Environmental Management Systems And Construction Sector

January 27th, 2012 by admin

Environmental Management Systems, EMS, Construction Plan, Construction

Today harmonised Environmental Management Systems (EMS) are broadly adapted within the business world. As we know, environmental management systems initial initiated in Japan (in the electronic industry) within the 1980’s and later on spread to USA and Europe. In latter regions, EMS was adapted initially by high polluting industries for example chemical and power later it was gradually introduced for the other industries that had lesser environmental impacts.

Benefits

Many construction organizations all over the world are facing numerous environmental challenges. As an example, stringent and complex environmental laws and regulations, escalating compliance costs and heavy penalties for violation could impact any construction company’s survival with regards to profitability and growth. Along with such expanding challenges, escalating public demand for environmental concerns has catalysed the construction businesses to believe differently or look for innovative ways to boost or sustain their solvency.Similarly, numerous construction businesses (either small or big) have demonstrated that a sound EMS is not only beneficial in a lot of ways but additionally a novel method to stay competitive in a very volatile market.

It really is a well-known fact that numerous number of construction organizations globally have immensely benefitted through implementation of EMS. For instance, the advantages are many:

• Lowering fees by means of prudent use of resources and waste minimisation• Ability to comply with stringent environmental laws and regulations. Thereby, decreasing dangers delays and stay away from penalties.• Ability to monitor or preserve track of environmental concerns pertaining to all phases of construction projects• Increased competitiveness and discover marketplace possibilities through environmentally friendly construction services offered to environmentally sensitive clients• Facilitate efficient communication and dialogue amongst all stakeholders involved internally as well as externally. In other words, fostering far better relationships with regulators or law enforcement agencies including the communities.• Enhanced corporate image as a socially and ecologically responsible construction business, leading to LEED (Leadership in Power and Environmental Style) certification.• Creating a very involved (or motivated) and responsible staff or possibly a responsive environmental team within the organisation

What is An Effective EMS?

An successful EMS indicates not just keeping the external operating atmosphere wholesome but additionally sustaining a secure and wholesome working condition by means of Occupational and Healthy (OH&S) procedures. In essence, the former involves implementation of ISO14001 and the latter comprise of occupational health and safety measures stipulated in OHSAS18002:2008. This shows EMS and OH&S calculates must merge together for effective implementation of an EMS in a construction enterprise.

ISO14001 stipulates the exact requirements for an EMS. It essentially applies to environmental issues which the construction organisation has the control over and at the very same time such issues can have an influence on its performance.

Basically, ISO14001 comprised of:

• Environmental Management System (EMS)• Environmental Auditing• Environmental Labelling• Environmental Performance Evaluation• Life cycle assessment (ISO 2002)

In essence, ISO14001 is a voluntary standard that may be adapted by any construction organisation. It predominantly helps the organisation to methodically control construction activities that have a poor influence on the atmosphere. Specifically, it covers 17 elements or aspects clustered into five key areas:

• Environmental Policy• Planning• Implementation and operation• Checking and corrective action• Management Review

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