Environmental Compliance Management System

Overview:

When Elizabeth Watterworth, Specialist - EHS Systems, Environmental Health & Safety, embarked on the development of an Environmental Compliance aspects register for the University of Calgary she saw the opportunity for a Campus as a Learning Lab project to support this work. Creating an aspects register for the University of Calgary will ensure the organization has the information gathered and processes in place to manage its environmental compliance obligations now and into the future as the institution and obligations change. Professor Irene Herremans worked with Elizabeth and the Office of Sustainability to identify three Sustainable Energy Development students to engage in this CLL project – Claire Hosford, Kevonne Kerr and Cameron Young.

The students attended aspects register workshops as observers; at these workshops, University of Calgary employees gathered to identify any risk of non-compliance with environmental legislation and the tasks required to stay in compliance. These risks were linked to institutional functions like catering, heating and cooling, campus fleet, grounds, ranch, waste management, etc. Next, the students aggregated and analyzed risk information from these workshops and then interpreted this data to assist with preparations for risk prioritization conversations with organizational leaders.

Outcomes:

• The students supported the development of key management system documentation aligned to the ISO framework for the University of Calgary.

Next Steps:

• Future CLL projects may focus on further integration and streamlining of Environment, Health & Safety processes on campus.