Certification Overview

ISO14001 certification is applicable to any organization, including enterprises, institutions and relevant government units. Passing the certification can prove that the organization has reached international standards in environmental management, and can ensure that the control of various pollutants in the processes, products and activities of the enterprise meets the relevant requirements, which helps the enterprise establish a good social image. There are many certification bodies implementing ISO14001 in China, which are determined by the National Certification and Accreditation Administration, and the consulting bodies are determined by the various industrial and commercial bureaus.

Detailed Introduction

Environmental management system operation mode The environmental management system carries out environmental management around the requirements of the environmental policy. The management content includes formulating environmental policies, implementing and realizing the relevant contents required by the environmental policy, reviewing the implementation of the environmental policy and the degree of realization, and maintaining it. The management elements involved in environmental management include organizational structure, planned activities, responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes and resources. These management elements are similar to enterprise production management, personnel management, and financial management, and there is no essential difference. The ISO 14001 standard systematizes and structures them and proposes an environmental management model.

This environmental management system model follows the traditional PDCA management model: planning (PLAN), implementation (DO), inspection (CHECK) and improvement (ACTION), that is, planning the objectives of management activities and the principles to be followed; achieving goals in the implementation phase and embodying the above working principles in the implementation process; checking and discovering problems, and taking corrective measures in a timely manner to ensure that the implementation and realization process does not deviate from the original goals and principles, and achieve improvements in processes and results.

process

The first stage is to establish and implement the ISO14001 environmental management system

During this stage, the organization should establish and implement the ISO14001 environmental management system, formally complying with the requirements of the ISO14001 standard.

The establishment and implementation of the ISO14001 environmental management system follows the principle of voluntariness, and the top management of the organization decides whether to establish and implement the ISO14001 environmental management system. If the organization decides to establish the system, it should complete the following aspects:

First, we need to make good preparations in terms of human resources, finance and materials. The top management shall appoint the environmental management representative in writing. The top management shall authorize the establishment of the corresponding organization and provide human and financial support to ensure the needs of system establishment and operation.

Second, we need to do a good job in the initial environmental review. This work is to evaluate the environmental management of the organization, summarize experience, identify the main environmental problems and analyze their risks, so as to determine the control methods and future improvement directions. Generally speaking, to do an initial environmental review, a working group consisting of personnel engaged in environmental protection, production, technology, equipment, etc. should be formed first. The working group should complete the identification and evaluation of laws and regulations, the identification and evaluation of environmental factors, the evaluation of the gap between the existing environmental management system and the ISO14001 standard, and form an initial environmental review report.

Third, we need to complete the environmental management system planning work. The so-called environmental management system planning is to formulate environmental policies based on the results of the initial environmental review and the economic and technical strength of the organization; determine the environmental management system framework; determine the organizational structure and responsibilities; formulate goals, indicators, environmental management plans; and determine which environmental activities require the formulation of operation control procedures.

Fourth, prepare system documents. The ISO14001 environmental management system is a documented environmental management system that requires the preparation of environmental management manuals, procedure documents, operating instructions, etc.

Fifth, operate the environmental management system. The completion of the preparation of the environmental management system documents and their formal promulgation indicate that the environmental management system has been established and put into operation.

During the operation of the system, the organization should organize internal audits and management reviews to review whether the organization's environmental management activities have been carried out in accordance with the provisions of the environmental management system documents, whether the environmental management system has been correctly implemented and maintained, and to determine the continued applicability, adequacy and effectiveness of the system.

Another important task throughout these works is the training of all employees. The establishment and implementation of the environmental management system emphasizes the participation of all employees. Every link in the establishment and implementation of the environmental management system depends on the joint efforts of all employees. No employee can be isolated from the system. In order to make them understand and support the establishment and operation of the system with practical actions, the organization must conduct sufficient training, ranging from ISO14001 standards, environmental policies, applicable laws and regulations, personal responsibilities, important environmental factors, system documents, work instructions, and operation records...

If an organization needs personnel training and technical support during the process of establishing and implementing the system, it can seek help from an environmental management system consulting agency. According to Chinese regulations, ISO14001 environmental management system consulting agencies must be registered with the Science and Technology Department of the State Environmental Protection Administration.

The second stage is the certification and evidence collection stage.

After internal audit and management review, if the organization confirms that its environmental management system basically meets the requirements of ISO14001 standard, is well applicable to the organization, and operates fully and effectively, it can apply for certification to a certification body that has been accredited by the China Environmental Management System Certification Body Accreditation Committee and sign a certification contract to enter the ISO14001 environmental management system certification audit stage.

Certification audit is a process in which a certification body, commissioned by an organization, audits and verifies the conformity of an organization's environmental management system with the ISO14001 environmental management system standard and the effectiveness of its operation and maintenance as a third party, and determines whether to issue a certification certificate to the organization.

In order to accept the certification audit of the certification body, the organization should be fully prepared and keep the system running effectively. The certification body will send an audit team, which will conduct a certification audit on the organization. The certification audit includes the first stage audit and the second stage on-site audit. After the organization completes the rectification of the non-conformities issued by the second stage on-site audit and is verified and closed by the audit team, the organization will determine whether to approve the organization's certification registration and issue a certification certificate after the certification assessment.

The certification certificate is valid for three years. During these three years, the organization must accept supervision and audit by the agency many times. After three years, the organization must apply for re-examination and re-register to obtain the certificate. This process is the same as the first certification.