EMS Training for Businesses
| Organization(s) |
Vermont Dept. of Environmental Conservation
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| Project Description |
Vermont Department of Environment Conservation (VT DEC) became involved with EMS assistance through the EPA's pilot program on the National Database on Environmental Management Systems (NDEMS) and through the National Performance Track Program. DEC used the grant monies to provide companies interested in EMS with training and assistance. Through these training and assistance programs, they learned what worked and what did not in providing EMS assistance to businesses and institutions. Their most successful effort in promoting EMS was with a contractor that provided both classroom and on-site assistance to several companies participating in the program. Each participating facility signed an agreement that demonstrated management commitment to participating fully in the training program. Each facility's EMS "team" participated in five half-day classroom training sessions on the various elements of EMS. These sessions occurred monthly. After classroom training was completed, the contractor was available to work one-on-one with each of six facilities, visiting each facility up to five times, at various key points of their EMS design. These on-site visits were tailored to fit the facility's particular needs or issues.
Of the six participating facilities, two have received their ISO 14000 registrations since the training and assistance program began. Other participants have partial programs in place that meet their needs until such time as they make a commitment to full ISO 14000 certification. This flexible approach has potential as a model of providing EMS assistance in other locations. Facility commitment in carrying out their intentions on EMS always seems to be an issue in success. Circumstances can quickly change at a facility that can affect their intentions in either a positive or negative manner. This can make assistance efforts both challenging and frustrating in some cases. Thus VT DEC has learned that a 100 percent success rate is not possible nor a one-size-fits-all approach. |
| More Info |
www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/ead/eadhome/sbap.htm |
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| Project Contact |
| Name |
Gary Gulka |
| Phone |
802-241-3626 |
| E-mail |
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| Project Keywords |
| Areas of P2 Expertise |
Environmental Management Systems |
| Activity Keywords |
Training/workshops |
| |
| Source |
| Newsletter |
Northeast States Pollution Prevention News - Vol. 13 No. 1, Spring 2003 [PDF] |
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