Page 14 - GreenMaster Winter 2023

uFEATUREuKEITH LYALL, SUPERINTENDENT, SUN PEAKS RESORT GOLF COURSE
4 steps to management
Sun Peaks weather shifts can be very drastic; here is the 18th hole in August 2019 with fresh snow at the summit.
Back in 2004, I was introduced to
the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 Environmental Standard, and at first, I thought it was just another marketing ploy to attract environmentally conscientious customers. I had always considered myself environmentally responsible, but had little education on the subject. The more I learned the more I took interest, and in 2009 Sun Peaks Resort LLP (SPR) made me the EMS Coordinator, in addition to being their Superintendent.
The more I learned about ISO, the more I began to appreciate the methodology behind it and how it relates to more than just the environment. The philosophy can be applied to all aspects of a management system, including Health & Safety, Quality and Production. I have also learned that many of the other certified environmental programs available to us, generally base their structure on the ISO 14001 standard. Ultimately anyone can, and should, implement a management system with or without a registrar monitoring your activities.
UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT OF YOUR ORGANIZATION
It can be quite overwhelming to start a management system. In this article, I hope to lessen the fear and set you on the path to get started while we are in the depths of winter. I will go through some of ISO’s specific sections and share examples along the way.
Just like starting an IPM program, it is important to understand the context of your organization; location, size, staff, ownership and operations can all play an important role in determining what your management goals are. This is what our EMS context looks like:
SPRLLP is an experienced resort developer and owner, operating Canada’s second largest four-season destination resort with approximately 1,728 hectares (4, 270 acres) of skiable terrain. Located in Sun Peaks,
British Columbia, Canada, SPRLLP was the first ski resort in North America to be certified under ISO 14001 in April 2004 and remains one of only a few that have attained certification. As a mountain resort operation, SPRLLP operates both winter and summer operations, relying on a blend of full-time, part- time and seasonal employees.
In order to completely understand your context, you need to identify external and internal issues that affect your organization, and a SWOT Analysis (Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, Threats) is a great way to show your context evaluation.
IDENTIFY YOUR SCOPE
The next step is to identify your scope. This covers all of your operations and activities and is the beginning of what will form your policies and procedures as you go forward. Scope will include items such as:
• Public Facilities i.e., pro shop, clubhouse, washrooms
• Maintenance Facilities • Operations
• Hazardous Material
• Waste Management
Also, it is a good idea to list items that you want to clarify that are out of scope, these items could include:
• Activities from 3rd party event
contractors i.e. corporate
tournaments, supplier demos
• Private construction that borders
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your property