C2.2.8 Competence, Training and Awareness
This was formerly one section of the standard, but has now been split into two separate sections:
- Competence
- Awareness
ISO 14001 requires an organisation to identify training needs. Procedures must be maintained to ensure that all employees are aware of the importance of the requirements of the EMS, how this affects them and the potential consequences of departing from the procedures. The content and level of the training will be specific to the tasks they are required to conduct.
Persons now need to be competent if they can affect the organisation’s environmental performance or ability to fulfil its compliance obligations, rather than if they have the potential to cause a significant environmental impact. The need for training has been expanded into a wider need for taking actions to acquire necessary competences, which can also include mentoring, reassignment or hiring / contracting activities.