The organization and execution of work environmental projects in a Norwegian industrial company

Abstract

The major principles underlying the environmental work at STK may be summed up as follows

Responsibility. (1) The environmental organization, with its sub-committees, is responsible for establishing a systematic environmental effort within the company. The environmental organization must therefore develop an action programme which includes the identification, establishment of economic resources, and control of the execution of environmental projects. (2) the company/departmental management is responsible For the physical execution of environmental projects in an active cooperation with the employees through the departmental committees and the environmental organization. (3) The company management is responsible for ensuring that physical and psychological factors in the work environment are considered at the planning stage of new production facilities.

Democracy. The employees or their representatives on the joint committees must be involved in the identification and solution of their own problems, and participate in the control and the inspection of environmental projects.

Information. The environmental work demands a continuous, detailed exchange of information between the environmental organization, company/departmental management and the employees. Information from the company/departmental management is necessary to ensure that the employees have opportunities for inspection and control. Information from the employees to their supervisors and to the environmental organization ensures an early identification of problems. Information from the environmental organization is necessary for a common, coordinated environmental activity,

Integration. The environmental organization must be closely associated with the company's other organizational systems. This is achieved by ensuring that senior representatives from management and the trade unions participate in the environmental organization and the other joint committees.

Workdivision. (1) Minor environmental problems are solved within the departments as far as possible. (2) The environmental efforts are coordinated by a central group, the Work Environment Committee, which has overall responsibility. (3) A small, independent group (the Environmental Group) is established to identify and assess environmental problems in the different departments. (4) Sub-committees are established to be responsible for environmental aspects which require special knowledge (e.g. the Rehabilitation Committee, the Chemicals Committee). (5) The departmental committees function as local Work Environment Committees, by establishing the priorities for their environmental project and controlling their execution in their own department.