Environmental & Regulatory Management System Purpose
This Environmental and Regulatory Management System (ERMS) is a methodical approach to minimize adverse environmental impacts, maintain regulatory compliance and encourage safe work practices at The University of Texas at Arlington (UT Arlington). A traditional Environmental Management System (EMS) includes only those issues that involve the environment. An effective EMS integrates environmental compliance and pollution prevention with the business management concept of continuous improvement. Most EMS’s follow the structure provided by ISO 14001, an international standard that describes the necessary components for an effective EMS. This structure is commonly referred to as “Plan-Do-Check-Act” and requires the demonstration of continual improvement. The UT Arlington ERMS builds upon these concepts and extends them to include other health and safety regulations and policies that the affect the University as well.
The purpose of this ERMS is to achieve and demonstrate environmental, health, and safety excellence by assessing and controlling the impact of UT Arlington’s activities from the academic and research community, as well as the activities from nonacademic departments. By integrating environmental, health, and safety compliance, sustainability concepts, and a continuous improvement model, UT Arlington can develop an ERMS that will exceed minimal regulatory requirements and perform “beyond compliance”.
The implementation of this ERMS will allow UT Arlington to increase its efficiency by utilizing financial, technological, and human resources while ensuring safety, protecting health, maintaining compliance, and minimizing the institution's impact on the environment. For the University’s ERMS to be effective, these environmental, health, and safety considerations should become a part of the routine day-to-day business activities and operations.