Thanks Kris - that is interesting. See my findings attached though it may
get stripped off from the list.
I think your last point is true here too.
EMS is no substitute for leadership.
Turlough
======================================================================
TURLOUGH F. GUERIN
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISER
5e Hancock Garden Estate
5-15 William St. Botany,
Sydney, New South Wales 2019
AUSTRALIA
Phone +61-2-9666 8570 (& Message Bank)
Email: [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask]
======================================================================
>From: [log in to unmask]
>
>Dear Turlough,
>
>The list you sent is interesting. From my experience in the Netherlands
>(not
>in minerals industry) I would add one more important factor. Several
>organizations I have encountered, adopt an EMS for improving their
>negotiating
>position towards environmental permit authorities. They promise to
>implement
>an EMS to postpone some hard permit requirements. Only later they realize
>that
>implementing an EMS is a considerable effort, and a process of retardation
>and
>window-dressing follows. I would be curious to know whether this process
>happens in Australia, too.
>
>Best regards,
>
>CSA (Kris) van Koppen
>Senior Lecturer Environmental sociology and policy
>Social Sciences Department
>Wageningen University
>Hollandseweg 1
>6706 KN Wageningen
>The Netherlands
>tel. +31 (0) 317 482617 or 484452
>fax +31 (0) 317 483990
>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - Original Message - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>On Thu May 04 08:31:50 2000,
>"Turlough F. Guerin" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >Greetings List:
> >
> >My query/focus: I'd like your feedback on your experiences in developing
>and
> >implementating/adopting EMS, whether they have been successful or
>otherwise.
> >
> >Some definitions: What do I mean by EMS? A system specifically designed
>for
> >managing environmental impacts at an operation, based on ISO 14001. It
>can
> >also include incorporation of selected elements of ISO14001/4 to
>complement
> >an existing management system at an operation.
> >
> >What do I mean by successful? Environmental policy was developed and/or
> >codified, systems put in place (or existing systems enhanced-activated)
>to
> >implement the policy, significant environmental impacts for the operation
> >were identified and thier risks were actually addressed, and this process
>is
> >ongoing. Certification to ISO14001 may or may not have been achieved.
> >
> >What do I mean by barriers? These limitations may have substantially
>limited
> >successful EMS implementation, coming from inside or outside of the
> >organisation. These are likely to have been only temporary limitations in
> >getting the EMS adopted, ie they were subsequently overcome.
> >
> >Specifically, What did you find to be the KEY barriers to adoption of EMS
>at
> >the sites/operations you have have worked on?
> >
> >Below I have indicated some of the barriers that I have become aware of
> >which may correspond to some of the constraints you have found, and I
>have
> >attempted to put them into a decreasing order of importance:
> >
> >1. EMS implementer seen as EMS owner
> >2. Focus on doing EMS right rather than asking whether it was the right
> >thing to do (at the time, & at the particular operation)
> >3. Change was not seen as positive (at the time) by operations people
> >4. Too much emphasis on software aspects of EMS
> >5. Limited EMS ownership at lower organizational levels
> >6. Initial enthusiasm for EMS only
> >
> >Further limitations were:
> >
> >7. Limited Senior Management commitment
> >8. EMS implementer too far removed from what site personnel saw as
> >environmental issues
> >9. Fear of failure (i.e. missing certification) has been a driver
> >10. Limited understanding of how people shared knowledge at site
> >11. EMS attempted to change management practices & corporate culture
> >12. EMS was not perceived as relevant at site
> >13. Senior Management not embracing public perception as part of
>assessing
> >risks
> >
> >Particularly, I am interested to hear any experiences you have had with
> >companies in the minerals industry.
> >
> >I look forward to your feedback both on your experiences and the listing
>I
> >have included.
> >
> >Best regards,
> >
> >Turlough
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >======================================================================
> >
> > TURLOUGH F. GUERIN PhD
> >
> > ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISER
> >
> > 5e Hancock Garden Estate
> > 5-15 William St. Botany,
> > Sydney, New South Wales 2019
> >
> > AUSTRALIA
> >
> > Phone +61-2-9666 8570 (& Message Bank)
> > Email: [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask]
> >
> >======================================================================
> >
> >
> >________________________________________________________________________
> >Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com
> >
> >
>
>- - - - - - - - - - - - End of Original Message - - - - - - - - - - - -
>
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