ISO 14001 Internal Audit Checklist

1. 1. Has the organization determined external and internal issues that are relevant to its purpose and that affect its ability to achieve the intended outcome(s) of its environmental management system?

2. 2. Do those issues include environmental conditions capable of affecting or being affected by the organization?

1. 1. Has the organization determined the interested parties that are relevant to the environmental management system?

2. 2. Has the organization determined the relevant needs and expectations (i.e. requirements) of these interested parties?

3. 3. Has the organization determined which of these needs and expectations will become compliance obligations?

1. 1. Has the organization determined the boundaries and applicability of the environmental management system to establish its scope?

1. 1. Has the organization considered the knowledge of its context when establishing and maintaining the EMS?

1. 1. Has top management demonstrated leadership and commitment with respect to the environmental management system?

2. 2. Have they ensured that policy and objectives are relevant to the strategic direction and the context of the organization?

3. 3. Have they ensured the integration of the environmental management system requirements into the organization’s business processes?

4. 4. Have they directed and supported persons to contribute to the effectiveness of the environmental management system?

5. 5. Have they supported other relevant management roles to demonstrate their leadership as it applies to their areas of responsibility?

1. 1. Has top management established, implemented, and maintained an environmental policy?

2. 2. Is it made available to interested parties?

1. 1. Has top management ensured that the responsibilities and authorities for relevant roles are assigned and communicated?

2. 2. Has top management ensured that the environmental management system conforms to the requirements of this International Standard and reporting on the performance of the environmental management system to top management?

1. 1. Has the organization planned and implemented a process to meet the requirements?

2. 2. When planning for the environmental management system, has the organization considered the issues referred to in the ‘context of the organization’ section?

1. 1. Considering a life cycle perspective and identifying abnormal and potential emergency situations, has the organization communicated its significant environmental aspects among the various levels and functions of the organization?

1. 1. Has the organization identified and had access to the compliance obligations related to its environmental aspects?

2. 2. Has the organization determined how these compliance obligations apply to the organization?

3. 3. Has the organization maintained documented information on its compliance obligations?

1. 1. Has the organization determined the risk associated with threats and opportunities that need to be addressed to: • Give assurance that the environmental management system can achieve its intended outcome(s) • Prevent, or reduce, undesired effects, including the potential for external environmental conditions to affect the organization • Achieve continual improvement

1. 1. Has the organization planned to take actions to address the risk associated with threats and opportunities, significant environmental aspects, and compliance obligations?

2. 2. Has the organization planned to integrate and implement the actions into its environmental management system processes and evaluate the effectiveness of these actions?

1. 1. Considering the risk associated with threats and opportunities, was the same communicated?

1. 1. Is it planned on how the results will be evaluated, including indicators for monitoring progress toward achievement of measurable environmental objectives?

2. 2. Has the organization considered how the actions to achieve environmental objectives can be integrated into the organization’s business processes?

1. 1. Has the organization determined and provided the resources needed for the establishment, implementation, maintenance, and continual improvement of the environmental management system?

1. 1. Is the organization ensuring that persons doing work under its control are aware of: • The environmental policy? • The significant environmental aspects and related actual or potential impacts associated with their work? • Their contribution to the effectiveness of the environmental management system, including the benefits of enhanced environmental performance? •The implications of not conforming with the environmental management system requirements, including compliance obligations?

1. 1. Is the organization planning and implementing a process for internal and external communications on the following points: • What will it communicate? • When to communicate? • With whom to communicate? • How to communicate? (Should consider Compliance obligations)

1. 1. Is the organization ensuring that its communication process enables any person doing work under the organization's control to contribute to continual improvement?

1. 1. Is the organization externally communicating information relevant to the environmental management system, as determined by its communication process and as required by its compliance obligations?

1. 1. When creating and updating documented information, is the organization ensuring appropriate: • Identification and description (e.g. a title, date, author, or reference number)? • Format (e.g. language, software version, graphics) and media (e.g. paper, electronic)? • Review and approval for suitability and adequacy?

1. 1. Is the documented information required by the environmental management system and by this International Standard controlled to ensure it is available and suitable for use, where and when it is needed?

1. 1. Is the organization planning, implementing, and controlling the processes needed to meet environmental management system requirements, and to implement the actions determined in 6.1 and 6.2 consistent with a life cycle perspective?

2. 2. Are requirements considered in the design process for the development, delivery, use, and end-of-life treatment of its products and services?

1. 1. Has the organization established and implemented a procedure specifying how it will respond to potential environmental emergency situations and accidents?

1. 1. Has the organization determined what needs to be monitored and measured and when it will be monitored and measured?

1. 1. Is the organization conducting internal audits at planned intervals to provide information on the environmental management system?

1. 1. Is top management reviewing the organization's environmental management system, at planned intervals, to ensure its continuing suitability, adequacy, and effectiveness?

1. 1. When a nonconformity occurs, is the organization reacting to the nonconformity?

1. 1. Is the organization continually improving the suitability, adequacy, and effectiveness of the environmental management system to enhance environmental performance?