Integrating Electronics Stewardship into Your Environmental Management System EMS

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Integrating Electronics Stewardship into Your
Environmental Management System (EMS)

• Bill KulasDepartment of Veterans Affairs
• VISN 1 Environmental Protection Manager

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Topics of Discussion

• The Department of Veterans Affairs Green
  Environmental Management System (GEMS)
• Integrating the management of electronics into
  GEMS
• The GEMS Guidebook
• Nine Steps to Establish a Successful GEMS
• The Facility Perspective
• The significant aspects/impacts of electronics
  and the GEMS Program

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GEMS Guidebook

• Intro, Quick Fix/Find Tables.
• EMS Concepts.
• 9-Steps to Implementation.
• Sample Environmental Aspect/Impacts templates for
  Operating Units.
• Sample Policies Procedures.
• Evaluation Tool E-SAFE.
• Technical Resources.

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Nine Steps to Establisha Successful GEMS
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EMS Gap Analysis

• Environmental Policy
• Environmental Program Manager Position Training
• Environmental Performance Standards
• Environmental Compliance Audits
• Procurement Programs
• Recycling Programs
• Pollution Prevention Programs
• Enhance Internal/External Communication

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Environmental Policy GEMS

• Executive Order 13148
• ISO 14001 requires a commitment to continual
  improvement and prevention of pollution
• GEMS is a management system integrated within the
  VAMC management systems
• VA Policy statement
• Defines scope

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Planning Environmental Aspects and Impacts

• Management of universal waste and waste
  electronics is an activity within the scope of
  the EMS that VA can control and that may have a
  significant impact on the environment if not
  managed properly

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Identify Significant Aspects and Impacts

• Aspect Activities, services, products that can
  interact with the environment.
• Purchase of electronics and medical equipment
  DfE
• Management of electronics
• Disposal of electronics
• Impact Change to the environment whether
  adverse or beneficial resulting from the
  organizations aspect
• Use of natural resources
• Energy and paper usage
• Waste management and release to the environment
  from improper disposal

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Significant aspects/impacts
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Factors to consider for Significance

• Risk
• Compliance
• Frequency
• Control

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Legal and other requirements
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Objectives, targets and programs (x7)

• 100 of Computers Recycled by 2006 (met)
• 100 of purchasing with multiple environmental
  attributes
• 100 of units have an average life span of four
  years (met)
• Energy Star features enabled on 95 percent of
  units (met)
• Set default on all PCs and copiers to
  double-sided printing
• Eliminate purchase of patient beds with mercury
  switches (met)
• Eliminate all mercury sphygmomanometers,
  barometers (met)
• Convert to 100 Digital Radiography (90 met)
• Eliminate Reagents containing thimerosal

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Implementation and operation

• Resources
• Roles, responsibilities and authorities
• Designated management representative (GEMS
  Coordinators)
• Establish program
• Report to top management on performance

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Competence, training and awareness

• Training needs assessment
• Training for credit card holders on affirmative
  procurement
• Training for acquisition personnel who handle
  waste electronics
• Training for managers of universal/electronic
  waste

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Implementation

• Communication Internal/External
• Documentation
• Control of documents Approval, review, etc.
• Operational controls
• Emergency preparedness and response

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Operational Controls

• Purchasing criteria
• Substitution (LCDs vs CRTs)
• Work Practices (two sided printing, shut down,
  etc.)
• Management of Universal waste procedures,
  training and documentation
• Universal Bill of Lading, Manifests
• Certificates of Recycling
• Train employees on operational controls

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Monitoring and measurement

• Federal Electronics Challenge Awards
• Evaluation of compliance
• Periodic evaluations/audits
• Nonconformities
• Maintain records to demonstrate conformity
• Internal audits

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Environmental Audit Findings
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Management Review

• Results of audits and evaluations of compliance
• Communications from interested parties
• Environmental performance scorecards
• Objectives and targets
• Follow up and corrective actions
• Recommendations for improvement

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Challenges

• Risk Adverse Industry
• Pressure for single use devices
• Inability to be there for the purchasing decision
• Lack of time/resources
• Long term, life cycle cost argument
• FDA Revalidation

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Any Questions?
Bill Kulas william.kulas_at_med.va.gov