An Environmental Audit is a systematic, periodically documented and objective process in assessing an industry’s activities and services on the basis of:
Assessing compliance with relevant statutory and internal requirements
Facilitating management control of environmental practices
Promoting good environmental management
Maintaining credibility with the public
Raising awareness and enforcing commitment to Company’s environmental policy
Exploring continuous improvement opportunities
Establishing the performance baseline for developing an Environmental Management System (EMS)
What is Environmental Auditing?
The International Chambers of Commerce (ICC) defines environmental auditing as:
A management tool comprising of documented periodic, systematic and objective analysis of how well an environmental organization functions with management and instrumentality are operated in the aim of serving to and safeguarding the environment by:
Facilitating management control of environmental practices
Assessing compliance with company policies which incorporates meeting regulative needs.
It is necessary to draw the divergence between auditing and techniques like environmental impact assessment (EIA). The latter assesses the potential environmental effects of a facility. The essential goal of an environmental audit is the systematic scrutiny of environmental performance throughout the company’s ongoing operations.
Why conduct Environmental Audits?
Environmental problems will pose as an important source of liability
It is pertinent to grasp the sources of liability and techniques or tools available to control or avoid the method in near future.
A primary operation of corporate leadership is to manage and avoid any likelihood of risk
Auditing is a key ingredient to any conversant decision making, risk dodging and a resolution element of environmental management
Objectives of an Environmental Audit
The overall objective of environmental auditing is to assist in safeguarding the environment by minimizing risks to human health. Environmental Auditing is a risk management tool and not a mitigating measure. The key objectives of an environmental audit is to:
Determine the performance of the existing environmental management system in place and its instrumentality.
Verify compliance with the relevant laws and regulations
Minimize human exposure to risks produced from environmental, health and safety issues.
Audit - Scope of Work
Define environmental media subject to audit - Air, Water and Waste etc.
Review of environmental reports with previous site assessments
Review all updated environmental permits and operating conditions
Review all records in monitoring and testing of equipment
Access to the environmental manager or consultant who is familiar with the compliance history, environmental policies, and documentation method
Allow time for detailed facility/site inspections
Review contracts or purchase records for regulated instrumentality, i.e. boilers, engines, combustion units
Review of all previous notices of violations or citations identified by federal, state and local agencies
Identify all facilities/properties owned or operated
Review of maintenance records and service contracts, i.e. filter changes, disposal, chemical
Operating records, i.e. hours operated, shifts
Make everyone involved aware of the schedule
Benefits of Environmental Auditing
Enforcing Environmental auditing is an exceedingly formative method with several advantages such as:
Safeguarding of the environment
Verifying consents with native and national laws
Indicating current or potential future scenarios that require to be self-addressed in the operation
Assessing training programs and provide data to assist in training
Enabling companies to build on good environmental performance, giving credit where appropriate and highlighting deficiencies for further improvement
Identifying potential cost savings, such as waste minimization, reduction in carbon footprint etc.
Assisting the trading and comparison of data between totally different plants or subsidiary corporations
Demonstrating company’s commitment to environmental protection of staff, stakeholders, the general public and the authorities.
Get Quote
Let us work together to deliver a premium industry standard services.
VP Business Centre, No. 20 (42), 7th Cross Street, West Shenoy Nagar, Chennai - 600 030