ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

[Petros]

ISO 14001: 2004 (ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS - EMS) DEFINITIONS

Terms and definitions (Όροι και ορισμοί)


For the purposes of ISO 14001 / 2004, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
auditor
person with the competence to conduct an audit
[ISO 9000:2000, 3.9.9]
3.2
continual improvement
recurring process of enhancing the environmental management system (3. in order to achieve improvements in overall environmental performance (3.10) consistent with the organization's (3.16) environmental policy (3.11)
NOTE: The process need not take place in all areas of activity simultaneously.

3.3
corrective action
action to eliminate the cause of a detected nonconformity (3.15)
3.4
document
information and its supporting medium
NOTE 1: The medium can be paper, magnetic, electronic or optical computer disc, photograph or master sample, or a combination thereof.
NOTE 2 Adapted from ISO 9000:2000, 3.7.2.



3.5
environment
surroundings in which an organization (3.16) operates, including air, water, land, natural resources, flora, fauna, humans, and their interrelation
NOTE Surroundings in this context extend from within an organization (3.16) to the global system.
3.6
environmental aspect
element of an organization's (3.16) activities or products or services that can interact with the environment (3.5)
NOTE: A significant environmental aspect has or can have a significant environmental impact (3.7).
3.7
environmental impact
any change to the environment (3.5), whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from an organization's (3.16) environmental aspects (3.6)
3.8
environmental management system
EMS
part of an organization's (3.16) management system used to develop and implement its environmental policy (3.11) and manage its environmental aspects (3.6)
NOTE 1 A management system is a set of interrelated elements used to establish policy and objectives and to achieve those objectives.
NOTE 2 A management system includes organizational structure, planning activities, responsibilities, practices, procedures (3.19), processes and resources.
3.9
environmental objective
overall environmental goal, consistent with the environmental policy (3.11), that an organization (3.16) sets itself to achieve
3.10
environmental performance
measurable results of an organization's (3.16) management of its environmental aspects (3.6)
NOTE In the context of environmental management systems (3., results can be measured against the organization's (3.16) environmental policy (3.11), environmental objectives (3.9), environmental targets (3.12) and other environmental performance requirements.
3.11
environmental policy
overall intentions and direction of an organization (3.16) related to its environmental performance (3.10) as formally expressed by top management
NOTE The environmental policy provides a framework for action and for the setting of environmental objectives (3.9) and environmental targets (3.12).
3.12
environmental target
detailed performance requirement, applicable to the organization (3.16) or parts thereof, that arises from the environmental objectives (3.9) and that needs to be set and met in order to achieve those objectives
3.13
interested party
person or group concerned with or affected by the environmental performance (3.10) of an organization (3.16)
3.14
internal audit
systematic, independent and documented process for obtaining audit evidence and evaluating it objectively to determine the extent to which the environmental management system audit criteria set by the organization (3.16) are fulfilled
NOTE In many cases, particularly in smaller organizations, independence can be demonstrated by the freedom from responsibility for the activity being audited.
3.15
nonconformity
non-fulfilment of a requirement
[ISO 9000:2000, 3.6.2]
3.16
organization
company, corporation, firm, enterprise, authority or institution, or part or combination thereof, whether incorporated or not, public or private, that has its own functions and administration
NOTE For organizations with more than one operating unit, a single operating unit may be defined as an organization.
3.17
preventive action
action to eliminate the cause of a potential nonconformity (3.15)
3.18
prevention of pollution
use of processes, practices, techniques, materials, products, services or energy to avoid, reduce or control (separately or in combination) the creation, emission or discharge of any type of pollutant or waste, in order to reduce adverse environmental impacts (3.7)
NOTE: Prevention of pollution can include source reduction or elimination, process, product or service changes, efficient use of resources, material and energy substitution, reuse, recovery, recycling, reclamation and treatment.
3.19
procedure
specified way to carry out an activity or a process
NOTE 1 Procedures can be documented or not.
NOTE 2 Adapted from ISO 9000:2000, 3.4.5.
3.20
record
document (3.4) stating results achieved or providing evidence of activities performed

Source: ISO 14001: 2004 STANDARD