Step 4: Roles and Responsibilities
This step involves establishing the EMS team and clearly defining roles and responsibilities for senior management, key functional leaders, and environmental staff. This prevents confusion, ensures accountability, and creates a strong foundation for EMS development.
Intro to Environmental Management Systems
Management
Top-level management must make a commitment to the Environmental Management System (EMS) and ensure that key organizational or facility stakeholders, such as those responsible for budgets or facility operations, are fully aware of the commitment to the EMS. When top-level managers demonstrate visible support, it shows employees and partners that environmental performance is a company priority. For example:
- A plant manager who consistently allocates funding for waste reduction projects or energy-efficient equipment sends a clear message that the EMS is an important part of business operations.
The EMS Champion
The organization must choose an "EMS Champion" to lead the development and ongoing implementation of the EMS. The champion’s role is to advocate for the EMS in meetings with top management and make sure that environmental goals are considered in decision-making.
The EMS champion must be assigned responsibility and given authority from top management. The EMS champion must also have a team of committed, involved employees to help with the work of designing, implementing, and reviewing the system. When selecting team members, the EMS Champion should base it on employee contribution to waste generation or management.
For example, if the company is planning to expand operations, the EMS champion can raise concerns about potential increases in emissions or waste and suggest environmentally responsible solutions. The champion must have the following:
- The authority to influence decisions
- The ability to manage projects
- A strong understanding of how different parts of the organization work together
The EMS Team
The EMS team should include representatives from key organizational functions such as engineering, acquisitions, finance, human resources, laboratory and field operations, production or service, and distribution. A diverse team ensures that environmental concerns are identified in all areas of the organization. For instance, finance representatives can track the cost savings from reduced energy use, while production staff can highlight ways to cut down on material waste. Human resources can assist with developing training programs for employees, and engineering can recommend technical improvements, such as installing energy-efficient machinery.
In some cases, it is valuable to include external parties like contractors or suppliers. For example:
- A supplier might provide input on environmentally friendly packaging options
- A contractor could suggest ways to reduce construction waste during facility upgrades
By including a variety of perspectives, the EMS team gains balanced input and can communicate effectively with all parts of the organization. This increases the likelihood that the team will identify environmental risks and opportunities across the workplace, such as chemical storage safety in laboratories, recycling programs in office areas, or fuel efficiency in transportation operations.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-5. Why it is important to clearly define EMS roles and responsibilities for senior management and staff?
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