Product category:
Calibration and Testing Services, Consultancy and Learning
News Release from: SGS | Subject: Defra EMS ISO 14001
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 08 July 2005
ISO 14001 Certification reaches halfway
stage
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has reached the halfway stage of its Environmental Management System (EMS) ISO 14001 certification programme, a project shared with SGS.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has reached the halfway stage of its Environmental Management System (EMS) ISO 14001 certification programme EMSs enable Defra to identify, prioritise and manage its environmental risks as part of its normal estate management activities
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 28 Jun 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
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Designed to maximise positive environmental impacts and minimise negative impacts, an EMS is a continual cycle of: target-setting and planning; implementing; checking; and reviewing and taking corrective action.
An EMS typically covers issues such as waste, emissions, energy, noise, pollution and contractors' obligations.
SGS' Role Independent certification body SGS has verified and certified the EMSs at 17 of Defra's larger sites to ISO 14001 standard.
By ensuring that its EMSs are up to this exacting international standard, Defra is publicly demonstrating and committing itself to the prevention of pollution, continual improvement and legal compliance as part of normal management.
Carrying out EMS audits at Defra sites in central London and across the UK, SGS started this programme in April 2002 and expects to certify the final site by the end of 2005.
"Following a vigorous tendering process, Defra chose us to undertake this large audit programme," says David Glenister, SGS Client Manager/Registered Lead Auditor.
"We've visited all sorts of sites over the past three years, including head offices, laboratories, veterinary surgeries and former foot-and-mouth disease burial sites." Envoy In its ongoing auditing work, SGS can access Envoy, Defra's internet-based system, to monitor performance and auditing records without continually visiting all sites.
Envoy also enables Defra to share EMS best practice throughout the organisation and review progress at its various sites.
"Envoy is a useful tool," says David Glenister. Request a free brochure from SGS ...
"It stores environmental legislation, policy, procedures and records, offering Defra a standardised management system on common practices across its estate, while offering specificity in relevant areas such as operational controls.".
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