The Use of Geographic Information in the Application of Environmental Management Systems (ems)

The aim of this article is to introduce the practical use of geographic information in the application of EMS to industry with practical methods (especially LCA, Life Cycle Assessment) leading to a precautionary approach in environmental protection. While the text concentrates on the problem in general, examples have been drawn from the author’s own analysis of the current state of environmental impact attributable to Granitol Joint Stock Company Moravský Beroun, a factory producing plastics and packing material. The author conducted an initial audit which was accepted by the company’s management and which became the initial point for the construction of an environmental auditing system. 34 Acta Universitatis Palackianae Olomucensis Facultas Rerum Naturalium duction process, a decrease in hazard risk, an improvement in public opinion, improved public relations image, improved cooperation with home and foreign partners and better expansion into foreign markets (Andrš 1996). ČSN EN ISO 14001 Environmental Management System Leadership – Specification and Method of Rules for Applications. The main aim of this standard is to support environmental protection, and prevent pollution in keeping with social and economic needs. The standard was created in such a way that it is applicable to organizations of all kinds and sizes and also able to consider different geographic, cultural and social conditions. Such a system would allow for an organization to suggest and assess the workability of these approaches, establish an environmental policy or aim, to achieve accordance with them, and, in so doing, to demonstrate this accordance to others. In order to achieve environmental goals an environmental management system must lead organizations to consider application of the best accessible technologies where both possible and economically feasible. The standard shares mutual directives with the quality system standards ISO 9000. While quality system standards deal with customer needs, the environmental management systems correspond to a broad spectrum of parties and rapidly developing societal needs for environmental protection. To unify terminology in the field of EMS, the standard introduces basic definitions of terms. Further, the standard specifies EMS elements which are firstly, environmental politics; and secondly: planning, including the identification of environmental aspects, legal and other requirements and other documentation of environmental goals and values, and programs of environmental management. The third element of the EMS is the introduction and running of the EMS. The fourth, is the control application and steps toward repair, and the last, or fifth element, is the assessment of the organizational leadership. The environmental policy, goals and values of the organization in question should be based on the knowledge of environmental aspects and important environmental impacts relating to its activities, products or services. In practical terms, the identification of environmental aspects and their selection and assessment was the main goal of this work. 3. GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF THE TOWN AND BRIEF CHARACTERISTICS