Needs
An Environmental Management System (EMS), according to ISO 14001, allows a company to identify, monitor and improve its own interactions with the environment thereby reducing environmental impacts.
ISO 14001 is an internationally recognised standard that sheds light on prescribed requirements so that companies may reduce the environmental damage created by them. This change in practices reduces environmental risks and consequently the likelihood of penalties from statutory and insurance bodies. This effort also leads to improved relationships with customers and local communities that live within in close promiximity to the construction site.
ISO 14001:2004 is applicable to any organization that wishes to establish, deploy, maintain and improve an EMS according to the established policy and the applicable rules. EMS according to ISO 14001 can be integrated with other management systems such as quality and health and safety.
ICMQ India Approach
According to this awareness, since the 1980s, ICMQ has been developing a Risk Management oriented approach for EMS certification customized to each relevant product/process within construction industry based on:
- Customized Application Guidelines
- Tailor-made check lists
- Using auditors with strong technical skills and experience
- A technically-oriented certification process (compliant with ISO 17021 standards)
- Accredited certificates fully recognised at the national and international level
ICMQ India has been deploying this Risk Management oriented approach since the incorporation and has been deploying a strategy aiming at customizing the application guidelines according to Indian standards and to obtain Indian accreditation for each relevant activity within construction industry.
The auditors' experience allows ICMQ to identify any unearthed legal areas that are not fully incorporated in the system apart from any improvement opportunities not fully captured. Strong auditors also enables ICMQ to assess the strength of an Environmental Management System in the context of a real reduction in the risk of accidents and internal or external impact.
Benefits
As derived from testimonies, beyond general expected EMS benefits, ICMQ India's Risk Management approach allows customers who have applied the system in its true form to:
- Associate their organisation's name with that of a specialised certification body in the construction industry
- Enhance their corporate image
- Increase their attractiveness to investors
- Follow EMS guidelines according to Indian standards in construction
- Conduct more effective environmental risk analyses along with internal audits
- Enable effective environmental strategies
- Reduce compliance with applicable rules risks
- Reduce energy consumption, raw material consumption and waste
- Obtain additional value from certification audits
- Increase the confidence of stakeholders and the local community at large
Certification process
The certification process is outlined in this flowchart
- Request for quotation from customer
- ICMQ India quotation
- Acceptance offer from customer
- Order confirmation by ICMQ India (with Terms and Condition for the certification signature)
- Preaudit (optional)
- Certification Audit (Documentation Analysis, Stage 1 and Stage 2 Audit)
- Issue of certification after successful completion of certification audit
- Surveillance audit (according to established plan)
- Renewal audit
