ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT METHODOLOGY

1. ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT
METHODOLOGY

2. Definition
Environmental auditing is defined as a management
tool comprising of a systematic, documented,
periodic and objective evaluation of how well
environmental organization, management and
equipment are performing with the aim of helping the
environment by:-
 Facilitating management control of environmental
practice, and
 Assessing compliance with company policies which would
include meeting regulatory requirements

3. cont'd
 The factors which have influenced the audit are:-
 Industrial accidents:
Major accident like Chanobly Nuclear accident, the Bhopal
(India) and Three Mile (USA) have reminded the concerned that
corporate policies are not enough. Audits should be carried out
to avoid these unpleasant surprises.
 Regulatory development
Organizations to operate within the framework of government
legislation.
 Public awareness
The Public have become aware and vocal about the environment.
Corporations should operate so that they can manage the
environment, effectively (i.e, create sustainable environment)

4. cont'd
Litigation
Liability claims have led operating organizations to
make information available to the public about
environment.
Public awareness
The public have become aware and vocal about
corporations should operate so that they can manage
the environment effectively (i.e create sustainable
environment)

5. Objective of environmental auditing
The main objective is to help safeguard the
environment and minimize risks to human health.
From the above, key objective's emerge:
 Determine how well the environmental management systems
and equipment are performing.
 Verify compliance with the relevant national, local and
international laws and regulations
 Minimize human exposure to risks from environmental health
and safety problems.

6. Basic steps in Environmental Audit
Criteria
What do you do against? Typical criteria for audit are:
 Company policies and procedures on environmental
matters
 Applicable legislation and regulations;
 Good management practices

7. The following are then the steps
1. Pre-audit steps:- include
Administrative issues associated with the planning
audit
 Selecting the personnel for the audit team
Preparing the audit protocol used by organization,
 Obtaining background information about the facility.

8. cont'd
2. Onsite steps:- include
 Understanding internal controls
 Assessing strengths and weaknesses of internal
control
 Gathering audit evidence
 Recording audit findings
 Evaluating the audit findings
 Pre-sell audits i.e. pre-acquistion audit

9. Scope of environmental audit
This falls into the following:-
Environmental
 Site history – process/materials
 Storage of materials both above ground and below
ground
 Air emissions and liquid discharges
 Liquid/hazardous wastes or effluent
 Waste disposal i.e onsite and offsite
 Oil/chemical spills prevention

10. cont'd
Safety
 Safety policy
 Accident reporting, accident investigation, risk
assessment
 Permit to work and special working procedures
 Fire safety policy
 Job safety analysis
 Safety training
 Safety communication
 Housekeeping
 Emergency response
 Regulatory compliance

11. cont'd
Product Safety
 Product Safety programme
 Product quality
 Process control
 Product packaging and storage and transportation
 Product recall/withdrawal procedures
 Product handling and quality
 Product labeling
 Specification of purchased materials/products
 Material safety datasheet (MSDS
 Vendor qualification
 QA testing and inspection
 Record Keeping
 Product lifetime

12. cont'd
Occupational health
 Employee exposure to air contaminants
 Exposure to physical agents e.g noise
 Measurement of employee exposure
 Exposure records
 Ventilation/engineering controls
 Personal protective equipment
 Information and training on health hazardous, medical
surveillance programme
 Hearing conservation
 First aid
 Regular requirements

13. Summary
Environmental audit should cover the following:
 Waste management
 Waste minimization
 Emission to air
 Ground and ground water protection
 Surface water management
 Energy and utility consumption
 Environmental emergencies
 Protection of environmetally sensitivee areas
 product./surface stewardship TQM
 Management of contractors
 Control of visitors
 Local issues