Course Overview
This course provides an overview of the processes involved in managing the environmental and health and safety aspects of an operation or organization. Students will learn the key elements of environmental management systems (EMS) and how to develop and implement an EMS, which integrates sustainability that incorporates consideration and management of environmental aspects of an organization as well as the laws, policies, commitments, regulations and other drivers. The course will include an overview of the various international approaches to environmental management and sustainability including: life cycle analysis, environmental risk assessment and due diligence in the context of continuous improvement.
Prerequisite(s)
Credits
2.5
- Not offered this term
- This course is not offered this term. Notify me to receive email notifications when the course opens for registration next term.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Discuss the major approaches to Environmental Management Systems (EMS) currently used including EMAS and ISO, within the context of the evolution of these systems in the last 20 years.
- Learn to integrate sustainability into an EMS to create Sustainability Management Systems SMS.
- Outline the current process for EMS certification under ISO 14001, describing the 17 elements of the ISO 14001 approach and justifying how each element contributes to quality control.
- Assess the key factors that contribute to the success of SMS implementation within an organization.
- Propose a plan to implement an SMS, including an appraisal of all resource needs and the impact it may have on corporate culture.
- Develop a basic cost-benefit analysis of initiating an SMS taking into consideration the major business drivers for the system.
- Evaluate organizational priorities to determine how an SMS can balance environmental priorities with health and safety concerns and social responsibility.
- Discuss the evolution, function and application of the various environmental international standards.
Effective as of Spring/Summer 2012
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice. Find out more about BCIT course cancellations.