SQT Blog

This is a question we frequently get asked here in SQT.

We have four Environmental Auditing courses.

The first is the:
EMS/Internal Environmental Auditor course

We then have three IEMA approved auditing training courses:

IEMA Approved Foundation Course in Environmental Auditing (Ireland)

IEMA Approved Advanced EMS Auditing Course (Ireland)

IEMA Approved Internal EMS Auditing (Ireland/Northern Ireland)

(EMS Environmental Management System)

The first course, the EMS/Internal Environmental Auditor course is a two day course designed for those who want to:

.
This course is very popular and when run in-house, can be tailored to suit company requirements and include an on-site practical audit.

The next three courses are IEMA accredited. IEMA, The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment is an independent, non-profit making organisation, dedicated to raising standards of professional competence in the environmental auditing and environmental management systems auditing fields and is the largest body of environmental auditors world-wide. More information on IEMA can be found on their website here.

The IEMA approved Foundation and Advanced courses are both five day intensive training courses.

The Foundation course will be of interest to company personnel who are responsible for implementing or maintaining the EMS in their company. It will also be of interest to those who are responsible for the internal environmental auditing function within their company.

The Advanced course prepare delegates for the role of environmental auditors/assessors of EMS to standards acceptable to third party certification bodies. Attendees should be familiar with the requirements of ISO 14001/EMAS before attending this course. The course is intended for environmental and quality professionals who have previously attended an IEMA approved course or who have a sound understanding of EMS and who wish to improve their environmental auditing skills and refresh their knowledge of environmental issues and themes.

In other words if you have a good prior knowledge of EMS and need more training in auditing skills, the Advanced course is for you. If you need intensive training in EMS, then the Foundation course is more suitable.

Both five day courses get a lot of material covered. The practical component on both courses is based on a comprehensive case study. With both five day courses, there is continuous assessment of practical work through out the course and a written examination at the end.

A certificate of competence is awarded to participants who satisfactorily complete the course continuous assessment and examination. Both five day courses meet the training requirements for registration as an Associate Environmental Auditor with IEMA. To register for the next level of Environmental Auditor, you will also need to meet the specified auditing hours required by IEMA.

Both five day courses cover European/Irish legislation

Finally we provide the three day IEMA approved Internal EMS Auditing course only as an in-house course. This is similar to the first course I covered above, but is IEMA accredited. This course covers European/Irish but also Northern Ireland legislation.

People who have queries on any of the above can email akelly@sqt.ie.

With September coming and children returning to school and students starting or returning to college, many people begin to think of their own training needs. There has never been as much emphasis on upskilling for all of us.

Here in SQT we find a big increase in course bookings at this time of year. I just want to draw your attention to some of the longer courses commencing shortly. Here’s a quick list and I’ve inserted a link back to the course page, where further details can be found. I’ve included public courses of four days or more duration.

Black Belt – HETAC level 8, commencing 12th October Dublin

Green Belt – HETAC level 7, commencing 22nd September Dublin and 19th October in Cork

Green Belt – HETAC level 6, commencing 22nd September Dublin and 19th October in Cork

NEBOSH International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety, commencing 23rd September Dublin

NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety, commencing 28th September Dublin

Certified Energy Management – AEE, commencing 21st September Dublin

Train the Trainer, National Register of Trainers – FETAC level 6, commencing 12th October Dublin and 16th November Limerick

Quality Management Systems Auditor/Lead Auditor – IRCA, commencing various dates in the Autumn in Dublin and Limerick

Lean Manufacturing Tools – FETAC level 5, commencing 14th September Dublin

IEMA Approved Foundation Course in Environmental Auditing (Ireland), commencing 11th October Dublin

IEMA Approved Advanced EMS Auditing Course (Ireland), commencing 22nd November Dublin

Occupational Health & Safety Management System Lead Auditor, commencing 8th November Dublin

Good luck to all.

Frank McDonald wrote an interesting article recently in The Irish Times about recent waste management initiatives in the Defence Forces.

(Waste Management is one of our core Environmental Management training courses hence why I was interested).

McDonald wrote: The Defence Forces have gone green by recycling up to 70 per cent of the waste they generate, slashing the volume going to landfill by more than three-quarters over the past eight years from 6,000 to 1,300 tonnes annually.

The cost of dealing with waste has also dropped dramatically, from €1.3 million in 2002 to an estimated €450,000 this year – largely as a result of switching from 16 local waste disposal contracts to a single fixed-price contract, tendered every three years.

Led by director of engineering Col Jim Foley, the effort to save money was spurred by increasing landfill charges in 2003/2004.

“That’s when we took the bull by the horns,” he said. Asked if changing the culture was the most difficult task, he replied: “Absolutely”.

The Defence Forces’ waste management campaign has involved the appointment of barracks waste management managers and teams, training of personnel and the installation of smart bins and compactor skips – and regular reminders.

Recycling is being extended to include composting for all kitchen waste in the nine largest barracks, including Cathal Brugha and McKee in Dublin and The Curragh. There are also annual inspections and awards – and “follow up action” in relation to poor performers.

Fair dues to the Defence Forces for their march on waste.

The Green Hopitality Award (GHA) is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the National Waste Prevention Programme. The focus and aim of the Green Hospitality Award is to ‘green Irish hospitality’ and it is now recognised as one of the most successful programmes in Europe.

This is a voluntary programme within the hospitality sector. Each successful member receives an award based on a set of strict criteria and can use the GHA Logo.

Bewleys Hotel at Newlands Cross is a member of the GHA. Some of our training courses are held at this hotel.

You are probably used to seeing the notice in hotels about towels – if you wish to reuse the towels you place them on the towel rack; if you want clean ones, you place the dirty ones on the floor. I was struck by how much more Bewleys Hotel had added to this list, the last time I stayed there.

I took photographs of their card to show how much effort this hotel in making to green Irish Hospitality. Well done Bewleys!