INITIAL REVIEW

The initial review of your organisation sets the scene for your environmental management system. There is no requirement in ISO 14001 for an initial review to be carried out. However, a well structured review provides the foundation on which to base your system. During the review you will gather information relating to all the environmental issues facing your organisation including those relating to the site and situation as well as all activities and tasks carried out. Your initial review is a document that should be used continually - not just once- the historical and geographical information will not change so will always be relevant, but your activities and tasks may alter over time. Without this initial review you cannot be sure to identify all the different business functions and activities that may impact upon the environment.

The most important task is to communicate and learn to ask. The chap in the boiler room, the guy who manages the buildings, machine operators - these are the people who know exactly what really goes on. You need their input and support if your ems is to be successful.

The initial review can be broken down into three manageable stages:

Walk around Go and explore the site inside and outside. Look at the plans of the site and investigate all the places you may never have actually visited before! attics, cellars, boiler room, the bit of scrub land at the back of the car park - and so on. Desk Study Review all the activities and tasks carried out from raw materials in, through what happens to these to make your product to final distribution of your finished articles. Present findings Put your organisation in its setting describe activities and tasks, note areas that could be improved.