ISO 14001 Audit
About the ISO 14001 audit
ISO 14001 is the international standard for an Environmental Management System (EMS), created to help businesses control and reduce their environmental impact and establish an environmental policy. The current edition, ISO 14001:2015, was published in September 2015. An ISO 14001 audit is carried out by a certification body to confirm that your organization complies with the standard. Like all audits, it follows one basic principle: verifying that you are doing what your documented management system says you do, and that the system meets the standard’s requirements.
Purpose of the ISO 14001 audit
Once you’ve built and implemented your Environmental Management System, it must be audited so that the system – and your organization – can be certified. Obtaining and maintaining certification is a multi-step process: a series of audits and reviews that confirm your organization and its EMS comply with ISO 14001.
Preparing for the audit
Steps to take before the audit:
- Put together a team responsible for the details of your EMS implementation
- Get your environmental documentation in order and up to date
- Brief everyone responsible for environmental aspects – and those affected by them – on the audit process
- Involve top management in planning, preparing for, and supporting the audit
The audit programme, plan, and checklist
Audit programme: certification bodies offer audit programmes tailored to specific industry sectors, regions, or individual audits, to suit your needs.
Audit plan: the audit plan sets out the purpose, scope, and methodology for the audit. For internal audits, this forms part of your Internal Audit Plan, which auditors review when assessing the system.
Audit checklist: the checklist is the auditor’s working tool, used to verify compliance against the ISO 14001 requirements during the audit.
Conducting the ISO 14001 audit
Pre-audit meeting: the auditor meets with management to discuss the audit strategy and gather the documentation required. This meeting is usually attended by top management, the environmental/ISO 14001 coordinator, team members, environmental department staff, and other stakeholders.
Stage 1 (readiness review): the auditor reviews your documentation and the controls you have in place to assess whether you’re ready for the full assessment – checking documentation, training, processes, procedures, and practices against ISO 14001:2015. The team identifies any gaps or non-conformities and the corrective actions needed before Stage 2.
Audit report: after each stage the auditor prepares a report setting out the findings, any non-conformities, and the corrective actions for your organization to take.
Stage 2 (implementation audit): the auditor verifies that the EMS is implemented effectively and that any Stage 1 non-conformities have been resolved. The focus is on how well the EMS works in practice and how it contributes to your environmental objectives. On successful completion, ISO 14001 certification is issued, valid for three years.
Surveillance audits: after certification, your EMS is monitored across the three-year cycle. A surveillance audit is carried out after each 12-month period, so there are two surveillance audits within a three-year validity period.
Recertification audit: at the end of the three-year cycle, the certification body re-examines your EMS against ISO 14001. As well as continuing to meet the standard, you must show your EMS remains effective and adapts to the changing needs of your business and sector.
ISO 14001 in Canada
In Canada, an effective EMS also helps you keep pace with federal and provincial environmental regulations and growing expectations around sustainability. Choosing a certification body accredited by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC), or another IAF MLA signatory, ensures your ISO 14001 certificate is recognized internationally. Building in-house capability through ISO 14001 training helps your team run effective internal audits between certification visits.
Contact IAS today to learn more about the ISO 14001 audit, or visit our frequently asked questions page.
Explore more
- ISO 14001 Certification in Canada – scope, benefits, and process
- ISO 14001 in Canada – environmental management in the Canadian context
- ISO Training in Canada – internal and lead auditor courses
