Understanding Competence, Training, and Awareness in ISO 14001
- Home
- Blog
Categories
Latest Post
ISO 14001 Lead Auditor Course
ISO 14001 Foundations Course
ISO 14001 Internal Auditor Course
ISO 14001 Lead Implementer Course
Many struggle to grasp why ISO 14001 has a section on competence, training, and awareness. Do your employees and management understand what this requirement means for your organization? Truly understanding this requirement helps in adequately implementing this critical part of the Environmental Management System (EMS). Without properly meeting these requirements, you could miss critical areas that ensure your processes do not negatively impact the environment, which is the primary goal of an ISO 14001 EMS.
What Does ISO 14001 Require?
Unlike ISO 9001, which focuses on maintaining processes to produce good products, ISO 14001 is concerned with how processes interact with the environment. How does the organization ensure that employees (or other workers) running processes with significant environmental impacts can do so without those impacts occurring? There is a basic three-step process for this: competence, training, and awareness.
Implementing an EMS and gaining ISO 14001 certification requires determining and complying with all applicable compliance obligations. This commitment is emphasized in the Environmental Policy, a public document endorsed by top management.
Competence
The first step is identifying the skills and abilities required for a person to perform their job function to avoid significant environmental impacts. Competence can be gained through outside education, training, or experience.
For example, if a chemical process must maintain bath concentration to a certain pH to avoid unwanted air emissions, the operator must have the knowledge to manage this. The operator may not need a chemistry degree but must have enough chemical knowledge to avoid the unwanted environmental impact.
Training
After identifying the required competencies to avoid potential environmental impacts, find people with these competencies for the positions. Often, candidates may have some but not all of the required competencies. This is where training comes in, especially when implementing your EMS and existing employees do not have all the newly identified competencies for their positions.
Training can come from external programs offered by colleges, universities, or specialized training companies, or on-the-job training with an experienced person teaching a less-experienced individual. The employee in the example may not need a degree in chemical engineering but must understand the chemical processes to perform their tasks safely.
Awareness
Even those with the desired competencies need to be aware of how their tasks can lead to potential environmental impacts. ISO 14001 separates the need for awareness into four distinct areas:
Conforming to Environmental Policy and Procedures: When people understand why a policy or procedure is in place, they are more likely to follow it. Explaining that not following the process can lead to environmental damage and potential fines helps ensure compliance.
Significant Environmental Aspects and Potential Impacts: A person running a chemical process may know uncontrolled waste emissions are harmful but may not understand the necessary controls. Awareness of proper procedures and their benefits is crucial.
Roles and Responsibilities to Achieve Conformity: If someone does not understand their role, they are unlikely to perform it. This is especially important for temporary employees or contractors unfamiliar with your processes. Informing them about roles, like proper recycling of fluorescent bulbs, is essential.
Potential Consequences of Departure from Procedures: If employees are aware of the consequences of not following procedures, such as environmental damage or fines, they are more likely to understand the importance of compliance. Understanding the significance of their work fosters pride and satisfaction.
What Records Do You Need to Keep?
It is important to keep records showing you have successfully achieved your EMS plans. This is evident in the requirements for competence, training, and awareness. ISO 14001 specifies keeping records to show competencies achieved through education, training, or experience.
For activities with significant environmental impacts, ask yourself: Do I have everything needed to show that the people performing these activities are competent and trained to perform tasks properly to avoid risk?
By understanding and implementing these requirements, your organization ensures that processes do not pose negative environmental impacts, aligning with the goals of ISO 14001.
