystems. If one
part or any component of an ecosystem is affected
by an environmental aspect of organisation it is
going to affect every thing else. It is important for
an organisation to take care of pollutants which
they generate to protect the delicate
interrelationship between the living and non-living
components of nature.
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7. Environment Performance
“measurable results of an organization's management of its environmental
aspects”
Understanding
In the context of environmental management systems,
results can be measured against the organization‘s
environmental policy, environmental objectives,
environmental targets and other environmental
performance requirements. An organization should have
a systematic approach for quantitative and qualitative
measuring and monitoring its environmental
performance on a regular basis.
Environmental performance of an organisation relates to the performance of policy
commitments, achieving objectives and targets; performance on emissions and discharges to
not only meet applicable legal requirements but to exceed the compliance level; performance
on consumption of natural resource such as water, energy or raw materials and performance
on operational controls. Environmental Performance monitoring shall provide the data and
information which will help the organisation to analyze and evaluate the compliance and
conformance to EMS requirements.
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8. Environment Performance Evaluation (EPE)

“Process to facilitate management decisions regarding an organisation’s
environmental performance by selecting indicators, collecting and analysing
data, assessing information against environmental performance criteria
reporting and communicating, and periodically reviewing and improving this
process”
Understanding
It is an internal management process and tool designed to provide management with reliable
and verifiable information on an ongoing basis to determine whether an organization’s
environmental performance is meeting the criteria set by the management of the organization.
EPE can assist the organization in identifying and determining its significant environmental
aspects; setting criteria for its environmental performance; and assessing its environmental
performance against these criteria.
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Industrial activities and environmental risks
climate change
fire, explosion
noise
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Global impacts
► Universal significance
► Complex
► Link with economic conditions
► Examples
 Global warming
 Depletion of the ozone layer
 Loss of biodiversity
 Air pollution
 Water pollution
 Waste
 Accumulation of toxic substances
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Product view –
what has less impact on the environment?
Diesel car Petrol car with catalyst
Greater fuel economy – 30-35% more Lower emissions of
kilometers to the liter than petrol particulates
20% less direct CO2 emission than 70% less NOx emissions
petrol car with catalyst
Lead-free fuel Unleaded petrol now widely
available
Less VOCs emissions from storage
and distribution
50% less energy required to produce
diesel than to refine oil to petrol
Potential for SOx reductions due to

de-sulphurisation process
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Sustainable Development
►Meeting the needs of the current generation

without compromising the ability of future generations
to meet their needs (Brundtland commission, 1987)
►Triple bottom line:

 Environmental issues
 Social issues
 Economic issues
►Overall aim of ISO 14001:

 environmental protection in balance with socio-economic needs
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LCA– PROCESS APPROACH TECHNIQUE
SPECIFIC IMPACTS
consumption Energy Color Water Maintenance
RAW MATERIAL PROCESS PRODUCT

Yarn Manufacturing of Textile
Textile Cloth
(ACTIVITY)
Solid Waste Noise Air

Emissions PRODUCT
Waste Chemicals LCA
SPECIFIC IMPACTS
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ENVIRONMENT ASPECT AND IMPACTS- EVALUATION OF SIGNIFICANCE
Why an Organisation Shall Evaluate the Significance?

Organisation shall understand the concept of Environmental aspects and its significant
impact on environment either adverse or beneficial or in combination. A well structured
systematic evaluation of aspect Impacts uses a logical, objective (rather than
subjective) methodology to rank such aspects into order of significant impact upon the
environment. This helps in focusing the management system to seek to improve upon
and minimize such significant environmental adverse impacts. It shall be noted that the
criteria used for attributing significance to environmental impacts should be clearly
defined. The evaluation of significant environmental aspects is an ongoing process that
enhances an organization's understanding of its relationship to the environment and
contributes to continual improvement of its environmental performance through
enhancement of its environmental management system.
What Needs to be Consider While Doing Evaluations?

Several factors should be considered when doing evaluations, such as environmental
characteristics, information on applicable legal requirements and other requirements to
which the organization subscribes, and concerns of interested parties (internal and
external). Some of these criteria can be applied to an organization's environmental
aspects directly and some to their associated environmental impacts.
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 There is no fixed approach, However
 Approach used shall meet organisation’s need

 Approach or methodology shall be perspective
 It should be comprehensive and fit for use
 It shall able to derive operational controls &
 Objective and targets
Evaluating significance involves

applying both technical analysis
and judgement by the
organization.
What shall be the Approach for Environmental Aspect Evaluation?
There is no single approach for determining significance of environmental aspects and associated
impacts. The approach shall suit the organization’s need and shall be appropriate to its scope,
nature and scale and that meets its needs in terms of detail, complexity, time, cost and availability
of reliable data. The use of procedure(s) to apply the approach selected , can help to achieve
consistency in the system.
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USING NUMERIC CUTOFF VALUES
SEVERITY OF IMPACT (B)

SCALE OF IMPACT (A)
CRITERIA VALUE
CRITERIA VALUE
Vey High 10
Global 5
High 08
Very Large 4 Moderate 06
Large 3 Low 04
Small 2 Minor 02
Very small 1 Negligible 01
Contd…
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USING NUMERIC CUTOFF VALUES
LIKELYHOOD OF DURTION OF IMPACT (D)

OCCURANCE (C) CRITERIA VALUE
CRITERIA VALUE For Ever 10
Certain 5 Chronic 8
Very Likely 4 Very Long 7
Llikely 3 Long 4
Unlikely 2 Short 2
Very Unlikely 1 Very short 1
Significance = A X B X C X D
Total value if, >300 = Significant
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Traffic Light Concept
Aspect is controlled at intervals however

poses great threat to the environment and
Significant opportunity to the organisation.
Aspect is controlled however poses great

threat to the environment and Significant
opportunity to the organisation.
Aspect is controlled however poses moderate
threat to the environment and opportunity to
the organisation for improvement
Aspect requires further research to establish

the true extent of any threat or possible
opportunity
Contd..
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EXAMPLE:
Importance
Corporate
Concern
Saving
Aspects Impact
Taxes
Legal
Cost
Req.
Important resource, legal limits
Water Resource prescribed for daily consumption,.
Controls can be improved by setting
consumption Depletion objectives
Important resource, Huge

Electricity Resource opportunity for cost saving by
Consumption Depletion energy conservation.
Very Important for Environment,

Hazardous Waste Land Governed through EPA 1986. Huge
admistration fee and can be
Generation Pollution explored to reduce the burden,
Important resource, legal limits

Gaseous Air prescribed for daily emissions .
Emission pollution Controls
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Criteria chosen by EXAMPLE

organisation
Sr. CRITERIA BASED QUESTIONS

Simple Technique using 1 Is there any Corporate requirement to ensure?
Questions
2 Is the aspect related to emergency situations?
3 Legal rules and regulations apply to Aspect?

Atleast one criteria
question needs to be 4 Existing operational controls needs improvement?
answered Yes
5 Aspect related to contractor activity?
6 Aspect is a major concern of external interested party?

The largest No. of Yes 7 Huge amount of resource consumed.?
answered represents
Highest Significance 8 Can Cost Saving be done on the aspect?
Calculations based on
points weightage points Contd…
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CRITERIA QUESTION NUMBER
SCORE OF Y
Aspects Impact 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 COMMENTS
Water Resource Water conservation may be

consumption Depletion Y N N N N Y N N 2 improved
Electricity Resource Cost of energy should be

Consumption Depletion Y N N N N N Y Y 3 reduced
Hazardous The controls shall be ensured

Land
Waste
Pollution N Y Y N Y N N Y 4 and focus on minimizing
Generation impacts
Emission controls shall be
Gaseous Air improved as there are
Emission pollution N Y Y Y Y Y N N 5 concerns from external
interested party too.
CRITERIA SCORE OF Yes
IF 8 = Highest significance , 6-7, Highly significant, 4 -5= Significant, 1 – 3 Very less significant
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ENVIRONMENT PERFORMANCE EVALUATION -INTRODUCTION
ENVIRONMENT PERFORMANCE EVALUATION (EPE)

‘an internal management process and tool designed to provide management with
reliable and verifiable information on an ongoing basis to determine whether an
organization’s environmental performance is meeting the criteria set by the
management of the organization.’
What are the benefits of EPE?
It helps the management of an organization to assess the status of its environmental
performance and to identify areas for improvement as needed. It also helps in,
determine any necessary actions to achieve its environmental performance criteria;
identify significant environmental aspects;
identify opportunities for better management of its environmental aspects (e.g. prevention
of pollution);
identify trends in its environmental performance;
increase the organization’s efficiency and effectiveness;
identify strategic opportunities.
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ENVIRONMENT PERFORMANCE EVALUATION – MODEL (1-2-3 Steps)
Here represented a standardized model of EPE which also follows PDCA Approach
PLAN
Selecting Indicators for EPE
DO
Collecting Data
1
Analyzing & Converting Data

2
Assessing Information
Reporting and Communication

3
CHECK & ACT

Reviewing & Improving EPE
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ENVIRONMENT PERFORMANCE EVALUATION - SELECTING INDICATORS
Possible EPE Indicators in an Organisation can be categorized as Under
1 EPE
INDICATORS
PERFORMANCE CONDITION
INDICATORS INDICATORS
(EPIs) (ECIs)
EXAMPLES
Management Condition
Performance of Land
Indicator (MPI) Condition
of Water
Operational
Condition
Performance
of Air
Indicator (OPI)
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Environmental Management Systems

Auditor Conversion Training Course

Pre Course Study material

In general Waste is considered as unwanted materials for an organisation.

Most of the Industries generates liquid waste, although an approach now is

8. Environment Performance Evaluation (EPE)

► Link with economic conditions

Potential for SOx reductions due to

►Meeting the needs of the current generation

►Triple bottom line:

►Overall aim of ISO 14001:

consumption Energy Color Water Maintenance

RAW MATERIAL PROCESS PRODUCT

Solid Waste Noise Air

Why an Organisation Shall Evaluate the Significance?

What Needs to be Consider While Doing Evaluations?

 There is no fixed approach, However

 Approach used shall meet organisation’s need

Evaluating significance involves

USING NUMERIC CUTOFF VALUES

SEVERITY OF IMPACT (B)

USING NUMERIC CUTOFF VALUES

LIKELYHOOD OF DURTION OF IMPACT (D)

Traffic Light Concept

Aspect is controlled at intervals however

Aspect is controlled however poses great

Aspect requires further research to establish

Important resource, Huge

Very Important for Environment,

Important resource, legal limits

Criteria chosen by EXAMPLE

Sr. CRITERIA BASED QUESTIONS

3 Legal rules and regulations apply to Aspect?

6 Aspect is a major concern of external interested party?

CRITERIA QUESTION NUMBER

Water Resource Water conservation may be

Electricity Resource Cost of energy should be

Hazardous The controls shall be ensured

ENVIRONMENT PERFORMANCE EVALUATION (EPE)

Analyzing & Converting Data

Reporting and Communication

CHECK & ACT

Possible EPE Indicators in an Organisation can be categorized as Under

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