TABLE OF CONTENTS Up to now, we have been dealing with the creation of the Environmental Management System (EMS). This is all preparation for putting the EMS into action.
Although Chapter 5 recommended that Operating Procedures (and any related Work Instructions) should be given to the relevant people as soon as they have been drafted so that they can see how well they work in practice and to what extent they really match current practice, there comes a time when it is desirable to say to everybody 'The environmental system is complete. We now have to check it out and get ready for our assessment'.
The decision to adopt a formal EMS has already affected, or will soon affect, the majority of people in the organisation. They were all involved at the 'commitment' stage. Now they need to be brought up to date. It is well worthwhile planning a systematic launching programme which will include another communication session or sessions.
Chapter 5 listed the component parts of the launch as:
The first formal environmental management review meeting.
Planning document distribution.
The communication session.
Organising any extra training required.
Whilst Operating Procedure 22 contains the standard agenda for environmental management review meetings, this comes into play once the EMS is in operation. At this stage, you only need the following agenda items:
Approval or adoption of the documented EMS.
Agree the plans for the communication exercise which will launch the programme.
Decide on any specific training needs.
Agree the...
