Role of Senior Management

EPA Regions 9 & 10

and
The Federal Network for Sustainability
2005
 Plan Do Check Act
Continual Improvement

Management Environmental
Review Policy

Checking & Planning

Corrective Action

Implementation &
Control
 The Role of Management
• The EMS model is built on the premise that
senior management is consistently participating
or otherwise involved.

• There are key points where senior management

has a defined role (e.g., Policy, management
review).

• Ongoing support is critical.

 Specific Expectations of
Management
* Be visible and positive about the message.
* Show your support through organizational policy,
as well as “walk the talk” by your words and
actions.
* Discuss the benefits of using the EMS tool; Most
importantly, verbalize how it supports the mission.
* Be up front and honest about the effort needed for
successful implementation.
* Provide resources (financial, staff, external).
 Specific Expectations (cont.)
* Provide moral support, encourage your team, and
create a leadership environment that ensures
success. The staff should feel that you are in it with
them and committed to success.
* Encourage dialogue among the various offices,
units and/or facilities. Try to break down the silos!
* Share performance results with the workforce.
* Communicate outside the agency to share
experiences and to learn from others.
Management Review of EMS

EPA Regions 9 & 10

and
The Federal Network for Sustainability
2005
 Management Review
• Separate element in ISO 14001 (4.6),

• Distinct from checklists or EMS audit,

• Essential part of continual improvement.

Top Management Should Review
* Continuing suitability of the EMS and policy,
* EMS audit results and compliance evaluations,
* Environmental objectives, targets and
performance,
* Status of corrective and preventive actions,
* Communications with interested parties,
* Follow-up from previous management reviews,
* Changing circumstances,
* Recommendations for improvement.
 Top Management
Considerations
Issues resulting from changes in:
* Products, services, or activities,
* Technological advances,
* Legislation,
* Expectations of stakeholders,
* Financial circumstances.
 Items to look for
* Schedule for management reviews
* Attendees at meetings
* Minutes of management review
meetings
* Support for continual improvement.
EMS 101 for Senior Management
Brief Overview of Environmental Management
Systems (EMS)

EPA Regions 9 & 10

and
The Federal Network for Sustainability
2005
 What is an Environmental
Management System?
* It is the tool used by an organization to manage the:
* Organization structure,
* Planning activities,
* Responsibilities,
* Practices, procedures, processes,
* Resources.
* It is for developing, implementing, maintaining, reviewing, and
correcting/improving the approach to addressing environmental
issues.
* It is the structured approach that incorporates environmental
considerations into day-to-day operations throughout the
organization, and is designed to promote continual
improvement.
 Process vs. Performance
* An EMS defines a process- “HOW” to do
something, in this case, manage environmental
issues.

* It alone does not guarantee performance status- or

“WHAT” needs to be done. For example, being
in compliance is a measure of performance.

* The EMS is a process used to achieve

performance goals.
 General Principles
* An EMS uses the Plan-Do-Check-Act Management Model,

* An EMS serves the organization and its mission,

not the reverse,

* EMS is a process, not an event,

* An EMS is the people & their actions, not the words &
aspirations,

* Improvement rests on changing attitudes & behaviors

“Want to, not have to”,

* Start at the top, and the bottom and implement throughout.

 Keep in mind…
* The EMS and related measurement tools are
just that- tools. Alone, they will not guarantee
success. Do not fixate on the tool.
* The organization must use the tools, not just
have them.
* A useful EMS is “alive”; constantly measuring
performance, making adjustments, and looking
for continual improvement opportunities.
 How to Prepare for Management
Review
* Have a clear understanding of Policy,

* Know how and why objectives and targets

were identified,

* Review audit findings,

* Assess overall effectiveness of EMS, focusing

on continual improvement.
 ISO 14001 Elements
Management Environmental
Review Policy

Checking/ Continuous Planning

Corrective Actions Improvement
• Measurement and • Environmental Aspects
Monitoring • Compliance
• EMS Nonconformance and • Objectives and Targets
Corrective Actions Implementation
• Records • Environmental Mgmt.
• EMS Audits • Roles and Programs
Responsibilities
• Training and
Communication
• EMS Document Control
• Emergency
Preparedness and
Response
 A Viable EMS

To succeed an EMS should be:

* In harmony with mission focus;
* Cost effective;
* Flexible;
* Transparent;
* Useful to the “practitioner”;
* Focused on continual improvement.
Continual Improvement Cycle
Etc.
Plan
Implement

Implement
Plan

Review Implement Check

Check

Review
Plan