DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLANNING PRINCIPLE OF THE ISO 14001 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM STANDARD AT THE WORSLEY ALUMINA REFINERY, COLLIE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

One of the statutory requirements of the Worsley Expansion is the development and implementation of an environmental management system (EMS) in accordance with the principles of the ISO 14001 EMS standard. The development of the ‘planning phase’ from the standard has involved the formalisation of environmental teams to facilitate the environmental compliance assurance program, develop and achieve environmental objectives, targets and action plans, and report environmental performance within a comprehensively structured system as required under ISO 14001.

Cross-functional environmental teams, consisting of personnel with engineering, environmental and operations backgrounds, are involved in the planning, implementation and review phases of the environmental management programs in each business management area. This has created a greater sense of ownership, awareness and responsibility for the environmental aspects in each area.

A comprehensive environmental compliance assurance program is being developed to provide the framework required for Worsley to monitor progress and compliance against the 120 environmental commitments and conditions binding the project, and another estimated 280 clauses of legislation relevant to the environmental aspects of the project. The program provides for the allocation of responsibility for each legal requirement, the means of achieving compliance and an auditing function to monitor compliance.

Identification of environmental aspects and environmental impacts from the refinery has been a difficult and time-consuming process. Area environmental teams with their cross-functional expertise have proven to be essential in the process of developing the environmental aspects and impacts register.

Development of environmental objectives, targets and action plans from significant environmental impacts that have been subjected to a risk rating process by the area environmental teams has provided a focus on the environmental aspects that have the most significant implications to the project. This ensures that resources are allocated appropriately to environmental management programs.