ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
MNO3708
Cross-functional teams P4
CFTs provide the best and only integrative approach to effectively managing safety, health and the
environment (SHE) in the workplace. Such teams are multi-disciplinary in nature, because the members
come from different professions or disciplines that convene to produce the best available solution to any
SHE challenge in the workplace. CFTs are purpose driven and do not function beyond the scope of the
challenge for which they need to find a solution. Below are the professions or disciplines of a CFT:
Line Manager
Responsible for the effectiveness of organisational activities, products and services. They have to make the
final decisions on the nature of programme elements, implement the programme and evaluate its outcome.
Environmental manager
Environmental specialists contribute to monitoring environmental issues in and around an organisation’s
facilities.
Safety Practitioner
Responsible for guarding the quality of safety programmes. They have to facilitate the discussion and
decision-making processes.
Occupational health expert
Their input and knowledge relating to pre- and post-medical exams, medical surveillance, injury reviews, etc.
are indispensable when it comes to safety risk assessment, incident analysis and finding solutions.
Ergonomics expert
Focusses on the human-machine interface, which includes 4 elements: the environment, the machine (e.g.
equipment), the capabilities of the person and the interaction (interface) between person and machine.
Engineer
Engineers are most knowledgeable about the SHE risks associated with the design of machinery and
equipment, with the aim of limiting energy release at the source.
Human resources manager
Selection, conducting surveys, performance appraisals and very effective in making decisions about human
behaviour in order to enhance SHE practices in the workplace via effective environmental management.
Financial manager
CFT requires the input of a financial manager or representative as the introduction of any new form of
improvement or innovation requires some level of financial expenditure.
Enterprise safety risk manager
Focuses on the financial safety risk that an organisation incurs in operating its basic business activities,
products and services.
Maintenance department staff
Provide information on the probability of the performance of hardware; this is essential for making decisions
on the functional integrity of machines and equipment.
1
, Training department staff
Innovation or changes pertaining to SHE issues in the workplace frequently require workers to increase their
level of competence through innovative training.
Fauna, flora and marine expert
Assist environmental managers to take ownership and accountability of potential and actual environmental
impacts on the environment.
Water, air and soil expert
Specialises in the prevention of damage to water, air and soil. Assists organisations in implementing an EMS
that will prevent/minimise damage to such elements of human, plant and animal life.
Expert in the general psychological and social well-being of humans
Assists organisations in implementing an EMS that results in as little harm to humans as far as possible,
abstaining from harming human functioning in any respect, including psychological and physical harm.
Quality management
Refers to functions of inspection, quality control and quality assurance. Within the context of participating in
a CFT for the purpose of ensuring an acceptable quality of environmental management.
Special services
Although not frequently required, environmental management may need the input of one or more special
services offered by a particular company, profession or contractor (fire-fighting, legal, PPE supplier, etc.).
The above list serves as a basis of complementary disciplines that could apply, based on its specific
environmental impact, an organisation does not necessarily need the input of the entire range.
Components of the environment P11
The environment comprises of 3 main components:
Natural environment Consists of all physical and chemical substances, all forms of life, as well as all eco-
logical processes and interactions any one or more of the preceding elements.
Built environment Is man-made and made up of physical structures and infrastructure.
Social environment Consists of socio-cultural structures and processes, as well as the community and
product safety and health.
NEMA depicts the environment as the total surroundings within which the human race exists. Such
surroundings are made up of all physical structures and infrastructure, all forms of life and processes of
ecological existence, plus the total sphere of human social expression.
2
MNO3708
Cross-functional teams P4
CFTs provide the best and only integrative approach to effectively managing safety, health and the
environment (SHE) in the workplace. Such teams are multi-disciplinary in nature, because the members
come from different professions or disciplines that convene to produce the best available solution to any
SHE challenge in the workplace. CFTs are purpose driven and do not function beyond the scope of the
challenge for which they need to find a solution. Below are the professions or disciplines of a CFT:
Line Manager
Responsible for the effectiveness of organisational activities, products and services. They have to make the
final decisions on the nature of programme elements, implement the programme and evaluate its outcome.
Environmental manager
Environmental specialists contribute to monitoring environmental issues in and around an organisation’s
facilities.
Safety Practitioner
Responsible for guarding the quality of safety programmes. They have to facilitate the discussion and
decision-making processes.
Occupational health expert
Their input and knowledge relating to pre- and post-medical exams, medical surveillance, injury reviews, etc.
are indispensable when it comes to safety risk assessment, incident analysis and finding solutions.
Ergonomics expert
Focusses on the human-machine interface, which includes 4 elements: the environment, the machine (e.g.
equipment), the capabilities of the person and the interaction (interface) between person and machine.
Engineer
Engineers are most knowledgeable about the SHE risks associated with the design of machinery and
equipment, with the aim of limiting energy release at the source.
Human resources manager
Selection, conducting surveys, performance appraisals and very effective in making decisions about human
behaviour in order to enhance SHE practices in the workplace via effective environmental management.
Financial manager
CFT requires the input of a financial manager or representative as the introduction of any new form of
improvement or innovation requires some level of financial expenditure.
Enterprise safety risk manager
Focuses on the financial safety risk that an organisation incurs in operating its basic business activities,
products and services.
Maintenance department staff
Provide information on the probability of the performance of hardware; this is essential for making decisions
on the functional integrity of machines and equipment.
1
, Training department staff
Innovation or changes pertaining to SHE issues in the workplace frequently require workers to increase their
level of competence through innovative training.
Fauna, flora and marine expert
Assist environmental managers to take ownership and accountability of potential and actual environmental
impacts on the environment.
Water, air and soil expert
Specialises in the prevention of damage to water, air and soil. Assists organisations in implementing an EMS
that will prevent/minimise damage to such elements of human, plant and animal life.
Expert in the general psychological and social well-being of humans
Assists organisations in implementing an EMS that results in as little harm to humans as far as possible,
abstaining from harming human functioning in any respect, including psychological and physical harm.
Quality management
Refers to functions of inspection, quality control and quality assurance. Within the context of participating in
a CFT for the purpose of ensuring an acceptable quality of environmental management.
Special services
Although not frequently required, environmental management may need the input of one or more special
services offered by a particular company, profession or contractor (fire-fighting, legal, PPE supplier, etc.).
The above list serves as a basis of complementary disciplines that could apply, based on its specific
environmental impact, an organisation does not necessarily need the input of the entire range.
Components of the environment P11
The environment comprises of 3 main components:
Natural environment Consists of all physical and chemical substances, all forms of life, as well as all eco-
logical processes and interactions any one or more of the preceding elements.
Built environment Is man-made and made up of physical structures and infrastructure.
Social environment Consists of socio-cultural structures and processes, as well as the community and
product safety and health.
NEMA depicts the environment as the total surroundings within which the human race exists. Such
surroundings are made up of all physical structures and infrastructure, all forms of life and processes of
ecological existence, plus the total sphere of human social expression.
2
