CANECT 2007 The 15 Annual Canadian Environmental Conference And Trade Show April 16 & 17, 2007 Metro

Toronto Convention Centre

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Ontario Environment Minister, Laurel Broten presented the Keynote address which preceded the start of the conference. Minister Broten did an overview from the previous year to the current of the governments environmental policies, noting the progress thus far. She also emphasised that it was a collaborative effort between the government and all interested parties to protect the Canadian natural environment. April 16, 2007 C1 Risk-Based Auditing Presented by Rebecca Cameron and Vanessa Lithgow of Jacques Whitford Limited. The Course Objectives were:1. To explore how risk management can be applied to the process of environmental auditing 2. To improve efficiency, effectiveness and quality of audits 3. To practice the application of risk assessment tools during the audit process The presenters indicated that this was a participative workshop and members can share their related experience. Risk-Based Auditing is used to assess your organisations exposure to environmental risk which is the first step in prioritizing targeted actions to establish a meaningful process of continual improvement. The Risk-Based auditing program offers organisation an efficient and systematic method to conduct and use environmental audits. The Risk-Based Approach balances the limited time and resources the company has for auditing and the need to generate information upon which to improve performance. This can be achieved by prioritizing audit scope, topics, methods and reporting protocols based on the operations/activities. The following topics covered were:Risk and the Audit Process What is risk? How Risk is manifested in Auditing Risk Tolerance and Stakeholders Audits of Past/Current/Future Activities Setting Risk-Based Audit Priorities Gap Analysis of Audit Program

 Sites/Topics/Activites already audited Audit Priority Ranking Understanding Use of Audit Findings Incorporation Risk into Audit Protocols Audit Objectives Detail and Organisation of Audit Criteria Balancing Resource Limitations Assessing Facility Risk Basics of Facility Risk Facility Risk Topics/Criteria Rating Methods for Facility Risk Exercise #1: Facility Risk Ranking 5 facilities with respect to their risk to the company to determine the appropriate frequency for environmental compliance audits The groups agree in general with the scores from Inherent Environmental Risk, Extended Regulated, Past Performance and History of Audits the differences were in Importance to Company and Management Attitude. The total score in general were in acceptable rating. Assessing Management Effectiveness Determining Management Effectiveness Management Effectiveness Criteria Rating Methods for Management Effectiveness Comparing Risk and Management Effort Exercise #2: Measuring and Assessing Management Effectiveness The groups ranked management effort parameters given weighting criteria for each parameter and develop a practical, easily implemented scheme by which management effort can be rated on a scale of 1 to 5. On-site Orientation, Audit Plan Review, Sampling Understanding Information Gathering Reviewing the Audit Plan On-Site Audit Risk What is audit risk? Sampling Techniques Prioritizing Audit Findings Why Prioritize Findings? Methods for Prioritization Exercise #3: Prioritization of Findings Priority = Nature of Risk x Size of Potential Impact The groups in general had varying views on these ranking but after discussions we agreed in principle to the rankings reached.

April 17, 2007 C2 Integration of Environment, Health, Safety & Quality Management Presented by Randy Sinukoff and Neil McDermott of Jacques Whitford Limited The Course Overview was:1. General Structure of Management System 2. ISO/CSA Standards and other Management Systems 3. Strategies for Integration 4. Organizational Culture and Acceptance of Integrated Systems 5. Degrees of Integration 6. Topics to Integrate 7. Case Studies and Evaluation of Success Organizations have conflicting priorities under their influence and control. This workshop is new to CANECT 2007. General Structure of Management Systems What Constitutes a Management System Plan, Do, Check, Act Best Practices in Management Systems Business Management Elements Life Cycle Approach ISO/CSA Standards and Other Management Systems What is ISO? ISO/CSA and Other Standards The ISA 14001 EMS Model The ISO 14401 EMS Model Continual Improvement ISO 14001 Organization Major Element of ISO 14001:2004 Major Elements of OHSAS 18001:1999 Major Elements of CSA Z1000-06 The ISO 9001 QMS Model ISA 9001: The Process Approach Quality Principles Priorities Musts Explicit Items 4.0 Quality Management System 5.0 Management Responsibility 6.0 Resource Management 7.0 Product Realization 8.0 Measurement, Analysis & Improvement Other Management Systems: Responsible Care Strategies for Integration Business Drivers for Integration Balancing the Risk

Group Discussion Topic #1: Logical Connections for Efficiency This discussion ask the question of developing you E,Q, H&S management systems from scratch, how would you do it? The discussion centred mainly on internal communication, operational procedures, training, inspections and audits and customer service functions. Management has to ensure the availability of resources essential to establish, implement, maintain and improve the environmental managements system. Resources include human resources and specialized skills, organizational infrastructure, technology and financial resources. Organizational Culture and Acceptance of Integrated Systems Its All About People Management Commitment Company Culture Communication and Buy-In Degrees of Integration Complete Integration Partial Integration Parallel Implementation Total Separation Topics to Integrate Policy Planning Operations Checking Management Review Group Discussion Topic #2: Topics to Integrate The discussion was that Well Established Company Inc. is seeking to partially integrate their current E, Q, H&S Management Systems. Management Positions assigned were President, Plant Manager Environmental Coordinator, Quality Manager, H&S Leader, VP Human Resources, VP Government and External Outreach and Union Representatives. Positive attributes from the Management Team:1. Knowledgeable management system leader 2. Processes must be mapped and monitored 3. Performance objectives and targets identified and tracked 4. Regulatory compliance well controlled 5. Thorough audit processes Challenges identified: 1. Inadequate resources allocated to system management and operation 2. Spotty buy-in from key managers and supervisors 3. Roles and responsibilities not clearly identified 4. Procedures are oriented to managing quality 5. Invisible senior management

Results/Recommendations:1. Senior management as system champion 2. Establish E, Q, H&S meetings 3. Simplify visible system 4. Add resources 5. Build rapport and buy-in Evaluation of Success: Think of the Plan, Do, Check, Act Cycle Monitor Change Comments The Workshops conducted from the view that companies were ISO compliance or in the process of doing so. Participants were mainly from Canada, from my research SWMCOL was the only Caribbean representative. Most of the participants were Auditors, Audit Managers and Facility Managers. I was able to follow through being in the Finance because of yearly audits conducted on the Financial Statements. My Inputs can result from someones output and you can only truly appreciate it when you work in another mans shoe. Risk-Based Auditing I learned that Risk-Based Auditing can generate information which will aid in the companys process of continual improvement. The Process must be known by the whole organisation of which buy-in must be the focal point. Communication and resource allocation is a key element in the process. Management Review and recommendations to audit findings is key to the organisation moving to another level. Integration of Environment, Safety and Quality Management I believe for this to be success whether it if complete, partial and parallel integration or total separation the key if Management Commitment which will feed Company Culture, Communication and Buy-in from top to bottom.