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Development of Company’s
Environmental Policy,
Objectives and Targets and Programme
Implementation and
Training
A committee with representatives from key management functions can identify and
assess issues, opportunities and existing processes. Consider including sub-
contractors, suppliers or other external parties as part of the project team, where
appropriate. A cross-functional team can help to ensure that procedures are practical
and effective and can build commitment to and “ownership” of the EMS.
To successfully implement the system, this team will need to undergo specific
training programs pertaining to the development and implementation of the
environmental management system.
Once top management has given the green light for implementing the system, it then
needs to determine the scope of the system. The scope of the environmental
management system is essential in setting the boundary for the initial environmental
review, development and implementation. In determining the scope the organization
is required to determine the activities and the level of influence and control involved
with respect to each activity. The scope will help the organization to specify the
boundaries, number of project sites and/or services to be covered, implementation
time and the credibility of the environmental management system. The scope has to
be explained in the Environmental Manual because this provides clear boundaries of
the environmental management system coverage. Once the scope or boundary is
identified, then the organization can proceed to the initial review process.
There are no fix tools or methods for undertaking the review. However the
organization through team effort should walk through the process. An initial
environmental review is done via discussion, interview, site inspection and existing
document examination. Relevant employees most likely to give information are
suppliers, vendors, community groups, government agencies.
What will be the best way to carry out Initial environmental review?
In the construction sector it is environmental aspects and impacts identification process should
be carried out at two levels. The first level is at organizational level and the level is at the
project site before the start of the activity. This is due to the fact that at project site,
environmental aspects and impacts varies depending on the actual site, work method and other
factors.
The first thing an organization has to do is determining the environmental issues that
they have to manage. Environmental issues are those issues that are associated
directly and indirectly with the organization activities, products and services.
In the construction sector, the environmental issues can be one or more of the
following: water pollution, erosion and siltation, loss of biodiversity, air pollution,
noise pollution, flash flood, loss of top soil, scheduled and construction wastes,
resource consumption, energy conservation and many more. These can happen
during the course of the project, after completion of the project, during its operational
phase and end of life, abnormal cases such as during heavy rain and during
emergency situations such as landslides. Therefore these environmental aspects
should be taken into consideration at every stage of the project implementation
process, from conception to completion.
Appendix 1 is a generic form which can be used as a guide for contractors to identify
environmental aspects and significant impacts
Air pollution
Loss of terrestrial
habitat, loss of Loss of land
biodiversity Emission to air
fertility, erosion
Removal of Removal of
vegetation topsoil
Resources, fuel,
INPUT OUTPUT
machinery, land Cleared land
area, vegetation, Land clearing
topsoil
Generation of
waste Surface runoff
Land degradation, loss Erosion, siltation,
of aesthetic values flash floods
FIGURE 3.1: Examples of Environmental Aspects and Impacts from Land Clearing
Aspect
NO YES
Legal Requirement
NO
Environmental
Consequences YES
SIGNIFICANT
NO ENVIRONMENTAL
YES ASPECT (SEA)
Use of Materials
NO
YES
Corporate Concern
NO
NOT SIGNIFICANT
Among the critical outcome from the whole exercise would be the list of significant
activities that cause significant impacts to the environment. From the list, the
organization is required to prioritize and determine the most significant aspects that
need to be managed. This list would be the basis for any organization to establish and
implement an EMS. The list would assist the management in setting the Policy,
Objectives and Targets for the organization.
The outcome would also be a critical input for the establishment of the environmental
manual and procedures, training requirement, potential emergency situations,
operational control, monitoring and measurement, prevention of pollution and continual
improvement.
To manage the environmental impacts, it is the significant aspects activity, product and
services that we need to manage. Reducing or eliminating any interaction with the
environment will directly reduce and eliminate the environmental impacts.
What should be the output of this process?