Assessing The Effectiveness Of Environmental Management Systems: The Case Of Tema Oil Refinery (Tor)

Abstract This research sought to assess the effectiveness of environmental management systems (EMS) at the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR). The study adopted wholly qualitative research design with indepth interview guide as its main research and data collection instrument. The study employed a sample of twenty (20) respondents. Respondents were made up of members from the human resource, environment, depot management, and transport and tank management as well as members of the health, safety, security and environmental quality (HSSEQ) committees. The study establishes that various activities of TOR have consequential environmental impact on employees, the natural state of the environment and nearby communities. Again, the study has established that the EMS of TOR is implemented through a systematic and robust management scheme beginning from environmental review and consultation, EMS development and planning, EMS implementation, and EMS assessment and evaluation. The research has also identified that, the EMS of TOR is effective in combating the likely environmental impact produced by their operations and this is evidenced through the composition of the EMS like fire risk management, broad EMS system, spills and leakage management, institution of occupational health and safety measures as well as the formation of the health, safety, security and environment committee. Despite the effectiveness of the system, the study identified financial challenges, delay in review, assessment and evaluation as well as difficulty in identifying environmental impact as impeding the effective and smooth implementation of EMS. Following this, the study recommends that, the company in collaboration with state environmental management units conduct timely EMS assessment whilst offering comprehensive approach in identifying the most likely environmental impact.