Platinum producer Anglo Platinum (Angloplat) engaged in March, 2009, the implementation of a standardised environmental management system standard that has been similarly applied across all holding company Anglo American’s (Anglo’s) business units and divisions, called the Anglo Environment Way (AEW).
Based on ISO14001:2004 standards, with some customised additions, the AEW will form the management framework for environmental management systems for all Anglo’s operations.
The AEW will align closely with two other standardised Anglo management systems, namely the Anglo Health Way and the Anglo Safety Way, which were initiated some time before.
„It is quite an important step for us to internalise and standardise environmental management systems throhot sale mtm medium speed trapezium millughout Anglo American,“ says Angloplat senior environmental manager Hermanus Prinsloo. „Although ISO14001 certification was already in existence, each operation was unique in how it approached different issues. It was important to pull it all together.“
He says that significant improvements, specifically in terms of performance standards related to environmental management systems within the Anglo group, will be evident as aturkey suppliers fine grinding ball mill plant result of the AEW implementation.
„Angloplat will perform a gap analysis to see where it stands in terms of the new AEW and its performance standards. Then, management actions will be put in place to ensure that Angloplat’s internal operations are aligned with that,“ says Prinsloo.
He expects that the gap revealed in the gap analysis for the environmental management system will not be large, as the company already has a structuextraction of lithium from its oresred approach to water, energy and other key issues, aligned with the ISO14001 standard.
The supporting performance standards will be related to the most significant aspects of each operation, which will ensure the performance standards that relate to the most applicable risks at each operation, are considered.
However, a degree of inherent human resistance to change is expected to be one of the challenges associated with implementing the AEW. Prinsloo believbrazil niobium ore crushing plantes that this challenge can be addressed through the structured, understandable communication of the AEW’s importance, aims and requirements, from management to operational staff.
One of the key focus areas of the AEW is on compliance with applicable legal and other requirements to which Angloplat must subscribe, and to develop a culture of continual improvement in mining.
„Our main drive is legal compliance, and there’s constantly new legislation, so it is fuel oil handling system pricesa challenge to keep up with it all. South African law is an ever changing landscape, there is just so much to comply with,“ says Prinsloo. „It is, however, important that appropriate systems, processes and procedures are put in place to drive the company towards compliance with legal and other requirements.“
The challenge comes in knowing exactly which laws apply and need to be complied with. Angloplat makes use of a legal register, which is updated monthly, to allow for cross referencing between applicable laws and the company’s corresponding operational aspects, shedding light on legal liabilities and compliance requirements.
Angloplat took the stance long ago to be proactive in terms of environmental management, rather than reactive,“ says Prinsloo. Through the AEW and ISO14001, the focus will be on encouraging self-regulation and voluntary compliance.
„One of the things that we have decided to implement, is an environmental reward system, based on a number of key performance indicators (KPIs) that were communicated to all operations,“ says Prinsloo.
These KPIs include a renewed focus on water management, maintaining ISO14001 certification, accurate reporting, as well as compliance with AEW and legal requirements.
„We intentionally put in place a reward system that is linked to generic key environmental deliverables across all operations. It will provide operational environmental coordinators the opportunity to engender a sense of pride and ownership at their operations,“ Prinsloo concludes.