ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

Organisations across the board are becoming increasingly focused on achieving and demonstrating sound environmental performance.  To this end, companies must look at controlling the impact of their activities, products or services on the environment and take into account their environmental policy and objectives.

An Environmental Management System (EMS) is part of an overall management system that includes organisational structure, planning activities, responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes and resources for developing, implementing, achieving, reviewing and maintaining the Environmental Management Plan (EMP).

The ISO 14001 standard forms an important part of an organisation’s environmental management system and is the international

specification for an EMS. The standard can easily be combined with any management system and is suitable for organisations of all types and sizes, be they private, not-for-profit or governmental.

The EMS is put in place to assist the organisation to minimise the negative effects of the organisation on the environment and to comply with the applicable laws and regulations.

GCS staff are trained in the ISO 14001 standard to ensure that they are equipped to give an organisation the best advice in terms of its EMS. GCS has the skills available to assess the organisation’s operations and identify and/or assess the relevant environmental aspects and impacts of the operation. Workshops are held with the client to assess the main focus areas.

In order to identify the required corrective measures for the aspects and impacts, the necessary environmental objectives will be determined together with the client and goal specific targets will be set. The objectives and targets are presented in an action plan, which serves as a practical implementation programme.

In addition, GCS has the expertise to advise the organisation on its environmental policy and the environmental legislation

pertaining to its specific operation.