The launch (Step 8)

This chapter highlights aspects of the launch of Environmental Management Systems (EMS), which includes the first formal environmental management review meeting, planning document distribution, communication session, and organizing extra training when required. The Operating Procedure 22 contains the standard agenda for environmental management review meetings that comes into play when the EMS is in operation. At this stage, the required agenda items include approval or adoption of the documented EMS, agreement of plans for the communication exercise that will launch the program, decision on any specific training needs, and agreement with the forward timetable leading to assessment. The documented EMS needs to be formally adopted by the board or the top management team for two reasons—it ensures top-level commitment to the project and sets the date when the EMS came into being.