13 Essential Steps for Implementing and Certifying ISO 14001
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If your organization wants to implement ISO 14001 and gain certification for an Environmental Management System (EMS), it might feel overwhelming to figure out where to start. Here’s an overview of 13 steps to ensure nothing is missed during your implementation and preparations for certification.
Obtain Management Support
Management support is critical. Without it, implementing ISO 14001 will almost certainly fail. Convince your management that ISO 14001 is a good idea.
Identify Legal Requirements
Ensure you identify the legal and other requirements for your EMS. This is crucial for successful implementation.
Define EMS Scope
Define the scope of your EMS to know what needs to be done. This helps prevent including areas of your business that might not affect the environment. Create your environmental policy and environmental aspects first.
Define EMS Procedures and Processes
Identify necessary processes and procedures to ensure consistent and adequate results in preventing negative environmental impacts and responding to emergencies.
Implement EMS Procedures and Processes
Link these processes to existing ones in your organization, such as tracking waste. Decide which processes must be documented to prevent environmental damage.
Perform Training and Awareness
Train employees on what ISO 14001 is and why you are implementing it. Also, train them on any changes to processes they are involved in. Everyone should know what you are doing with your EMS and how they fit in.
Choose a Certification Body
Select a certification body that will audit your EMS processes for compliance with ISO 14001 requirements. Interview several certification bodies to find the right one for your company.
Operate the EMS; Measure and Keep Records
Collect records needed during an audit to show your processes meet the requirements. These records also show process effectiveness and necessary improvements. Certification bodies will specify how long this should happen to ensure compliance.
Perform Internal Audits
Audit each process internally before the certification audit. This ensures the processes are doing what you planned and allows you to fix any problems found.
Perform Management Review
Management involvement in maintaining the EMS is as important as their support during implementation. Review data from EMS activities and react appropriately.
Implement Corrective Actions
Use corrective actions to find the root cause of problems and fix them. These problems can be identified during measurements, internal audits, and management reviews.
Certification Audit – Stage 1
The certification body will review your documentation to verify you have addressed all necessary ISO 14001 requirements. They will issue a report outlining compliance and any problems to correct.
Certification Audit – Stage 2
The certification body auditors will perform an on-site audit. They will review records accumulated by operating your EMS processes, including internal audits, management reviews, and corrective actions. They will issue a report detailing their findings and recommend certification if you meet all requirements. If there are major non-conformances, resolve them before certification can be recommended.
A good plan helps significantly when implementing and certifying an EMS per ISO 14001. Take the time to plan and know what resources you need – this will save time and resources later on.
