ISO 14001 Questions
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What You Need to Check to Satisfy Requirements
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| Does the company have an established Environmental Management System (EMS)? |
- Documentation of the EMS, including policies, procedures, and manuals, list of environmental objectives, and targets.
- Records showing the integration of risk management into decision-making processes.
- Records showing information about the EMS being shared with both internal and external stakeholders.
- Evaluation of compliance with environmental legal requirements.
- Records of corrective and preventive actions taken.
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| Is there a defined environmental policy approved by top management? |
- Copy of the Environmental Policy signed by the Top Management
- Evidence of easy access to the Environmental Policy
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| Are environmental roles, responsibilities, and authorities defined and communicated within the organization? |
- Documentation of job descriptions for relevant roles outlining specific responsibilities, including environmental duties and authorities for different functions or departments.
- Written procedures detailing environmental responsibilities and authorities for various functions or departments. These can be integrated into operational SOPs.
- Records of the environmental policy incorporating statements about roles, responsibilities, and authorities, demonstrating organizational commitment.
- Training records confirming that employees are adequately trained on their environmental responsibilities and authorities
- Records indicating the communication of environmental responsibilities and authorities to all relevant personnel across different channels
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| Does top management review the EMS at planned intervals to ensure its continuing suitability, adequacy, and effectiveness? |
- Records of scheduled management review meetings.
- Evidence that top management actively participates in the review process.
- Records demonstrating that the review includes an assessment of the EMS’s suitability, adequacy, and effectiveness.
- Evidence of decisions and actions taken as a result of the management review.
- Documentation showing that the review addresses any changes in the organization’s context, including internal and external issues.
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Planning
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| Has the company identified the environmental aspects and impacts associated with its activities? |
- Documentation of environmental aspects and impacts identification process.
- Records of significant environmental aspects identified and the criteria used to identify them
- Documentation of methodologies used for assessing environmental impacts.
- Evidence of involvement of relevant stakeholders in the identification process.
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General Management and Leadership
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| Does the company have measurable environmental objectives and targets? |
- Documentation of established environmental objectives and targets that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).
- Evidence of alignment between environmental objectives and the organization’s overall environmental policy and goals.
- Records that indicate monitoring and tracking progress toward achieving environmental objectives and targets.
- Documentation of any revisions or updates made to environmental objectives and targets based on performance evaluations or changes in circumstances.
- Evidence of communication and dissemination of environmental objectives and targets to relevant stakeholders within the organization.
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Support
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| Are there adequate resources allocated for the implementation and maintenance of the EMS? |
- Documentation of budgetary allocations or resource plans specifically designated for EMS implementation and maintenance.
- Evidence of sufficient staffing levels and expertise dedicated to EMS-related activities.
- Evidence of periodic reviews or assessments conducted to ensure resource adequacy and effectiveness in supporting EMS objectives and requirements.
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| Is there an established process for employee competence, training, and awareness related to environmental management? |
- Documentation of a formalized training program or process that covers environmental management principles, procedures, and requirements.
- Records of training sessions conducted for employees at various levels within the organization, including documentation of attendance and training outcomes.
- Evidence of regular assessments or evaluations of employee competence in environmental management practices.
- Documentation of procedures for identifying and addressing specific training needs related to environmental management.
- Evidence of ongoing communication and awareness initiatives aimed at promoting environmental responsibility and compliance among employees.
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| Are operational controls in place to manage significant environmental aspects? |
- Documentation of operational controls specifying measures to mitigate or minimize significant environmental impacts.
- Evidence of implementation of identified operational controls through procedures, work instructions, or other relevant documents.
- Records demonstrating regular monitoring and measurement of operational controls to ensure effectiveness in managing environmental aspects.
- Evidence of periodic reviews or assessments conducted to evaluate operational controls’ performance and identify improvement opportunities.
- Documentation of corrective actions taken in response to deviations, non-conformities, or incidents related to operational controls.
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| Is there a process for managing emergency situations that could have environmental impacts? |
- Documentation of an emergency preparedness and response plan outlining procedures for identifying, assessing, and responding to emergency situations with potential environmental impacts.
- Evidence of regular training and drills conducted to familiarize employees with emergency procedures and response protocols.
- Records of emergency contact information, including internal and external contacts, emergency services, and regulatory agencies.
- Documentation of resources and equipment available for emergency response, including spill containment materials, personal protective equipment, and emergency response vehicles.
- Evidence of periodic reviews or updates to the emergency preparedness and response plan based on lessons learned from drills, incidents, or changes in operations or regulations.
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| Are suppliers and contractors required to meet the company’s environmental requirements? |
- Evidence of supplier or contractor assessments or evaluations conducted to ensure compliance with environmental requirements.
- Records of communication with suppliers and contractors regarding environmental expectations, including training sessions or information provided.
- Documentation of procedures for monitoring and auditing supplier and contractor performance related to environmental requirements.
- Evidence of corrective actions taken in response to non-compliance or deviations from environmental requirements by suppliers or contractors.
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| Does the company monitor and measure its environmental performance? |
- Documentation of established environmental performance indicators (EPIs) relevant to the organization’s activities, products, and services.
- Records of regular monitoring and measurement activities conducted to assess environmental performance against established EPIs.
- Evidence of data collection and analysis processes to track environmental performance trends over time.
- Evidence of management review and use of environmental performance data to inform decision-making and drive continual improvement efforts.
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| Is there a continual improvement process in place for the EMS? |
- Evidence of procedures outlining how opportunities for improvement are identified, evaluated, and prioritized.
- Records of documented improvement initiatives or projects undertaken to enhance the effectiveness or efficiency of the EMS.
- Evidence of monitoring and measurement activities to track the progress and outcomes of improvement efforts.
- Documentation of reviews or assessments conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the continual improvement process and identify areas for refinement or enhancement.
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| Does the organization review and update its environmental aspects and impacts regularly? |
- Documentation of procedures outlining the process for reviewing and updating environmental aspects and impacts.
- Records of periodic reviews conducted at planned intervals to assess the relevance and significance of environmental aspects and impacts.
- Evidence of consideration given to changes in operations, activities, products, or services that may affect environmental aspects and impacts.
- Documentation of updates made to environmental aspects and impacts based on review findings or changes in organizational context.
- Evidence of communication and dissemination of updated environmental aspects and impacts to relevant stakeholders within the organization.
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| Are there documented objectives for environmental improvement, and is progress monitored? |
- Documentation of specific environmental improvement objectives that are aligned with the organization’s environmental policy and goals.
- Evidence of monitoring and measurement activities conducted to track progress towards achieving environmental improvement objectives.
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Compliance
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| Does the company evaluate its compliance with environmental legal requirements, regulations, and other obligations? |
- Documentation of procedures for identifying, reviewing, and staying updated on applicable environmental legal requirements and other obligations.
- Records of compliance assessments or audits conducted to evaluate the organization’s conformity with environmental legal requirements and other obligations.
- Evidence of documented findings from compliance assessments, including identified areas of non-compliance or potential risks.
- Documentation of corrective actions taken in response to non-compliance findings, including assigned responsibilities and timelines.
- Evidence of regular reviews or updates to compliance procedures and processes based on changes in environmental regulations or organizational activities.
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| Does the company stay informed about changes in environmental legislation? |
- Documentation of procedures for monitoring and tracking changes in environmental legislation at local, national, and international levels.
- Records of subscriptions to legal update services, newsletters, or other sources of information on environmental regulations.
- Evidence of regular review meetings or discussions held to review updates in environmental legislation and assess their potential impact on the organization.
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Documentation and Record-keeping
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| Are all EMS-related documents and records readily accessible and properly maintained? |
- Documentation of a document control procedure outlining the process for managing EMS-related documents and records.
- Evidence of a centralized document management system or repository where EMS documents and records are stored.
- Evidence of procedures for document retrieval, including search capabilities and version control mechanisms, to ensure accessibility and accuracy.
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| Are there procedures in place for the retention and disposal of EMS records? |
- Documentation of a records management policy or procedure outlining the retention and disposal requirements for EMS records.
- Records of identified categories of EMS records and their respective retention periods based on legal, regulatory, or organizational requirements.
- Evidence of procedures for secure storage of EMS records during their retention period, including protection against loss, damage, or unauthorized access.
- Documentation of procedures for the secure disposal or destruction of EMS records at the end of their retention period in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
- Evidence of periodic reviews or audits conducted to ensure compliance with records retention and disposal procedures, including documentation of any corrective actions taken.
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