Environmental Aspects and Impacts Flashcards
6 cards from real ISO 14001 Foundation Certification practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Environmental Aspects and Impacts flashcards as text
What is the difference between an 'environmental aspect' and an 'environmental impact' under ISO 14001:2015?
Answer: An aspect is an element of activities/products/services that interacts with the environment; an impact is any change resulting from that interaction
An environmental aspect is an element of an organization's activities, products, or services that can interact with the environment. An environmental impact is any change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, resulting from that aspect.
Which criterion is most important when determining whether an environmental aspect is 'significant'?
Answer: Whether the aspect has or can have significant environmental impact, considering severity, frequency, and regulatory scrutiny
Significance is determined by evaluating the potential for significant environmental impact, considering factors such as severity, scale, frequency, duration, and the concerns of interested parties.
Under ISO 14001:2015, which activities must be considered when identifying environmental aspects?
Answer: Normal operations, abnormal conditions such as startup/shutdown, and potential emergency situations
ISO 14001:2015 requires identification of aspects under normal operating conditions, abnormal conditions (startup, shutdown, maintenance), and potential emergency situations to ensure comprehensive coverage.
How does the concept of 'life cycle perspective' affect the identification of environmental aspects in ISO 14001:2015?
Answer: It requires organizations to consider aspects along the entire value chain, including suppliers and end-of-life disposal
Life cycle perspective requires organizations to consider environmental aspects not just from their own operations but also from upstream (procurement, raw materials) and downstream (product use, end-of-life) stages.
What must an organization do with the results of its environmental aspect and impact identification process?
Answer: Maintain them as documented information and use them as inputs for setting objectives and planning controls
The results of the aspect and impact identification must be maintained as documented information and used as key inputs for setting objectives, planning operational controls, and other EMS processes.
How should an organization account for indirect environmental aspects under ISO 14001:2015?
Answer: Organizations should identify and consider indirect aspects they can influence, such as those from contractor activities or product use
ISO 14001:2015 encourages organizations to consider indirect aspects that they can influence, even if they cannot directly control them, such as aspects from contractors, suppliers, or customers using products.