The audit on management systems is a technical process that evaluates the adequacy of the Management System (MS) adopted by the Organisation. Throughout this article we will explain the main steps of How to perform an ISO 14001 Certification audit.
The guidelines for conducting audits are contained in ISO 19001. These standards are used to carry out audits, both according to ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 and any other management system established by the organisation according to its sector and area of activity.
ISO 14001 is an international standard for Environmental Management Systems (EMS) that allows all types of organisations to establish guidelines in search of excellence in the environmental field. In this way they identify, plan and correct environmental risks in the environment in which they operate in order to comply with current legislation and their internal environmental policy.
Phases of an ISO 14001 certification audit
There are different types of environmental audits depending on factors such as sector, level of risk or business activity. However, a number of standard stages can be identified when carrying out an audit:
1. Initial analysis
Every ISO 14001 Certification audit begins with a preliminary analysis in which objectives, resources and deadlines are determined. The auditing professionals define the priorities and actions to be carried out. This initial phase requires the co-operation of all areas of the organisation, as the provision of information is key to the development of the audit:
- Definition of the methodology and the audit team
- Assignment of tasks and responsibilities
- Planning the agenda
2. Data and information collection
For the evaluation of the organisation’s Environmental Management System it is necessary to collect all the evidence that certifies the requirements established by the ISO 14001 standard. Interviews are conducted and questionnaires are also designed to collect information. For this purpose, the following concepts are reviewed, whether documented or not, established by the organisation:
- Mission of the organisation
- Environmental policy of the organisation
- Documentation prepared by the organisation
At the same time, the audit team samples and analyses the organisation’s level of environmental commitment and effectiveness in legal, legal and operational matters.
Once this is done, it is time to analyse all the information collected to assess the environmental impact derived from its business activity.
3. Communication of results and preparation of the final report
After the evidence gathering process, the results are reported to the managers and departments affected by the audit. In the event that deficiencies of the Environmental Management System based on ISO 14001 have been detected, it is necessary for the organisation to establish the appropriate corrective measures.
Likewise, the audit team will establish those opportunities for improvement and strengths detected during the audit process.
The results obtained are transferred to the final environmental audit report. It includes observations of the data analysed during the audit and proposals for short, medium and long term improvements for the company.
Environmental commitment
Nowadays, commitment to continuous improvement for the protection of the environment not only reduces the risk of environmental impact, but is also key to gaining the trust of the community and reinforcing the company’s image with a clear commitment to sustainable development.
Support tools for ISO 14001 audits
Eurofins EcoGestor helps in the identification and management of environmental risks arising from the activity of an organisation. Through our EcoGestor tool you will have at your disposal the documentation and processes associated with the EMS certification of the ISO 14001 reference standard.