EMS for Utility Construction Field Operations
David Aho
A utility construction project can stretch tens or hundreds of miles, and encounter a myriad of environmental concerns, including streams, wetlands and endangered species. Presented is a case study of developing an EMS for the field operations of a utility construction company. The full scope of the EMS is described. The environmental aspects of the field work are discussed, as well as a method for evaluating the significance of each. The adoption of an EMS provides the company a process for developing, evaluating and revising procedures and training for continual improvement of environmental performance. Our efforts have been formally recognized by the Virginia Environmental Excellence Program, the Maryland Green Registry, and the North Carolina Environmental Stewardship Initiative.
Learning Objectives:
- List the components of an Environmental Management System;
- Identify and evaluate the environmental aspects of field construction work
- Understand how to set objectives and targets based on the plan-do-check-act model.