Training
One of the central features of the EMS approach is that environmental stewardship and awareness is the responsibility of every function, process and employee in the organization. Training can help ensure employees are knowledgeable about their EMS responsibilities and solidify stewardship and awareness in all personnel.
An EMS requires that all employees should know:
- The environmental policy
- Their key EMS roles and responsibilities
- The significant impacts of their work activities
- The procedures and work instructions that apply to their work
- The potential consequences of NOT following EMS requirements
Don’t start from scratch. Examine the training that is already provided or required by regulations. Ask yourself, have personnel received hazardous awareness training or do certain positions require special certification? These are questions you may want to ask upfront. You may find that your existing training program may go a long way toward satisfying EMS requirements.
Use your significant aspect list as a tool to help identify your training needs. The EMS places extra emphasis on those employees whose work activities are associated with significant aspects. This training is important because you want to make sure that employees whose work can significantly impact the environment are properly trained on the associated control methods. A good training program can go a long way to ensure sound environmental management.
When it comes to activities that address significant aspects it is important that personnel involved in these activities have the knowledge and know how, or are competent, to ensure proper management. Competency can be satisfied by one or a combination of the following: education, training, and or experience. If someone if your organization has been on the job for 20 years you pretty much know that he/she are competent by virtue of experience. Some personnel may need additional training such as hazardous awareness as required by law. Make sure you have the training records to verify how your staff have been deemed competent.
Getting Started
- What job functions affect the environment?
- What training do we currently conduct?
- Can EMS roles/responsibilities be included in this training?
- Develop training materialsMaintain training records
Keys to Success
- Build on your existing training program
- Integrate your EMS training with other programs (e.g. health and safety)
- Incorporate EMS into new employee training
- Awareness training requires more than one session
- Training goes a long way toward institutionalizing your EMS
