Organisations who hold ISO standards across the UK will all be looking to determine what they do next after 29th March 2019. The good news for organisations who hold ISO certifications is that they may be better positioned to cope with the impact of BREXIT than those who do not.
Organisations who hold ISO certifications have been required to give thought to the issues affecting the organisation (the key one being BREXIT!) and those interested parties that they will need to engage with both during and after BREXIT. This will no doubt include the stability and security of their supply chain and the needs of customers. With the focus on risk-based standards, this will increase focus on the risks and opportunities that BREXIT may bring. This enables these organisations to take the necessary actions to mitigate risks and establish objectives and actions to exploit opportunities.
Organisations with ISO standards will be thinking about their resources, the most important of these being human resources. A significant drop in EU workers in the UK will need to be plugged and those organisations the ISO standards will be investing in recruitment, training and upskilling of staff, supported by investment in the necessary infrastructure and facilities to ensure their products and services can continue to be delivered post BREXIT.
Organisations who hold ISO standards will be seeking improvement, backed by regular audits, supported by actions to address identified non-conformities and actions to address identified risks and opportunities, this will provide them with a leading edge and positions UK organisations at the front of the queue when competing on a global stage.
Let’s not forget that ISO certifications are recognised globally, so organisations who hold accredited ISO certifications hold a badge of credibility which is recognised across the globe and breaks down language barriers.
If you haven’t already done this, then you really should consider how ISO standards can support your business to ensure that quality, risk and sustainability can be assured after BREXIT. Blackmores can support your business to implement ISO standards across a range of subject areas and drive continual improvement within your business.
If you would like assistance with ISO standards, please contact us on: enquiries@blackmoresuk.com
What is ESOS?
10,000 of the UK’s largest businesses have to comply with the new Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) and conduct a mandatory energy audit across buildings, transport and industrial operations by December 2019.
Any company with more than 250 staff, or less than 250 staff but a turnover of over €50m and balance sheet exceeding €43m, must comply with ESOS or face fines. It also applies to smaller companies who are part of a corporate group which includes a business which meets those non-SME criteria.
Businesses can’t afford to ignore ESOS – compliance is not optional. More importantly, any delay in action could mean potential savings go unrealised. Often, the potential savings outweigh the cost of compliance.
This webinar took place on the 8th March at 11am. This webinar covered the following: –
- What is ESOS?
- Routes of ESOS compliance
- Energy Audits
- ISO 50001 route to compliance
If you have any questions feel free to contact us at: enquiries@blackmoresuk.com
What is ESOS?
In October 2012 the European Union established the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED). The Directive specified that all member countries were to create an energy audit scheme which would ensure the achievement of the Union’s 2020 target on energy efficiency. From this, the ESOS Regulations 2014 was established.
The ESOS Regulations 2014 requires large organisations in the UK to undertake comprehensive energy audits, every four years, which focuses on the energy that is used by the organisation’s buildings, industrial processes and transport, the consumption of the energy being used, and any potential energy saving opportunities that the organisation could instrument.
Who is Required to Comply with ESOS?
Any large organisations that employ 250 or more staff or have an annual turnover in excess of £42m and an annual balance sheet total of around £36.5m or are part of a corporate group containing a large enterprise are required to comply to ESOS.
When Do You Need to Comply By?
We are now in the second round of ESOS Assessments and below are important dates to remember;
• The Qualification Date – 31st December 2018
• The Reporting Date – 5th December 2019
How do you Comply to ESOS?
There are two paths to become complaint with ESOS;
Step 1
You will need to carry out an ESOS Audit. In order to complete your assessment, you will be required to undertake the following;
Identify and Calculate your Total Energy Consumption
You will be required to calculate the energy used by your organisation/group’s buildings, industrial processes and transport.
- Identify Areas of Significant Energy Consumption
While calculating your Total Energy Consumption, you should also be identifying the energy used by your organisation that accounts for at least 90% of your total energy consumption.
- Appoint a Lead Assessor
If you don’t have an ESOS Lead Assessor undertaking the audit, you will then be required to appoint a lead assessor to either carry out and oversee or review your energy audits and overall ESOS assessment. If you do require a Lead Assessor, they can be external, but you must ensure they are members of an approved professional body register.
- Notify the Environment Agency
Once you have conducted and completed your ESOS Audit, the next step is to submit your ESOS Notification of Compliance to the Environment Agency. The deadline for the this is 5th December 2019.
- Keep Records
Once you have notified the Environment Agency with your ESOS Notification of Compliance, you must keep the ESOS Audit as evidence.
Step 2
If your organisation is certified to ISO50001, you are not required to carry out an ESOS Audit. All you have to do it notify the Environment Agency that you are compliant with ESOS.
Need help with ESOS? We’d be happy to help, simply contact us on: enquiries@blackmoresuk.com
You’ve just got your head around the principals and the requirements of the Health and Safety standard BS EN 18001, and your finally comfortable with this, however, there’s discussions of migration to ISO 45001. You’re assigned with the migration process, however as you’re smiling and nodding in agreeance, you’re actually trying to digest what ISO 45001 is, figuring out what to do, and where to begin!
Hopefully the following will support you in understanding what an Occupational Health and Safety Management System is, the benefits to implementing one within your business and the next steps to achieving certification.
What is an Occupational Health and Safety Management System?
- ISO45001 is an Internationally recognised Standard designed to provide a framework for establishing an Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS);
- An OHSMS will help your business (regardless of size and nature) to integrate all aspects of health and safety, including worker wellness/wellbeing;
- An OHSMS will impel your business to manage, monitor and control accident and incidents, to ensure accidents and incidents are prevented for all persons working under tour control;
- An effective OHSMS should ensure that your business will continually measure performance and strive for improvement.
The Benefits of an Occupational Health and Safety Management System;
There are various benefits that can be gained for a business when implementing an OHSMS, these can include the following;
- Holding certification to ISO 145001 can demonstrate competency to potential new clients when tendering for new works or Frameworks;
- A well-maintained OHSMS demonstrates compliance with current and future statutory and regulatory requirements and ability to respond to regulatory compliance issues;
- Incorporating an OHSMS within your business can reduce the overall costs of incidents, downtime, disruption to operations, insurance premiums and non-attendance;
- Possessing an OHSMS within your business can demonstrate your business recognises Occupational Health and Safety as a significant priority and therefore can lead to possessing a respectable reputation within your industry.
The Next Steps…
Undoubtedly the next step is to implement an OHSMS or implement changes that have been presented from the new standard, but the key is to remember that you do not have to undertake this task unaided, and that there are consultants who are experts on implementing Management System.
Our free ISO 45001 health check will help you to evaluate how good your health and safety is, simply contact us and quote: ‘ISO 45001 Health check’
Our 7 Steps to Success
The Blackmores ISO Roadmap is a proven path to go from idea to launching your ISO Management System.
Whether you choose to work with one of our isologist consultants or work your own way through the process on our isology Hub, we’re certain you’ll achieve certification in no time!
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