bs 7750 and environmental management

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BS 7750 and environmental management Colin smith The British Standard environmental management system, BS 7750, was introduced recently. In this article, Colin Smith gives some guidelines for its implementation. The BS 7750 environmental management system was introduced in March 1992 in response to increasing concerns about environmentalprotection and performance. The specificationsin it are intended to ensure and demonstrate compliance with stated environmental policies and objectives. It can either be used as a free-standing system or it can be run alongside BS 5750, coveringquality systems management. Currently, a number of companies, including four in the textile sector, are investigatingwhether it would be practical to put such a system into operation in their factories. Quite obviously, any new standard needs a period of assessment and fine tuning before it is unleashed on an unsuspecting world. This testing procedure should identify any bugs, and thus the standard will be able to be revised in the light of practical application. Sector application guides will subsequentlybe published for use by those in industry who will lead the implementations of BS 7750, and also those who assess or verify the performance of companies or sites. These guides are intended to interpret and supplement the standard in its use within the industry, The textile and textile products industry is difficult to characterise because: It operates a wide range of processes It may use substantial quantities of water It uses a wide range of products of many chemical classes Almost every other industry sector uses textiles Everyone, from individuals to large companies, uses textiles It sourcesits raw materials and supplies its products internationally. Thus a wide range of environmental effects is covered by the industry, and special help from the industry’s trade associations is available to give comprehensive coverage on specific instances. the lead must come from the top. it is necessary to form a company environmental policy, and appoint a member of the board to be responsible for environmental matters. This could well become mandatory in the future. Of course, though, environmental awareness involves all staff at all levels in any company, not just the management. Levels of communicationboth ways are vital to ensure that the management system will work It is also recommended that an environmental awareness committee should be set up with representativesof the whole work force to disseminate information and to bring forward suggestions for improvement. If a company is to implement BS 7750, Company environmental policy The ideal manufacturing system would be one which produces saleable articles without waste. In the real world, however, waste is produced. It is possible to control this; for example, one major UK company recently revealed that it could save a total of €97 OOO by reusing water - but in order to do so, it had to measure what was used, what happened to it, ask questions and finally re-route water and measure the effect. Continuous monitororing of the situation to maintain the environmental saving is almost as important. Once the policy has been written, an environmental overlord appointed, an awareness committee set up and an environmental review carried out, the next task is to install the environmental management system. Environmental management system All organisational activities, products and services interact with and have some effect upon the environment, and an effective environmental management system needs to be capable of dealing with this complexity. Therefore, the system components will be inextricably interwoven with most, if not all, of the organisation’soverall management system. The system should: Identtfy and assess the environmental effects arising from the organisation’s existing or proposed activities, products or services Identtfy and assess the environmental effects arising from incidents, accidents and potential emergency situations Identtfy the relevant regulatory requirements Enable priorities to be identified and pertinent environmental objectives and targets set monitoring, auditing and review activities to ensure that the policy is both complied with and remains relevant Be capable of evolution to suit changing circumstances. Facilitateplanning, control, Environmental audit There are four key areas wthathich should be investigated when undertaking an environmental audit: 1. Legislative and regulatory requirements 2. An evaluation and registration of sigruficant environmental effects 3. An examination of all existing environmental management practices and procedures. All current processes should be measured and recorded, from incoming raw materials through processing to what goes out of the door - not only finished goods but also waste of all types. 278 JSDC VOLUME 109 SFPIEMJ~ER 1993

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Page 1: BS 7750 and environmental management

BS 7750 and environmental management

Colin smith

The British Standard environmental management system, BS 7750, was introduced recently. In this article, Colin Smith gives some guidelines for its implementation.

The BS 7750 environmental management system was introduced in March 1992 in response to increasing concerns about environmental protection and performance. The specifications in it are intended to ensure and demonstrate compliance with stated environmental policies and objectives.

It can either be used as a free-standing system or it can be run alongside BS 5750, covering quality systems management. Currently, a number of companies, including four in the textile sector, are investigating whether it would be practical to put such a system into operation in their factories. Quite obviously, any new standard needs a period of assessment and fine tuning before it is unleashed on an unsuspecting world. This testing procedure should identify any bugs, and thus the standard will be able to be revised in the light of practical application. Sector application guides will subsequently be published for use by those in industry who will lead the implementations of BS 7750, and also those who assess or verify the performance of companies or sites. These guides are intended to interpret and supplement the standard in its use within the industry,

The textile and textile products industry is difficult to characterise because:

It operates a wide range of processes It may use substantial quantities of water It uses a wide range of products of many chemical classes Almost every other industry sector uses textiles Everyone, from individuals to large companies, uses textiles It sources its raw materials and supplies its products internationally.

Thus a wide range of environmental effects is covered by the industry, and

special help from the industry’s trade associations is available to give comprehensive coverage on specific instances.

the lead must come from the top. it is necessary to form a company environmental policy, and appoint a member of the board to be responsible for environmental matters. This could well become mandatory in the future. Of course, though, environmental awareness involves all staff at all levels in any company, not just the management. Levels of communication both ways are vital to ensure that the management system will work

It is also recommended that an environmental awareness committee should be set up with representatives of the whole work force to disseminate information and to bring forward suggestions for improvement.

If a company is to implement BS 7750,

Company environmental policy The ideal manufacturing system would be one which produces saleable articles without waste. In the real world, however, waste is produced. It is possible to control this; for example, one major UK company recently revealed that it could save a total of €97 OOO by reusing water - but in order to do so, it had to measure what was used, what happened to it, ask questions and finally re-route water and measure the effect. Continuous monitororing of the situation to maintain the environmental saving is almost as important.

Once the policy has been written, an environmental overlord appointed, an awareness committee set up and an environmental review carried out, the next task is to install the environmental management system.

Environmental management system All organisational activities, products and

services interact with and have some effect upon the environment, and an effective environmental management system needs to be capable of dealing with this complexity. Therefore, the system components will be inextricably interwoven with most, if not all, of the organisation’s overall management system.

The system should: Identtfy and assess the environmental effects arising from the organisation’s existing or proposed activities, products or services Identtfy and assess the environmental effects arising from incidents, accidents and potential emergency situations Identtfy the relevant regulatory requirements Enable priorities to be identified and pertinent environmental objectives and targets set

monitoring, auditing and review activities to ensure that the policy is both complied with and remains relevant Be capable of evolution to suit changing circumstances.

Facilitate planning, control,

Environmental audit There are four key areas wthathich should be investigated when undertaking an environmental audit: 1. Legislative and regulatory

requirements 2. An evaluation and registration of

sigruficant environmental effects 3. An examination of all existing

environmental management practices and procedures. All current processes should be measured and recorded, from incoming raw materials through processing to what goes out of the door - not only finished goods but also waste of all types.

278 JSDC VOLUME 109 SFPIEMJ~ER 1993

Page 2: BS 7750 and environmental management

4. An assessment of feedback from the investigation of previous incidents and non-compliance - i.e. what went wrong previously, what was done about it and what should have been done about it.

A combination of questionnaires, check lists, interviews and other forms of consultation, direct inspection and measurement should be used in the audit, depending on the nature of the activities.

Environmental objectives The objectives should include a commitment to continual, year-on-year improvement in overall environmental performance, though not necessarily in all areas of activity.

Areas targeted for improvement should include those where improvements are most necessary to reduce risks (to both environment and organisation) and liabilities; they should be identified by cost-benefit analysis where practicable.

Objectives and targets should be set within the context of the environmental effects, evaluated and quantified wherever possible. Targets derived from the objectives should be quantitative and achievable, even if demanding when agreed, they should form components of personal accountability and performance appraisal.

Environmental management manual and documentation Documentation and the formation of the manual are the cornerstones of this standard, just as they are for BS 5750. The prime purpose of environmental documentation is to provide an adequate description of the environmental management system, whilst the manual serves as a permanent reference to the implementation and maintenance of that system. Where there is an existing management system, such as health and safety, which forms part of the environmental management system, their documentation need not be duplicated, but should be referenced.

The documentation may take various forms, but should include some or all of the following:

A master manual, covering the whole organisation Divisional manuals Specialised manuals covering individual functions, such as warehouse, wet processing, final inspection, sales office, accounts and so on.

These should be consistent in approach and content, and be subject to similar rules regarding control, review and amendment.

occupational health and safety should also incorporate relevant environmental information and associated instructions.

detailed that it can be used by the system auditor to venfy that:

The system exists It is fit for its purpose, given the nature of the environmental effects involved.

The site emergency plan and

The manual should be sufficiently

All written procedures should be stated simply, unambiguously and should indicate methods to be used and criteria to be satisfied. All documentation should be legible, dated, readily identifiable, maintained in an orderly manner and retained for a specified period.

Operational control Appropriate control and verification procedures should cover all functions, activities and processes which have or could have, if not controlled, a sigruficant effect (whether direct or indirect) on the environment relevant to the environmental policy.

environmental management system, though not BS 7750, in the following manner:

A mission statement which includes health and safety, quality and customer service backed up by a clearly stated environmental policy Auditing from an external body Documented systems covering all key activities Tight controls over all incoming materials (including the suppliers themselves), wastes and resources

One company has installed an

olke pac~ging) Protection of the environmental performance of their customers to

make sure that their supply chains remain sound Intensive training of employees which includes detailed knowledge of the company's environmental impacts Employees sharing all the production tasks which brings greater understanding of the whole process.

The EC approved EMAS (Eco Management and Audit System), which is along similar lines to BS 7750 on 1 June 1993. The regulation is to be implemented within 21 months of that date, i.e. by 31 March 1995.

Unfortunately, whilst it is possible to be assessed to BS 7750, there is as yet no system for accreditation, though the DTI believes that this will be available towards the end of 1993. The message is clear - companies should continue working to install BS 7750 as the accreditation will be solved and the work will not be wasted, especially as the EC approach will be similar to BS 7750.

commitment to change which, for most people, will mean a change in culture. The major advantages brought about by implementation will be a stronger discipline within the company in that plant operation will be tighter and more precise, leading to improved reproducibility, reduced production of 'seconds' and less waste of expensive raw materials. Accreditation can be used in sales and marketing because the company will be able to demonstrate a more caring approach to the environment.

of Indians sums up the need for environmental management. 'The air, the water and the soil are not a ght from our parents but a loan from our children.'

Implementation of BS 7750 will need a

A thought attributed to the Haida tribe

Colin Smith is technical officer of the Textile Finishers Association and a member of the Society's Council.

JSDC Vormm109 S E P I ' E M B B R ~ ~ ~ ~ 279