ISO 14001 Standards – Emergency Preparedness and Response Plans

ISO 14001 Section 4.4.7, Emergency Preparedness and Response, requires that organizations establish and maintain procedure(s) to:

1. Identify potential accidents and emergencies

2. Respond to accidents and emergencies

3. Prevent and mitigate the environmental impacts that may be associated with accidents and emergencies.

Section 4.4.7 also requires that organizations review and revise, when necessary, their emergency preparedness

and response procedure(s), especially after an accident or emergency situation. Organizations must also periodically test such procedures where practicable.

Most organizations have already developed and implemented emergency response plans to comply with various federal and state regulations that require such plans. Examples of federal regulations that require such plans include:

• Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Contingency Plans

• Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasures (SPCC) Plans

• Facility Oil Response Plans under the Oil Pollution Prevention Act of 1990

• Employee Emergency and Fire Prevention Plans under Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Some states have regulations that require similar emergency response plans. For instance, the state of Pennsylvania requires certain facilities to develop and implement a Preparedness, Prevention, and Contingency (PPC) Plan in addition to federal requirements.

The ISO 14001 requirements are similar to the requirements of most regulatory emergency plans. Whether your facility has emergency response plans or not, you should review the following sections to ensure you meet the ISO 14001 emergency response requirements.

ISO 14001 Section 4.4.7, Emergency Preparedness and Response, requires that organizations establish and maintain procedure(s) to:

1. Identify potential accidents and emergencies

2. Respond to accidents and emergencies

3. Prevent and mitigate the environmental impacts that may be associated with accidents and emergencies.

Section 4.4.7 also requires that organizations review and revise, when necessary, their emergency preparedness

and response procedure(s), especially after an accident or emergency situation. Organizations must also periodically test such procedures where practicable.

Most organizations have already developed and implemented emergency response plans to comply with various federal and state regulations that require such plans. Examples of federal regulations that require such plans include:

• Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Contingency Plans

• Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasures (SPCC) Plans

• Facility Oil Response Plans under the Oil Pollution Prevention Act of 1990

• Employee Emergency and Fire Prevention Plans under Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Some states have regulations that require similar emergency response plans. For instance, the state of Pennsylvania requires certain facilities to develop and implement a Preparedness, Prevention, and Contingency (PPC) Plan in addition to federal requirements.

The ISO 14001 requirements are similar to the requirements of most regulatory emergency plans. Whether your facility has emergency response plans or not, you should review the following sections to ensure you meet the ISO 14001 emergency response requirements.