Support for the EMS
Internal Organization Commitment
Top level management must champion the EMS and ensure that key organization or facility stakeholders such as those responsible for budget or facility operations are aware of the management commitment to the EMS.
Intro to Environmental Management Systems
Change comes slowly to any organization. Ensure personnel knows you support the EMS and that they are accountable for the success of this effort.
Environmental Policy
The organization's senior manager must sign the EMS policy statement. A robust, clear environmental policy statement is a documented reminder of what is expected by senior leadership. The policy is a critical document in the EMS process and is the ultimate guiding environmental principle for each individual within the organization or facility.
Local Community Outreach
Senior managers represent their facility or organization through interaction with local community leaders and should communicate the EMS initiative as a positive message to send to the organization's neighbors. Communicating this issue to the local community is not only good public relations; it is essential to the success of the EMS because neighbors share our most sensitive environmental concerns.
Momentum
Fully implementing a formal EMS may take several years, and maintaining momentum can be a challenge. Sustained vision, leadership and top level management commitment are critical to meeting this challenge. When senior managers maintain interest and commitment, employees also stay focused. There will be some frustrations as implementation progresses and previously unforeseen issues arise. Accept these as opportunities and focus on continual improvement to address existing issues and prevent future problems. Don't allow the focus on the EMS to be diverted by competing initiatives that will result in lesser long-term gains. Remember, organizational attitude reflects leadership!
EMS Team Formation
The core EMS team is selected and provided support and resources to begin development of the organization or facility EMS. This team must receive adequate training to ensure proper development of the EMS.
Tip
Every choice you and your employees make can affect the environment. Involving everyone helps produce cost-effective long-term results.
Best results will be achieved by involving everyone in the company in some way. There are two benefits to involving all employees: first, they will be more likely to take ownership of managing environmental concerns; second, they often have valuable insight into how improvements can be made.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-7. Which of the following is the ultimate guiding environmental principle for each individual within the organization or facility?
You forgot to answer the question!