| Mr. K: |
At the assessment of ISO14001:2004
the assessor said that an significant environmental aspect once
determined would not be deleted even if it had become no significant
one some years later. At first I did not understand what he meant.
Then he added his comment came from the intent of 2004 revision,
but he did not record it on the assessment document.
Now what I would like to ask is where the Standards require that
significant environmental aspect should be lasting. Still I cannot
understand his real intention. |
| My answer: |
I am unable to find such requirements
in 4.3.1 clause of ISO14001:2004, A3.1 clause of Annex A and 4.3.1.5
clause of ISO14004:2004. You should have asked the assessor from
what clauses he quoted such requirements.
As mentioned in A3.1 clause of Annex A and 4.3.1.5 clause of ISO14004:2004,
generally an organization establish criteria and a method to determine
those that it considers significant to provide consistent results.
Therefore if the performance of a significant environmental aspect
once determined has become below the criteria sometime later,
then it will be deleted from the list of significant environmental
aspect according to the method which is established to provide
consistent results.
On the contrary another significant environmental aspect may be
newly added due to recent environmental performance and application
of the consistent method. |
| Mr. K: |
I think it is good results of our
environmental efforts that an environmental aspect once determined
has become below the criteria is deleted from the list and it
will good motivation to promote our environmental efforts.
If a significant environmental aspect once determined has to be
lasting we will lose such motivation.
But if I take his words in a good sense, I presume he might have
intention that a significant environmental aspect once determined
should be monitored forever even if its performance show below
the criteria. |
| My answer: |
If you take the assessor ‘s word in
a good sense, he should have handle the problem relating 4.5.1
clause where the standard says that the organization shall monitor
and measure the key characteristics of its operations that can
have a significant environmental impact.
Handling this way your organization can keep consistent management
system to determine an environmental aspect, accepting the assessor’s
comment.
I don’t feel his good sense, because he did not refer to 4.5.1
clause and quoted the Standard falsely that a significant environmental
aspect once determined has to be lasting. His comment did give
you only confusion. |
| Mr. K: |
I agree your saying. What I have to
remember is the assessor’s saying is false, that’s all. |