Unit 2 - Introduction

2.3 Training Commitment, Certification and Communication

Senior management must be committed to providing environmental training, as well as implementing an EMS, if it is to be effective. An environmental training programme will need to be established to make people aware of environmental issues, the environmental policy, programs and procedures. This will need to be followed up to ensure that personnel are able to carry out activities in compliance with the company s new environmental policy, objectives and procedures.

The Senior Management Team

Training Files

Gaining certification/registration to ISO 14001 or EMAS will be influenced by a company s ability to show the external auditor that they have a commitment to training. During the assessment, the external auditor will not expect you to have completed your training programme, but he/she will expect you to have identified your training needs, and the training programme must be underway. One of the records that external auditors will check is the training plan(s) and personnel training files/records.

Communication

Communication is very much linked to training. Communications such as environmental newsletters and notices maintain interest in what is happening with the EMS. Personnel may also need training to understand the relevance and content of such communications.