Environmental Management System Inspection
Project's name: Environmental Management System Inspection
Client: La Maison de la Foret
Kind of Services: Environmental Management
Description:
Inspection Scope and Objective
AMB s.a.l. was retained by La Maison de la Foret (LMDF) to conduct an environmental inspection for the management system in the maison. The objective of the inspection was to verify whether they implemented and maintained in a manner consistent with the ISO 14001-2004, the International Standard for environmental management systems and whether they are doing any harm to the Bkassine Forest around it.
Inspection Criteria
ISO 14001 and related documentation were the primary criteria for the inspection. Compliance with relevant environmental legislation and regulations was also included.
Inspection process
Prior to the on-site inspection, a review was completed of the project ethos and activities took place. The inspection opening meeting was held on site on March, 2015. The inspection sample included:
The significance of each audit finding was ranked Low, Moderate or High based on a subjective assessment of the potential consequences of the finding, guided by the following considerations:
Several notable, good environmental practices and measures were noted and are summarized briefly below.
LMDF commitment to environmental stewardship and due diligence was evident in their wildlife / biodiversity program through ecotourism activities, organic restaurant and recycling program.
Recommendations
Inspection Scope and Objective
AMB s.a.l. was retained by La Maison de la Foret (LMDF) to conduct an environmental inspection for the management system in the maison. The objective of the inspection was to verify whether they implemented and maintained in a manner consistent with the ISO 14001-2004, the International Standard for environmental management systems and whether they are doing any harm to the Bkassine Forest around it.
Inspection Criteria
ISO 14001 and related documentation were the primary criteria for the inspection. Compliance with relevant environmental legislation and regulations was also included.
Inspection process
Prior to the on-site inspection, a review was completed of the project ethos and activities took place. The inspection opening meeting was held on site on March, 2015. The inspection sample included:
- File and document reviews, interviews, and inspections at LMDF and associated out-sections at the site
- Site inspection and interviews on Site with the project manager, restaurant staffs, and the head of union in the region
- Site inspections and contractor interviews.
The significance of each audit finding was ranked Low, Moderate or High based on a subjective assessment of the potential consequences of the finding, guided by the following considerations:
- Potential for harm to person or the environment
- Compliance with legislation and the potential for non-compliance actions or penalties
- Conformance to ISO 14001 and potential for failure to maintain registration.
- Improved environmental awareness in the area
- Minimizing negative impact of tourists
- Increase of financial benefits to the surrounding
- Improved waste handling (collection & disposal) using municipality bins
- Sustainable use of water
- Rationalization of energy use and consumption by using solar panels for the hot water
- Employment opportunities for the workforce in surrounding villages
- Efficient use of water by using low-water-need toilets
- Reduced energy consumption by using low wattage fluorescent light bulbs in all locations
- Waste water treatment plant, composed of a reception pit, a tank with several compartments with aeration blowers.
- Waste water collection via underground plastic pipes that are connected to the waste water treatment plant and discharged into a close-by valley.
Several notable, good environmental practices and measures were noted and are summarized briefly below.
LMDF commitment to environmental stewardship and due diligence was evident in their wildlife / biodiversity program through ecotourism activities, organic restaurant and recycling program.
Recommendations
- Try to Offset the Carbon foot print.
- Use natural ventilation and use the air conditioners in extreme heat conditions.
- Install solar water heaters for each bungalow.
- Improve the aesthetics of the waste water treatment plant.
- Use of the land to plant some organic products for the restaurant.
- Improve the management of solid waste by increasing sorting of recyclables and separation of organic matters that could be composted on site (backyard composting).
- Do a test on the waster TSD when the WWTP is operating.
- Prepare a disposal plan for the sludge from the WWTP, at a later stage.
