Techno Bits/Technical Bulletins

As an organization, you manage inventory, materials planning, process waste, and product delivery times. All of these factors affect the bottom line. Why not implement an environmental management system (EMS) to help reduce bottom line losses resulting from process waste, poor inventory control and planning, and also help protect the environment? The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has issued guidelines on incorporating EMS implementation into enforcement negotiations. These recently issued guidelines list minimum standards that would need to be met by an organization. These include policies, procedures and guidance documents for an organization's activities, establishment of organizational responsibilities, compliance tracking, and regularly scheduled self-inspections. In addition, a company must ensure that permit conditions are met (i.e., sampling requirements or monitoring), that they have established methods of communication of non-compliance issues, and associated return to compliance plans to close the loop. As with all management systems, continuous improvement should be incorporated over time, and training must be a part of the system. Additional details can be found on the state web site at www.state.ma.us/dep.

Posted - Jan. 11, 2002