Environmental management procedures manual
An Environmental Management System (EMS) is a set of processes or practices intended to reduce an organisation's overall environmental impacts whilst increasing its operating efficiency.
An environmental management procedures manual, also known as an EMS manual, is a document that provides clear guidance about the implementation of an organisation’s EMS, setting out how the EMS should be communicated and applied across the organisation, and providing a place where information is easily-locatable and easy to share with other parties if necessary.
ISO 14001, Environmental management systems — Requirements with guidance for use, does not include a specific requirement to create an EMS manual, but it can nonetheless prove beneficial for organisations in terms of managing the relevant information.
The following might be included in an organisation’s EMS manual:
- EMS scope: Defines the application and limitations of the EMS within the organisation.
- Environmental policy: Sets out the organisation’s objectives, targets and forward strategy.
- Roles, responsibilities and authorities as they apply to the activities and processes within the scope of the EMS.
- How different elements of the EMS interact.
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