Persons doing work under the organization’s control shall be aware of:

REQUIREMENTS:

The organisation additionally must ensure these people are aware of the organization’s sustainability policy, their expected participation in achieve the organisation’s sustainability goals, and the consequences of not acting.

EDUCATION:

Closely linked with competence is awareness. This means that all those doing work under the organisation’s control are aware of what the policy is on sustainability, the organisation’s aims and ambitions, what is expected of them in terms of contribution and how they will need to include consideration the organisation’s sustainability goals in their duties, and to be aware of the consequences if they fail to act.

A good way of ensuring awareness is through inclusion in employment or engagement contracts, through inductions (into the office or the site), through all communications methods and through performance reviews.

RELEVANT SEMS QUESTION:

COMMITMENT AND RESOURCING/Competence and Awareness: Top Management ensures those doing work under the organization’s control, have the required competencies in event sustainability, provide training or specialist support as required, and ensure awareness of the organization’s sustainability policy.

EXAMPLE OF EVIDENCE TEXT:

Interested parties to XYZ Organisation’s event sustainability management system are informed of the organisation’s Sustainability Management Policy document. Our interested parties also include staff, crew and contractors – those doing work under our control or direction. We keep a log of all staff reading the Sustainability Policy. This can be viewed here.

Participants whose work has direct impact on our event sustainability performance have inclusions in their contracts about compliance with requirements regarding sustainability and the expectation of their performance. For example the inclusion of wording about food service packaging and waste systems in caterer’s contracts and information sheets.

Staff and crew have a clause in their employment/engagement contracts regarding sustainability and the policy of our organisation. Additionally, those staff/crew/contractors who have a direct role to play in the sustainability performance of our event/s is provided (or is involved in developing) an action list of duties to perform. The consequences of not acting are also communicated. Performance is reviewed at staff debriefs.

AUDITOR INSTRUCTIONS:

• Review evidence of their awareness of the Sustainability Policy. Awareness can be through many engagement activities that are detailed in the Event Sustainability Communications Matrix Document.
• This could be through declared experience of implementation by team members, resumes, through the team or individuals undertaking CPD or a consultant being engaged to guide them through.
• Look for clauses in employment/engagement contracts.
• Look for action lists or other documentation that states their expected duties.
• Look for communication of the consequences of not acting.
• Interview staff to prove awareness

AUDIT OUTCOMES:

• The organization has demonstrated there is awareness amongst those doing work under its control of the organization’s sustainable development principles, policy and plans.
• A log is kept of methods of communications or a plan for communications is documented.
• Clauses are included in employment or engagement contracts or similar documentation.
• Action plans or other documentation is provided to staff/crew/contractors on their expected duties.
• Inductions occur where relevant
• Adherence is included in staff performance reviews.