The Department of Infrastructure’s Waste Management Section has achieved international recognition for its Quality, Environment and Health and Safety management systems after 18 months of hard work.
The section has attained ISO 9001, 14001 and 18001 certification for systems covering the operation of the Department’s Animal Waste Processing Plant, Northern Civic Amenity Site and Landfill Site at the Point of Ayre. Waste Management becomes the first section in Government to hold all three standards.
These ISO standards are among the most widely used management tools to help organisations meet the needs of their customers and other stakeholders, while also complying with relevant statutory and regulatory requirements.
Minister for Infrastructure David Cretney MHK said:
‘A lot of hard work has been undertaken to bring our systems and procedures up to these internationally recognised standards and those involved should be very proud. Having witnessed first-hand the quality of service delivered by staff at the Northern Civic Amenity Site and the Animal Waste Plant it is understandable why accreditation had been achieved.’
Lloyds Quality Assurance conducted external verification of the section’s management systems over 12 months, ensuring all policies and procedures met the required principles of the standards and were supported with robust evidence to demonstrate they were understood and adhered to by all parts of the organisation.
Head of the Department’s Waste and Fleet Management Services John Wrigley said:
'Whilst quality of service and meeting our customers’ needs is undoubtedly important, it was the benefit of improving our health and safety systems that was the primary focus. By becoming certificated to this standard we are sending a clear message about how seriously we take safety in the workplace.
Becoming certificated means our sites are operated in line with legislation and that we will change procedures accordingly if the legislation changes and requires us to do so.
Going through this process makes all employees more aware of health and safety in general, and part of the preventative measures may include things such as enhanced employee training and ensuring that in an emergency situation they know how they should respond. At the heart of the ISO standards is the cycle of continual improvement, and this has ensured we have driven improvement and continually look towards how we can build upon any successes whilst addressing any areas of concern.
The Department has now started the process of working towards these standard for other sections within the Operations Division. '
