Get the most from environmental audits

In today`s complex, competitive business climate, a company`s success is predicated on adopting an appropriate standard of care, one that takes risk into account. An appropriate standard of care is just what the International Standards Organization (ISO) is attempting to define through the ISO 14000 series, which is expected to be published in June of this year. ISO 14000 offers guidance on the development and implementation of voluntary Environmental Management Systems (EMS), and the integration of such systems with other management systems. The EMS model lists five actions each firm should undertake: Identify what needs to be done and define a company-wide EMS policy; Formulate a plan to fulfill the environmental policy; Develop the capabilities and support mechanisms needed to effectively achieve the objectives and targets of the environmental policy; Measure, monitor and evaluate existing environmental performance; and Review and continually improve the EMS, with the objective of improving overall environmental performance. The paper discusses the key reasons for conducting audits, managing legal risks, how an audit works, and choosing the right type of audit.