Environmental Management Systems - Maintain a high standard of environmental performance

Introduction to EMS

Irish companies are increasingly concerned with achieving and demonstrating sound environmental performance, by controlling the impact of their activities, products and services on the environment.

They do so in the context of increasingly stringent legislation, the development of economic policies and other measures to foster environmental protection and a greater concern on the part of the general public about environmental issues.

TMS Consultancy is registered to ISO 14001 and therefore understands what is required to implement an EMS.

We can assist you to implement an environmental management system standard (EMS) such as ISO 14001 or the EU EMAS Regulation, which will enable you to successfully manage the environmental aspects of your operations.
Benefits to your company

Benefits of implementing an EMS include:

• Improved corporate image
• Ability to address environmental legislation within a structured framework
• Enhanced market opportunities, i.e. green consumerism
• Improved profile for investors and insurers
• Framework for regulatory compliance
• Improved relations with the local community
• Internal/external communications

TMS Consultancy has implemented EMS in a large number of companies, large and small in a range of sectors.

We can assist your organisation with any stage of the implementation process from project planning, system development, documentation, implementation, training and certification. We can also provide on-going services to assist in the continued management and improvement of your system.
Services

TMS Consultancy Limited can assist you as follows:

1 Preparation of initial environmental review (IER) report

The initial environmental review is a baseline evaluation of your current performance and forms the basis for developing the environmental management system. The review will also identify your legislative and regulatory obligations with regards to the environment.

Aspects reviewed includes:

• Aqueous and gaseous emissions
• Hazardous and Non-hazardous waste
• Noise, dust and vibration
• Energy resources such as water, fuel and energy
• Supply-side activities
• Product design
• Habitats and eco-systems
  

2 Identification of environmental aspects

The identification and review of aspects includes an assessment of existing monitoring data and an evaluation of licence discharge requirements, if appropriate. We can draft a Register of Environmental Aspects using a paper-based or web-enabled methodology.

3 Preparation of Register of Legislation

We can assist you in preparing/updating a Register of Legislation, paper-based or fully web-enabled, which allows you to assess compliance with your legislative and regulatory requirements.

4 Planning the EMS

We can assist you in drafting the following documents:

• Environmental Policy;
• Register of Environmental Aspects;
• Register of Legislation;
• Environmental Manual;
• Environmental Procedures Manual;
• Environmental Management Programme (objectives & targets);
• Internal/external Communications
  

5 Setting environmental objectives and targets and implementing management programme

The setting of environmental objectives and targets plays a key role in directing and assessing the EMS and helps to continually improve and maintain a high standard of environmental performance. The objectives and targets will demonstrate a strong linkage to the most significant environmental aspects, and should reference legislative and regulatory obligations. Implementation of the environmental management programme ensures that the objectives and targets are achieved.

6 Implementing the EMS

We can assist you in implementing the EMS as follows:

• Implementation of procedures
• Environmental awareness training
• Training of environmental auditors and lead auditors (IEMA accredited)
• Hazardous chemical and spillage response training
• Workshops for senior managers, supervisors and operators
• Waste management programmes
• Emergency preparedness and planning
  

7 Pre-assessment audit

We will undertake a comprehensive pre-assessment audit of your EMS. The audit will be preceded by a documentation review. A detailed report will be furnished listing all environmental non-compliances and suggesting suitable corrective action, where appropriate.

8 On-going compliance

We can provide assistance with the on-going maintenance and review of the EMS.

These services include:

• Internal auditing
• Updates of Register of Environmental Legislation
• Updating the Register of Environmental Aspects
• Awareness training
  

9 Other environmental services

• IPPC Licence Applications
• Annual Environmental Reports (AERs)
• Environmental Liability Risk Assessments (ELRAs)
• Waste Management Programmes
• Due Diligence/Divestment Audits
• GHG Verification
• Storage Integrity Testing
• Air & Effluent Dispersion Analysis
• Environmental and Occupational Noise Monitoring and Control Services (NEW - See below)

NEW - Environmental and Occupational Noise Monitoring and Control Services

Employers have a legal duty to prevent damage to the hearing of all employees and third parties on their premises. The need to carry out occupational noise monitoring has acquired increased urgency with the implementation of the Safety Health and Welfare at Work (General App) Regulations 2007(specifically Part 5 Physical Agents, Chapter 1 - Control of Noise at Work and Amendment Regulations 2007) which have halved previous action levels for implementation of noise control measures.

TMS Consultancy offers a range of services to provide detailed guidance on the requirements for measuring noise exposure of employees in the workplace and help identify sources of noise within the workplace. Surveys cover specific octave band analysis or even single wavelength (frequency) analysis and can cover peak sound levels and daily noise exposure etc. We can also provide a detailed assessment of the suitability of any hearing protection and diagnosis of noise sources and advice on noise reduction and control measures.

We can carry out environmental sound surveys to quantify noise levels at particular times of the day and week to identify tonal or other nuisance noise factors such as construction activity or plant, people, traffic, specific factory equipment, weather conditions etc. This is essential for proving compliance with legislative requirements, determining the absence or otherwise of statutory nuisance and for the preparation of environmental impact assessments.