ems training

8/14/2019 Ems Training

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Our Environment Our Health

The NIEHS

Environmental ManagementSystem


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Topics

Introduction What Is An EMS ?

What Aspects of NIEHS Can Impact theEnvironment ?

Can We Set Objectives and Targets toImprove Environmental Performance ?

How Can You Be Involved?


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What Is An EMS ?

An EMS is an approach to identifying the ways thatour work activities impact the environment. It guidesour priorities and it challenges all of us to continuallyfind ways of lessening those impacts.

An EMS is a formal documented system that ensuresenvironmental issues are considered at all levels throughout the NIEHS.

Drawing upon existing NIEHS environmentalmanagement programs, the EMS systematically addresses the variety of activities at the NIEHS thatimpact our environment.


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Islands of ExcellenceWe have many excellent EnvironmentalManagement Programs at NIEHS that focus onprotecting the local environment

RecyclingHazardous

WasteManagementResource / Energy

Conservation

Grounds

Maintenance

Air EmissionsWastewaterPollutionPrevention


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Our Environmental Management System ties themtogether as Integrated Programs

RecyclingHazardous

WasteManagementResource / Energy

Conservation

Grounds

Maintenance

Air EmissionsWastewater

PollutionPrevention

E M S


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Why Should We Have An EMS ?

There are several incentives:It supports our mission

An EMS enhances the Institutes proactiveapproach for environmental stewardship

It is far better to manage how we interact with the environment now, than later deal

with what we have done to theenvironment

Because we have to . . .


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Federal Executive OrdersRequire all appropriate Federal facilities todevelop an effective EMS.

OMB Circular A-11 (The BudgetProcess)

Federal agencies should develop and implementan EMS in order to integrate environmentalaccountability into day to day decision making andlong term planning across all agency missions..


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Department of Health and Human ServicesThe DHHS has developed an EMS Frameworkdocument that provides basic criteria for all DHHSOPDIVs and facilities, including the NIH andNIEHS

ISO 14001 EMS StandardA standard developed in 1996 by the International

Organization for Standardization. Mostorganizations use the ISO Standard in developingan EMS. It describes a continual improvement

process . . . .


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EMS Process

ManagementReview

Planning

Implementation andOperation

EnvironmentalPolicy Statement

Monitoring andMeasuring:

Audits and CorrectiveAction


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EMS Process

Establish a Policy Statement that is tied to theNIEHS Mission

Identify the Aspects of our operations that impactthe environment

Assess which Aspects have significant Impacts Develop O bjectives, Targets and Controls to reduceimpacts

Track and document performance

Review & Adjust (Continual Improvement Process)


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NIEHS Environmental Policy

Advances NIEHSleadership role and

commitment toenvironmentalresponsibility and

sustainability consistent with our mission.

Establishes 8 generalgoals and guidingprinciples


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General Goals & Guiding Principles

Compliance with Environmental RequirementsEnvironmentally Responsible Planning and DesignPrinciples

The Built Environment

Pollution Prevention

Hazardous Waste and Toxic MaterialsCommitment to Environmental Education andAwareness

Environmentally Responsible Purchasing Decisions

Efficient Use and Conservation of Energy, Water, andOther Resources


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NIEHS Environmental Policy

EMS implementedthrough a partnershipeffort of NIEHS andNIH/ORF

ALL employees are

involved in a continualimprovement process

Commitment by NIEHSSenior Leadership


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Environmental Aspects and Impacts

EMS planning requires that we take a careful look ateach aspect of the environment and how they couldbe impacted by our activities and processes.

Environmental AspectsElements of an organizations activities, products or serviceswhich can interact with the environment. (For example:wastewater discharges, air emissions, resource consumption,energy usage, ecosystem alterations, etc.)

Environmental Impacts Any change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial,wholly or partly resulting from an organizations activities,products, or services (For example: air pollution from thecombustion of fuels is an impact because it degrades air

quality).


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Activities, Products and Services

What do we do here at NIEHS?

The inventory of activities, products andservices should consider:Our mission (what the facility is

designed to do) Activities that support the mission

Operations that are both regulatedand not regulated


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Some NIEHS Examples

Activities, Products, and Services

Biomedical/Laboratory Research Animal Husbandry

Building Maintenance

Grounds MaintenanceBuilding Utility Services

Office Services / OperationsCafeteria ServicesWaste Management


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Sub-Division of Activities

Each activity can involve several operationsor sub-activities . . . .

Animal Husbandry, for example, involves Animal bedding and feed systemsCage wash operations

Veterinary care and animal facility

operationsNecropsyPest Control


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Operational Controls

The people who actually perform the activity knowbest what the impacts may be and how to controlthem. Thus, the EMS needs every employee to beinvolved!

Evaluate and characterize the activities, products and

services of your work Identify aspects and impacts for each activity, product, orservice

Come up with ideas to prevent or lessen the impacts onthe environment


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Determine Significance

Not all impacts are equally significant.

The EMS helps set priorities for actionbased on

How often the activity is performedHow severe the impact could beProbability or likelihood that the impact mayoccurWhat kind and amount of resources are usedand recovered

And other factors


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EMS Objectives And Targets

Environmental Objectives and Targets areestablished based on the review of activities andprocesses.

Objectives are closely tied to and focus on achievingthe General Goals and Guiding Principles in theNIEHS Environmental Policy.

Targets are set for each Objective that define theactual performance that will reduce theenvironmental impacts. Targets are stated inmeasurable terms.

Objectives and Targets are created andmodified on a regular basis to reflect changes in

facility operations.


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Environmental Management Initiatives

An action plan is developed for each EMSobjective and target. This action plan becomesan NIEHS Environmental Management Initiative .

Some of the action plan considerations include:What environmental controls and protections arecurrently in place?; How can they be improved?

Who are the stakeholders Who is responsible for which actions?

Are chemicals involved (volume, toxicity, etc)?

Can resources be recovered or recycled?Can wastes be reduced?

Are the improvements feasible and reasonable in cost?

Are there ways to measure progress?


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NIEHS Facility Wide Example

Significant Aspect : Air EmissionsEnvironmental Impact : Air pollution from the combustion

of fossil fuels

Objective : Reduce petroleum fuel usage by NIEHS fleetvehicles

Target : Achieve 20% reduction in petroleum fuel usagerate over 1999 baseline

Initiative : Acquire Flexible Fueled Vehicles such that 70%of the NIEHS vehicle fleet qualifies as FFVs. Provide an

on-campus source of ethanol based E-85 fuelThe currently active NIEHS EMS Objectives and Targets are

described at http://www.niehs.nih.gov/ems/home.htm

d


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EMS Auditing

The Environmental Management System processrequires that we periodically check our progressand make course corrections. This is

accomplished by conducting an EMS Audit.The audit is a systematic and documentedprocess of verifying whether an EMS conforms

to the criteria set by the organization. MostEMS audits compare the EMS against the ISO14001 EMS standard elements.

The audit results must be communicated to andreviewed by management. In this way, the EMSis continually improved and new / revisedobjectives, targets and controls are established.


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EMS Audits

Audits can be either Internal or External

Internal audits (First Party audits) are thosedone by the participants of the EMS beingaudited (such as employees, or consultants

as agents of the organization)

External audits are performed by auditors

from outside the EMS in question (but couldbe from the same organization) or by ThirdParty, independent registrars


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H A I I l d?


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How Am I Involved?

First, make a commitment to become involved!Every job at NIEHS has some potentialinteraction with our environment. Increase yourawareness of these interactions and considerways you can reduce negative environmentalimpacts.

Let us know if have an idea on how we can bebetter environmental stewards. You can do thisby:

Discussing with your supervisor,Contacting the EMS Workgroup, or HSBSubmitting an idea to the Quality Council, or theEnvironmental Awareness Advisory Committee

H A I I l d?


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How Am I Involved?

Participate in the environmental initiatives that are currently available, such as our

resource recycling, energy conservation,Transhare, and other programs.

Follow environmental control procedures that involve your job tasks, such ashazardous waste disposal guidelines, orspill prevention plans.

An Effective EMS Yields Many Benefits


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An Effective EMS Yields Many Benefits

Environmental impacts from our activities are reducedConsistently applied procedures and controls help ensureenvironmental complianceThe efficiency of our energy and resource use is improvedWe reduce the amount of wastes we generate

Our safety and health is enhancedOur research mission is environmentally sustainable


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The NIEHS Environmental

Management System

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