The Coulson Group of Companies

By Paul Pashnik, EMS Manager Environmental Management & Fire Protection

EMS Certification

During the last week of April and first week of May, Ron Sorensen completed the Timberland ISO14001 internal EMS audit. Ron identified several opportunities for improvements to our on-line manual as well as the need for EMS awareness re-fresher training. Many employees and contractors seemed to lack an understanding of the Coulson EMS Policy and how the current Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) applied to their specific job. A EMS refresher training, a “Train the Trainer” EMS training course was held during the first week of May and all supervisors are expected to conduct EMS training for all field crews during the next few months. In addition, Ron identified that our EMS inspection and fuel management records could be improved. We ask all supervisors to improve our performance by conducting required bi-weekly inspections and submit necessary on-line reports on a regular basis. Our on-line manual has been updated and will continue to be updated on an ongoing basis. The external EMS Audit is scheduled for the week of June 23 – 26th . Let’s make sure that everyone does their part in keeping our operations up to the environmental standard outlined in our EMS on-line manual.

SIMPLY EMS

Everything you wanted to know about Coulson’s ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems (EMS)

WHO DOES IT INVOLVE?

It includes all of the Coulson Group of Companies’ operations, employees and contractors, who provide supplies, carry out services, carryout equipment maintenance and repair in conducting Forest Management, Timber Harvesting, Timber Manufacturing and Aviation Services.

WHAT IS IT?

Under the International Standards Association (ISO) our environmental management system (EMS) has been certified and registered:

EMS is a process which implements and documents how the company’s operations interact with the environment.
ISO 14001:2004 is the international standard that regulates how an environmental system is set-

up and implemented by the company so it can be audited and certified by a third party recognized internationally as a certifying body.

Our commitment is to:

Prevention of Pollution
Compliance with Environmental Laws and Regulations
Provide resources to implement, check, assess and continually improve our environmental performance
Promote our environmental policy to employees, contractors, suppliers and the public.

When did it happen?

ISO 14001 Certification for Timberland Operations was achieved June, 2001 and Manufacturing Operations February 2003. During 2005 our EMS was updated to ISO 14001:2004 Standards. Our certification registration number is CC1652-012024

Where do I fit in?

You are responsible to take part in the EMS awareness training and in carrying out your duties:

Following the standard operating procedures and policies for your work.
In conducting your work you are required to Plan, Do, Check and Respond.
Respect and implement the corporate environmental policy signed by Wayne Coulson.
Report any environmental concerns or issues to your supervisor or manager.

Why EMS?

Times are changing and to continue to work in a increasingly competitive business we have to do our work in an environmentally sound manner
Our customers are demanding that we meet the ISO standard if we are to continue to sell them wood

How are we doing it?

By educating the management and supervisors about what the EMS is, and delegating them specific roles and responsibilities for their positions
Implementing ongoing training for all employees and contractors so everyone knows what their role and responsibility is to Coulson and the environment.
In doing our work, we Plan, Do, Check and Report
Supervisor conduct crew pre-operation meetings/briefings; bi-weekly inspections and reports.
Managers conduct monthly reviews, regular internal audits and yearly external third party audits.

Environmental Management & Fire Protection Con’t.

Fire Protection

Fire Preparedness - Although this spring has been cool and wet, we still are expecting what could be a hot dry summer. This spring we have trained approximately 43 of our logging crews in Basic Fire Suppression and safety as well as a practice fire drill involving crew organization and the use of a high pressure pump. Please make sure that you know the location of the emergency fire tools at your work site. Check heavy equipment to ensure it has the required hand tools (shovel and axe as well as a back tank pump full of water) and a fully charged fire extinguisher. Also the logging supervisor must ensure the fire tanker truck is full of water and that it is strategically located should it be needed to fight a fire. The assigned driver should start the truck and test the pump every week and more often as conditions get drier to make sure it is operational.

Fire Weather Stations - This year we have set-up fire weather stations to govern operations at Cataract Lake and Stewardson Inlet. The weather readings will enable us to determine when fire conditions require us to post a watchman and go to an early shift or shut down operations in order to prevent fires from starting due to high risk activities involved with logging and road building.

New Weather Station installed at Stewardson Inlet involves Remote Telemetry via the GOES Satellite network. Pictures here show the procedure of adjusting the satellite up-link antennas through the use of a laptop programmed to download GPS signals. Next issue we will advise you on how to access the Stewardson weather station from your home computer.

MAY, 2008 Volume 08-135