What is ISO 14001 certification?
ISO 14001 certification in ISO 1400 standards was made in 1996 not only to guide but also to safeguard environment management. Any firm or company ought to adhere to these set environmental standards if the world is to fully curb the harsh impact of businesses on their immediate surroundings. So as many people ask, what does the ISO 14001 certification seek to achieve?
- The first objective of this certification is to offer a functional framework that firms can use in devising their own environment conservation techniques.
- Represents the prize and the much-desired recognition that businesses seek for all the steps taken in the proper management of their immediate and general environment.
Principles of ISO 1400 certification
From when it was established, this certificate has mostly been sought after by successful and well-established business corporations. Entrepreneurial growth has, however, enabled small businesses and start-ups to apply for this prestigious certificate. The application for this form of certification is not mandatory for business as everyone is required to get their certificate at will. The strategy is based on a few principles that govern it, making it possible to adopt different strategies towards proper environmental management. These few principles are as follows:
- Planning
- Doing
- Studying
- Act
Steps involved in getting ISO 14001 certification
Businesses will today ask how they can apply for ISO 14001 certification. Proper planning and devotion are key; however, a procedure is discussed below on how you can boost your preparedness level before submitting your official certification. Businesses need to prepare for the process, adequately removing any form of rush or shortcuts. There are a few procedures one must follow when applying for ISO 1400 certificate, and below are some of them:
Step 1: Learning
Here a bit of research is required to make you conversant with whatever the certification is really about. Do not venture blindly into what you have limited knowledge. Since your time, finances, and reputation may be on the line, why not find out all you can about this topic?
Step 2: Environmental Reviews and analysis
Analyse your existing Environmental Management System (E.M.S.) and determine what needs to be omitted or added to the plan. For this, you may need an experienced consultant to do the gap analysis for your firm.
Step 3: Planning
Strategise your obligations in the organisation specifying timelines and the present resources to be planned for. Every major project’s success is dependent on the planning level done by the organisation before its execution.
Step 4: Staff training
Since these changes affect those in your organisation, staff training is more than relevant at this stage. Take them through whatever is needed and help them learn to adhere to the set rules and regulations.
Step 5: Documentation, Design strategies, and initiate and better your E.M.S.
Now that everything is ready, have your consultant help you with the preparation of all the paperwork involved in the course. Once your new strategies align with your company’s way of doing things, you are ready to get an audit done after some time.
Step 6: Step 7: Do auditing on your performance
To test its authenticity, the system has to be audited after some time to ascertain your general score and performance.
Step 8: Go for your registration.
The results of the audit process are the ones to use for your application process. The registration can now be official, and after some time, the consent is given based on how prepared the organisation really was.