IGD 1014: ESOHMS INCIDENT, NONCONFORMITY, & CORRECTIVE ACTION

A. PURPOSE

The Interpretive Guidance Document (IGD) provides general guidance for the DLA-SM 

Environmental, Safety, and Occupational Health Management System (ESOHMS) per 

the integrated requirements of ISO 14001:2015 & ISO 45001:2018. This IGD establishes 

DLA Strategic Materials ESOHMS responsibility and authority for identifying, handling, 

and investigating non-conformances and potential non-conformances; mitigating 

resulting impacts; and initiating and completing corrective and preventive action, 

including results and effectiveness of corrective action. The DLA-SM ESOHMS applies 

to all DLA-SM facilities, their employees, and all personnel working on behalf of DLASM. 

 

B. PROCESS

1. DLA-SM will determine opportunities for improvement of the ESOHMS, as 

determined through internal audits and results of management reviews, and 

implement necessary actions to achieve the intended ESOHMS outcomes. 

2. Incident, nonconformity, and corrective action

DLA-SM will establish, implement, and maintain processes, including reporting, 

investigating, and taking action, to determine and manage incidents and 

nonconformities. 

When an incident or nonconformity occurs, DLA-SM will:

a. React in a timely manner to the incident or nonconformity, and as 

applicable, take action to control or correct it, and deal with the 

consequences, including mitigating adverse environmental impacts. 

b. Evaluate, with the participation of workers, and the involvement of other 

relevant interested parties, the need for corrective action to eliminate the 

root cause(s) of the incident or nonconformity, in order that it does not 

recur or occur elsewhere. This evaluation is to be performed by:

i. Investigating the incident or reviewing the nonconformity.

ii. Determining the cause(s) of the incident or nonconformity.

iii. Determining if similar incidents have occurred, if nonconformities

exist, or if they could potentially occur. 

c. Review existing assessments of ESOH risks and aspects and other risks, 

as appropriately determined by ESOHMS.

d. Determine and implement any action needed, including corrective action, 

in accordance with the hierarchy of ESOH controls and management of 

change.
e. Assess ESOH risks and aspects that relate to new or changed 

hazards/impacts, prior to taking action.

f. Review the effectiveness of any action taken, including corrective action. 

g. Make changes to the ESOHMS, if necessary.

3. Corrective actions will be appropriate to the effects, significance of the effects, or 

potential effects of the incidents or nonconformities encountered, including 

environmental impacts.

4. DLA-SM will retain documented information as evidence of the nature of the 

incidents or nonconformities and subsequent actions taken, and the results of 

any action and corrective action, including their effectiveness.

5. DLA-SM will communicate this documented information to relevant workers, and, 

where they exist, workers’ representatives, and other relevant interested parties. 

6. Continual improvement

DLA-SM will continually improve the suitability, adequacy, and effectiveness of 

the ESOHMS to:

a. Enhance ESOHMS performance.

b. Promote a culture that supports an ESOHMS.

c. Promote the participation of workers in implementing actions for the 

continual improvement of the ESOHMS.

d. Communicate the relevant results of continual improvement to workers, 

and, where they exist, workers’ representatives. 

e. Maintain and retain documented information as evidence of continual 

improvement.

C. SUPPORTING ESOHMS DOCUMENTS

1. DLA-SM ESOHMS Policy Statement

2. DLA-SM ESOH Management Plan

“Any reproduction of this document may not reflect the current version. Please refer to 

the ‘I Am The Key’ website for the most current version.”