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PDF version1.1. Introduction
1.1.0.1.
This section of ASEMS defines the generic Safety and Environmental management requirements for all Products, Systems and Services (PSS) procured by the MOD, to ensure that they are assessed and managed for safety and environment in a coherent and consistent way. ASEMS Part 2 - Instructions, Guidance and Support sets out the instructions that will ensure compliance with the ASEMS Clauses contained in ASEMS Part 1 - Policy.
1.1.0.2.
These General, Safety and Environmental Management Procedures are to be employed during a project’s life cycle by DE&S and contractors working for them.
1.1.0.3.
The General Procedures, the Project Oriented Safety Management System (POSMS) and the Project Oriented Environmental Management System (POEMS) stress the importance of identifying and consulting with stakeholders and Subject Matter Experts. Safety and environmental protection can only be achieved and sustained through co-ordinated effort by organisations with responsibilities for operation, maintenance and training as well as design, manufacture and upkeep. ASEMS Part 2 is intended for application by DE&S, but it also contains information which may be useful to other authorities with different responsibilities.
1.1.0.4.
Safety risk and environmental impacts for all activities undertaken by the MOD has been recognised for many years both in terms of legal requirements and the functional safety of PSS that have the potential to cause unintentional harm to people or the environment. The need to manage and control safety risk and environmental impacts; and the safety and environmental management obligations that result from National and International Legislation is defined in MOD Policy and specific Regulatory requirements. It is a requirement that MOD can demonstrate that it has put in place appropriate management controls and procedures to identify and manage potential safety risks and environmental impacts throughout the life of its projects.
1.1.0.5.
Compliance will be assessed against the Clauses contained within ASEMS Part 1 - Policy and against the principles and guidance contained in ASEMS Part 3 - Audit and Assurance Manual. The instructions and procedures in ASEMS Part 2 provide the DE&S methodology that should be followed.
1.1.0.6.
There are a number of general management procedures that are applicable to both safety and environmental protection. The POSMS and the POEMS describe the Safety and environmental protection management procedures to be employed during a project’s life cycle by DE&S and contractors working for them.
1.1.0.7.
By applying these instructions and procedures, Delivery Teams will be able to develop and operate, at the project level, safety and environmental management systems that are appropriate for discharging their delegated responsibilities and satisfying the requirements defined in Legislation, Departmental Policy, Defence Regulations and Domain-specific policy set by Operating Centres or Front Line Commands. Delivery Teams will be able to demonstrate that MOD’s safety and environmental policy is being achieved in the acquisition process consistently and in a structured and formal way. Using these instructions and procedures will bring about improvements in safety and environmental management and corresponding reduction of project risk resulting from safety or environmental issues.
1.1.0.8.
When determining what procedures to use to adhere to a particular clause, there may be more than one procedure that relates to a clause and more than one clause can be linked to more than one procedure; the relationship between clauses and procedures is not 1-2-1.
1.1.0.9.
Safety and environmental protection can only be achieved and sustained through co-ordinated effort by authorities with responsibilities for operation, maintenance, training as well as design, manufacture and upkeep. These instructions, procedures and supporting tools and techniques are intended for application by DE&S and their contractors and represent good practice; they contain information and processes which may be useful to other authorities with different responsibilities. Project risk, and hence risk to operational effectiveness, resulting from safety or environmental issues can manifest by:
- Increased cost;
- Delays;
- Legal non-compliance;
- Reputational damage;
- Death and/or injury to operators, other military personnel and third parties;
- Damage to the environment.
1.1.0.10.
Further guidance can be found from the relevant Operating Centre, Programme Safety and Environmental Management System or Project Safety and Environmental Management Plan.
1.2. Scope and Structure
1.2.0.1.
The scope of these general, safety and environmental procedures is limited to acquisition projects for PSS, and excludes procurements made outside the DE&S. It includes the safety issues relating to the environment (e.g. health and safety risk from use of hazardous materials) and hence overlaps with some of the aspects of the environmental instructions. It excludes occupational health and safety within the workplace of DE&S which is covered under statutory legislation and JSP 375 - the MOD Health and Safety Handbook. It does include occupational health and safety issues associated with handling and operation of the product, system and services being acquired.
1.2.0.2.
The general procedures apply to those areas of acquisition that are common to both safety and environmental protection and so are common to both. The POSMS deals with the potential safety impacts of PSS within their specified sphere of operation including risks associated with storage and transportation. The POEMS deals with actual and potential environmental impacts. Both the POEMS and the POSMS apply to all stages of the project life cycle from Concept through to Disposal, including any development or trials activities.
1.3. Version Control
1.3.1. Version 2.3 to 3.0 Uplift
1.3.1.1.
Major uplift from the Acquisition System Guidance (ASG) to online version.
1.3.2. Version 3.0 to 3.1 Uplift
1.3.2.1.
Text change replacing Project Team with Delivery Team.
