On 21 December 1995, the Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia(SIRIM) launched a new scheme for companies which wished to certify their Environmental Management System (EMS) to the newly introduced MS ISO/DIS 14001 Provisional Standard. Certification of the Environmental Management System is applicable not only to companies in the manufacturing sector, but also to service- orientated companies such as the construction industry and developer.
The objective of this scheme is to enhance the awareness of all parties involved regarding the control and conservation of the environment; in addition to the enhancement of the country's image and commitment at the international level.
As a start, SIRIM is inviting interested companies from various industrial sectors to participate in a trial pilot programme which is expected to last for 18 months. The sectors identified for this programme are the electrical/electronic, rubber and rubber-based product, palm oil, food and general manufacturing.
The objectives of the pilot programme are :
to provide feedback to the National Committee on Environmental Standards regarding the problems faced during the implementation as well as the costs and benefits of implementing the standard;
to gain expertise in EMS auditing requirements as stated in MS ISO/DIS 14001 (P); and
to determine the training requirements needed to ensure successful implementation of the standard in future.
Successful implementation of the pilot programme will depend on the number of companies selected, and this on the other hand will be based upon the responses received. Successful applicants will meet frequently within their sector groups to discuss issues pertaining to the interpretation and implementation of the standard. Prior to actual audit, SIRIM will conduct a trial audit on the company's EMS together with its personnel. Any company that is ready for the first assessment en route to certification, will have to notify SIRIM.
Companies that are not chosen for the programme can continue with the implementation of the system, and only need to inform SIRIM once it is ready for assessment. The process of certification will start with an initial assessment to determine that the systems are developed based on the environment aspect, followed by a compliance assessment. Upon successful completion of the assessment, a recommendation report will be submitted to the Director General of SIRIM, after verification by the Certification Board.
Each and every company certified under the scheme will have to undergo a surveillance audit twice a year followed by complete reaudit on their EMS every three years.
For certification purposes, the applicant will have to select the site to be certified. Certification will only be awarded to the following types of site :
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Non share site - within their perimeter there is only one company operating.
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Share site - share site can be of two types i.e. shared by single Organisation and by separate Organisation. For single Organisation where different operating units or divisions operate at the same site, certification will be only allowed when the responsibility and authority is clearly defined and all interfaces been appropriately controlled and addressed. For separate Organisation, the applicant whose site is subject to certification must recognise and manage his interfaces with such Organisation explicitly.
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Multiple site - when an Organisation has a number of multiple sites covered in an identical fashion by its environmental management system, certification will only be awarded after one third of the sites have been assessed and all remaining sites must be registered within 18 months.
Aziz Long SIRIM, Malaysia
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