Ems aspects & impacts

1Ramasubramanian ManagementConsultant/Auditor/Trainer +919952229598

Objectives of this Session

Know definitions of aspect, impact, significant aspect Recognize importance of significant aspects to the

EMS Learn EMS requirements for aspects identification


Why do this? Managing Aspectsvs. Impacts It is more prudent and more efficient to manage “how”

you interact with the environment than to manage“what” you have done to the environment An EMS is built around identifying, prioritizing,

controlling, and improving upon, those elements ofthe organization that interact with the environment


Specific Benefits Prompts your organization to identify issues not

typically managed; particularly non-regulated issues Integrates environmental issues into operations Makes for proactive planning


ISO14001 Definition

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ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTSElements of an organization’s activities, products or services whichcan interact with the environment. (For example: wastewaterdischarges, air emissions, resource consumption, energy usage,ecosystem alterations, etc.)

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTSAny change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial,wholly or partly resulting from an organization’s activities,products, or services (based on the aspects, for example: airemissions impacts the air by degrading the air quality).

Ramasubramanian ManagementConsultant/Auditor/Trainer +919952229598

ISO 14001 requires organizationsto: develop procedures to identify environmental

aspects in order to determine those which have orcan have significant impact on the environment keep aspects information up-to-date (regularly,

and whenever changes occur), not once and done. Necessary records will include aspects lists, and

significant aspects list


Role of Aspects in the EMS Significant aspects drive the EMS and are a subset

of the full list of aspects EMS is designed to identify, control, manage, and

improve upon the significant aspects Compliance with Legal and Other Requirements is

a part of the system that does relate to the aspects Elements such as operational control (procedures

and work instructions), training, monitoring andmeasurement, emergency planning, and settingobjectives all depend on significant aspects.


More on Environmental Aspects

Aspects are “cause”, impact is the “effect” Control and influence of aspects is a factor Aspects can be:

• direct or indirect• normal, abnormal, or emergency• past, present, or future

Aspects address not only waste stream, butresource consumption, energy, and other “non-traditional” factors (noise, odor, visual)


Going About the Aspects Process Identify who and how this will be done (aspects

procedure) List and characterize activities, products services Identify aspects and impacts for each

Area/Process/System -Tap into your knowledge base! Determine significance Maintain records


Activities, Products andServices This is where you describe what you do at your facility

– mostly “activities” for Feds Consider mission – what ‘facility’ is designed to do - e.g.

visitor center Consider activities that support the mission – e.g.

vehicle maintenance Consider actions that are both regulated and not

regulated e.g. commuting to work


Aspect Analysis - Examples of Activities

Manufacturing related operations Maintenance Motor vehicle fleet operations Wastewater treatment Solid waste handling and disposal Raw material and chemical handling Bulk storage of fuels Administrative and employee activities Engineering Purchasing


Some Ways to CharacterizeActivities, Products, and Services Process flow diagrams Interviews with supervisors, managers, staff Hazardous material inventories Hazardous waste records Records from emergency planning, accident reports,

emergency incidentsWater and energy consumption records


List Aspects Can sort and organize aspects, for example:Releases to airWater consumption, pollutionLand contaminationUse of raw materials, natural resourcesOther local environmental, community

issuesWill be able to “re-sort” later to better

manage the aspects13


Examples of Aspects Aspect: Waste generation Material usage Fuel usage Air emissions Chemical consumption Energy consumption

Not an aspect: Improve air quality –

this is an objective Vehicle maintenance –

this is a activity Water pollution – this is

an impact


ExamplesActivity, Product, or Service Aircraft operations

Bus transportation andmaintenance

Environmental Aspect Jet fuel consumption Jet fuel releases (potential) Noise generation Gasoline consumption Electricity consumption Solid waste generation Water consumption Waste water generation


ExamplesActivity, Product, or Service Vehicle maintenance

Environmental Aspect Hazardous waste

generation Gasoline consumption Noise generation Electricity consumption Solid waste generation Water consumption Waste water generation Release of volatiles


ExamplesActivity, Product, or Service Store

Cafeteria

Environmental Aspect Raw material consumption Fuel consumption for transport Solid waste generation

Food waste generation Electricity consumption Water consumption Waste water generation Release of ammonia from

refrigeration equipment(potential)


ExamplesActivity, Product, or Service Office work

Environmental Aspect Electricity consumption Water consumption Waste water generation Release of ozone depleting

substances in air coolingunits (potential) Solid waste generation Heavy metals “use” in

computers


ExamplesActivity, Product, or Service Cleaning offices

Playing field upkeep (golfcourse, softball field,parade ground)

Environmental Aspect Hazardous material release Electricity consumption Solid waste generation Waste water generation Water consumption Waste water generation Runoff from pesticide usage Gasoline consumption Grass clipping generation


Identify the Impacts of Aspects Once the aspects are identified, you must identify the

impact(s) associated with each one. This can be done using the same process you used for

aspects, except there might be more involvement ofenvironmental staff to assess impacts List impacts along with aspects


Examples of Aspects & Impacts

Air emissions (exhaust) Water consumption Fuel release (accidental

spills) Fuel release (accidental

spills) Noise generation Energy consumption (lights

left on) Paper recycled

Air quality degraded Water resource depleted Storm water contaminated Soil contaminated Area nuisance Increased CO2 from coal-

fired power plant emissions Landfill space conserved,

raw materials conserved

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Aspects Impacts


Determine Significant Aspects A significant aspect is one that has or can have a

significant impact on the environment (you define) Site selects the criteria for significance rating and

cutoff value Significance can be determined by numeric cutoff

value or subjective assessment based on yes/noanswers Significance could be tied to: environmental

degradation concerns, natural resource concerns,regulatory or legal exposure, concerns of interestedparties


EMS Requirements ISO 14001 uses “significant” aspects and impacts as

the basis for developing objectives and preparingprograms. The organization chooses which aspects are

“significant,” based on applying their own criteria,to the related impacts. However, once significant,the EMS must address the aspect. Process and criteria for significance described in

procedure.


Many Methods for DeterminingSignificance Criteria Staff judgment Risk AssessmentOrganizationally-derived criteria and/or hybrid

approaches based on staff judgment and riskassessment Key is to be consistent, and in line with “reality

check” – are you capturing what makes sense? Criteria must relate to environmental impact


Examples of Significance CriteriaMagnitude - How big of a problem is it? Global, regional, local?

Severity - How bad will it get? Probability - How likely is it to occur? Daily, weekly, monthly, annually, in emergencies, only

when a certain event happens, when a new projectstarts?

Regulated?Of concern to interested parties?


Applying the Criteria Each aspect must be evaluated in terms of the criteria Significant ones listed Each time a new aspect enters the system for whatever

reason, it must be evaluated for significance ALL significant aspects must be carried forward into

the system


Where Do Significant Aspects Fit inYour EMS? EMS manages your significant aspects, impacts Significant aspects drive objectives and targets and

operational controls Employees need to be aware of significant aspects of

their jobsMust communicate significant aspects externally Significant aspects are monitored and measured


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IdentifyAspects

Significantaspect

Remains onaspect list

Objectives andtargets

Deployedin EMS

EMPs, andOperational

Control

Operationcontrols

Significant?

no

yes

UnderControl?

yes

No, or yesbut want todo more?

Addressnow?

Yes

No (still must have controls)


In Closing- Tips for Effective AspectsIdentification and Rating Be comprehensive Do not pre-judge! Inventory completely; you have the

opportunity to prioritize later Sort by activity, product, or service; and identify impacts Significance criteria change over time; all relative. Should

never have a situation with no significant aspects (as percontinual improvement commitment)

“Aspect” is considered significant although environmentalimpact is used to make significance determination

Aspects not considered significant will not be carriedthrough the system

Significant aspects affect and drive all other parts of system!“If you must control, it must be significant”.


Ems aspects & impacts

Environment

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