Posted By Ken Chappell I have been given the task of setting up an Environmental Management system which meets the requirements of 14001. Firstly I need to identify the organisations aspects and impacts. Does anyone have a copy of a suitable aspects and impacts register, as well as guidance on how to complete it, which I could use to get started. My engineering company has many branches throughout the UK, which range from single room buildings to multi building premises. As well as that we also have 3 factories which make engineering components. The guidance will have to clear and simple to understand, as some branch managers are unwilling to co-operate at the best of times. Many thanks in anticipation. Regards, Ken Chappell.

Posted By Sean Fraser Ken, I would back up what Jonathan has said by recommending that you attend a suitable course or gain a qualification in the subject - if you have not already done an IEMA approved course on auditing to ISO14001 I would strongly suggest you do so. This would give you an idea of where to start and how to structure your guidance. From what I can remember of my own training (I've yet to properly add environment to my portfolio and seeking to obtain a suitable MSc!) then you need to assess your impacts on resource use (renergy and materials), waste production, emissions to air and/water, land contamination and noise / asthetic impact (i.e. blot on the landscape etc.). Once you've worked out your impacts you need to assess how much of a problem they will be - potential or current. This is best done as a risk assessment - consequences of failure to control effectively times probability of failure. Hope that helps.

Posted By Heather Aston Ken With due respect to Kevin and agreeing that there is a place for consultants in all this. The whole point of 14001 is ownership of the system. If you let someone else set it up for you - your "difficult" managers will NEVER take ownership. I agree with what the first two respondents said - get yourself some 14001 familiarisation training - LRQA do an excellent two day cause on setting up an EMS - No I have no connection with them, but two of our staff have just been on their course and said it was the best course they've ever done. If you can do risk assessment then you can do impact assessment - it's just a matter of getting a proper understanding of the differences. By all means get training from the experts - but I would strongly advise you to set up and run your own system. After all when those external auditors come in you don't want to have to bring your consultants back to give them the answers do you? Heather

Posted By Kevin West In response to Heather's comments,I agree with her that you must have ownership of the system that hs been set up. National Britannia will set up the system WITH you rather than FOR you. The system is then designed to ensure that all procedures and assessments are easily available for when the external auditors call and the system is designed to be a pro-active aide memoir ensuring that all the little checks and monitoring requirements are done in time and correctly as the sytem has, built in to it, all legislation and best practice relating the the discipline and many guidance and training material to aid understanding. The system is completely interactive and can be integrated with other risk disciplines such as health and safety management and so on. I would be very happy to demonstrate this system to any body who is interested in saving manger's valuable time and companay resources in managing risk. To arrange a demonstration of this proven management system (already used in the NHS and by many large corporate organisations), please contact me, kevin_west@natbrit.com