BS EN ISO 14011:1996 - Guidelines for environmental auditing. Audit procedures. Auditing of environmental management systems
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BS EN ISO 14011:1996 is a European standard that provides guidelines for environmental auditing, specifically focusing on audit procedures related to the auditing of environmental management systems (EMS). Environmental auditing plays a crucial role in assessing the effectiveness of an organization's EMS and its environmental performance. This standard outlines the procedures and principles to be followed when conducting such audits. Here are the key points covered by BS EN ISO 14011:1996:
The standard's scope is to provide guidelines for the auditing of environmental management systems. It is part of a series of standards that address environmental auditing.
Environmental Management System (EMS): The standard assumes that the organization being audited has an EMS in place. An EMS is a structured framework that helps organizations manage their environmental responsibilities effectively.
Audit Objectives: The primary objective of an EMS audit is to assess the organization's conformance with its environmental policy, objectives, legal and regulatory requirements, and the effectiveness of its EMS in achieving its environmental goals.
Audit Criteria: Auditors should establish clear audit criteria against which the organization's EMS and environmental performance are evaluated. These criteria may include the organization's own policies and procedures, relevant laws and regulations, and industry standards.
Audit Planning: The standard emphasizes the importance of thorough audit planning, which includes defining the scope and objectives of the audit, determining the audit criteria, selecting audit team members, and developing an audit plan that outlines audit methods, timing, and responsibilities.
Audit Execution: During the audit, auditors should gather evidence by conducting interviews, reviewing documents, and conducting site visits to assess the organization's environmental practices and adherence to its EMS.
Audit Documentation: Auditors are expected to maintain comprehensive documentation of the audit process, including findings, observations, and evidence collected.
Audit Reporting: After the audit, auditors should prepare an audit report that includes findings, conclusions, and recommendations. The report should be communicated to the organization being audited.
Follow-Up: Organizations should establish procedures for addressing and implementing corrective actions based on audit findings and recommendations. Auditors may conduct follow-up audits to verify the effectiveness of these actions.
Competence and Independence: Auditors should be competent and independent. They should possess the necessary skills, knowledge, and experience to conduct effective EMS audits.
Confidentiality: The standard emphasizes the importance of maintaining confidentiality and handling audit information and findings responsibly, in accordance with legal and ethical requirements.
BS EN ISO 14011:1996 provides a structured approach to conducting environmental audits of EMS, ensuring that organizations are effectively managing their environmental responsibilities and meeting their environmental objectives. Since the standard was published in 1996, organizations and auditors should refer to the latest versions and updates of environmental auditing standards to ensure compliance with current best practices and regulatory requirements.
