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Chapter
3
5.
Environmental Management Analysis
Environmental
management within an organization involves having the systems
for managing and monitoring environmental performance to ensure
that environmental impacts arising from the day-to-day operations
and programmes of the bureau or department are being addressed
in an environmentally responsible manner. The Controlling
Officer can report on their performance of environmental
management system as measured against three important
elements:
- Commitment
(for example, formal responsibility and accountability),
see figure 5.1
- Capability
(for example, technology, programmes and procedures and
training), see figure 5.2
- Mechanisms
for continual improvement (for example, a system of measurements,
reviews/audits, reporting), see figure 5.3
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Figure 5.1 - Responsibility and accountability |
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We
are directing our efforts on environmental issues at
many levels. A committee of directors was established
to oversee our policy and performance in the environmental
area. The committee meets at least four times a year.
At
each operation, local management is accountable for
the implementation of the environmental policy. Facility
managers are also accountable for compliance with all
of the laws and regulations pertaining to the environment
and occupational safety at the operation.
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Figure 5.2 - Training and emergency response |
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Our
policy and environmental regulations require that all
our facilities have comprehensive emergency preparedness
programmes. Included in these programmes are risk/hazard
identification and assessment, emergency response planning
and reporting, and staff training.
Emergency
response plans are developed in cooperation with, and
distributed to, local emergency response agencies, such
as the police, fire and health departments. Staff are
trained to serve as firefighters and emergency rescue
personnel at facilities where that is appropriate. In
addition, we maintain teams of specially selected and
trained staff who are on call 24 hours a day to respond
to spills or other emergencies.
Other
staff training programmes address issues such as environmental
regulations, handling, storage and transportation of
materials, new or revised environmental programmes.
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Figure 5.3 - Environmental audit programme |
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Our
environmental audit programme is a systematic, internal
review of operations to verify compliance with our environmental
policy and programmes and environmental regulations.
At the conclusion of each audit, a report listing audit
findings is provided to division managers who then prepare
action plans to address the findings. The action plans
are reviewed and approved by senior management; significant
findings are reported to the directors.
Some
deficiencies were noted from the results of the 1996
environmental audit and they are being corrected. Action
plans are now in place to improve our spill prevention
and response, training, chemical storage assessments
and waste recycling. Progress against plans is reviewed
quarterly.
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