title = "ISO 14001 Environmental Management Basics for Operators"

content = """
ISO 14001 is the international standard for Environmental Management Systems (EMS). Ridgecrest Metalworks is certified to ISO 14001, which means an accredited third-party auditor has verified that the facility has a structured, documented system for managing its environmental impacts and continuously improving its environmental performance.

**What ISO 14001 requires from operators.** The standard requires that personnel performing work with potential environmental impact are:
- Competent (trained and qualified) to perform their work in an environmentally responsible way.
- Aware of the environmental aspects of their work and what could go wrong if procedures are not followed.
- Aware of the environmental consequences of not conforming to procedures.
- Knowing their personal role in achieving the facility's environmental objectives.

**Environmental aspects and impacts.** An environmental aspect is an element of a facility's activities that can interact with the environment. An environmental impact is the result of that interaction. Examples relevant to the production floor:

| Aspect | Potential Impact |
|---|---|
| Use of coolant fluid | Water contamination if discharged improperly |
| Welding fume generation | Air quality degradation |
| Metal scrap storage | Stormwater contamination if scrap contacts rain |
| Chemical storage | Soil and groundwater contamination if spilled |
| Energy use in furnaces | Greenhouse gas emissions (CO₂) |

**Significant aspects.** The EMS identifies which aspects have the largest potential impact. Operations that interact with significant aspects have additional operational controls, documented procedures, and monitoring requirements that standard operations do not.

**Environmental objectives.** Ridgecrest sets annual environmental improvement targets (e.g., reduce coolant waste generation by 10%, reduce energy consumption per unit produced by 5%). These are tracked on the environmental objectives board in the EHS office. Operators contribute by following conservation practices and reporting waste.

**ISO audit preparation.** During certification and surveillance audits, auditors interview operators at their workstations. Common questions:
- "What are the environmental aspects of your job?"
- "Where do you put your spent coolant/scrap/used oil?"
- "What do you do if there is a spill?"
- "What environmental objectives is your area working on?"

Honest, accurate answers demonstrate a real system—not just binders.
"""

version = "0.0.1"
