Environmental Management

Environmental Management System

The Environmental Management System (EMS) is a mechanism to systematically manage environmental issues. The Darwin Port Corporation’s (DPC) EMS is based on the requirements of ISO14001:2004 (International Standard for Environmental Management Systems) and provides a framework for the achievement of continual environmental improvement.

The DPC’s EMS is structured as shown in the schematic, which outlines the relationship between the policy, procedures, environmental management plans, and other related documents.

The DPC’s EMS consists of the five main ISO elements: policy; plan; do; check; and review, which are summarised below.

Plan

The planning element consists of:

• The environmental aspects and impacts register (i.e., the ‘issues’ register).

• Legislative and other requirements.

• Objectives, targets and programs.

The EMS has been established with the Issues Register as the core component that captures all the environmental issues that need to be addressed and risk ranks these, this risk ranking then drives the setting of environmental objectives, targets and programs in a focussed manner.

Do

This is the implementation and operation element of the EMS and has the following components:

• Structure and responsibility.

• Training awareness and competence.

• Communication and reporting.

• Documentation and document control.

• Operational control.

• Emergency preparedness and response.

These components of the EMS are integrated with DPC’s standard business practices.

Check

This is the non-conformance, preventative and corrective element of the EMS. The components of this element are:

• Monitoring and measurement.

• Non-conformance, preventative and corrective action.

• Record management.

• Auditing.

Review

The reviewing element of the EMS is the responsibility of the DPC Management (Port Management Group and the Chief Executive Officer). Management reviews are undertaken to:

• Determine any system deficiencies and identify changes required, in order to ensure ongoing suitability, adequacy and effectiveness of the system.

• Determine whether objectives and targets are still appropriate.

• Determine any environmental impacts of DPCs activities, products or services that impact on financial performance and competitive position.

Environmental Policy

The DPC’s Environmental Policy requires that the DPC develops and maintains an EMS, provides sufficient resources to achieve its environmental targets and seeks to prevent pollution from its activities.

EMS Standard Operating Procedures

The EMS is underpinned by 12 procedures (EMSPs) that explain the operation of the EMS. The procedures can be summarised as follows:

1. Issues. This procedure details the method by which DPC identifies its environmental issues and the actual or potential impacts associated with those issues.

2. Legal and Other Requirements. This procedure’s purpose is to enable relevant DPC employees to interpret legislative and other statutory requirements and determine other requirements (e.g. operational conditions) applicable to the business.

3. Objectives and Targets. This procedure assists the Port Management Group set environmental objectives and targets, based on the impacts identified and the risk ranking assigned in the Issues Register to achieve the goals outlined in the Environmental Policy.

4. Training, Awareness and Competence. This procedure provides guidelines for environmental awareness training of relevant DPC employees to ensure DPC personnel have the specific skills, knowledge and competency levels in their roles to achieve the goals of the Environmental Policy; and that appropriate training is provided where gaps in skills, knowledge and/or competency are identified.

5. Communication and Reporting. This procedure purpose is to ensure that there is clear communication on environmental issues within DPC; and a system for receiving, documenting and responding to relevant communication from external interested parties.

6. Document Control. The purpose of this procedure is to describe the procedure for the control of all documentation relating to the EMS.

7. Emergency Preparedness and Response. This procedure provides DPC with a framework to establish and maintain procedures to identify the potential for and to respond to accidents and emergencies, and for preventing and mitigating the environmental impacts that may be associated with them.

8. Monitoring and Measurement. The purpose of this procedure is to ensure that effective monitoring and measurement of DPC activities that may have a significant impact on the environment are undertaken on a regular basis.

9. Non-conformance, Corrective and Preventative Action. The purpose of this procedure is to provide a guideline for DPC to ensure that major technical non-conformances are identified and included on the Issues Register; and system non-conformances are identified and addressed prior to the finalisation of the audit report.

10. Records. This procedure provides guidelines for the identification, maintenance and disposal of environmental records and is written in accordance with the NTG and HP TRIM requirements.

11. Management System Audit. This procedure describes the methods and responsibilities for the planning, preparation, performance, reporting and follow up of the EMS Audits.

12. Management Review. This procedure provides a guideline for the Management Review of DPC’s Environmental Management System.

For further information on the DPC’s EMS, contact:

Environmental Manager on (08) 89220 628; or david.mcmaster@nt.gov.au

Click to read the Darwin Port Corporation Environmental Policy Statement.