Environmental Audits

There are three types of Environmental Audits. These are:

1. Environmental Compliance Audits– It reviews an organization’s environmental performance and environmental responsibility. It ensures that an organization adheres to all the laws, regulations, guidelines, policies and procedures.
2. Environmental Management Audits– Environmental Management Audits Evaluate EMS and ensure the efficiency of the system. It helps the organization to understand its performance on its own environmental performance standards. It reviews and evaluates the organization’s environmental legal requirements and assesses compliance with those requirements.
3. Functional Environmental Audits– Functional Environmental Audits are conducted to evaluate compliance with the specific aspects and ensure implementation of corrective actions. It evaluates the effect of a particular activity or process.

Environmental Audit consists of three phases. These are:

1. Pre-Audit– It includes:

• Creation of an Auditing team
• Construction of an Audit plan
• Documentation review- It includes

1. Pre-Audit– It includes:

• Creation of an Auditing team
• Construction of an Audit plan
• Documentation review- It includes

– Permit application

– Records related to production

– Reports

– Reports of previous audits(if any) along with proof of the corrective actions taken

• Preparing a list of possible questions and follow-ups related to prior audits conducted
• Filing the ‘Disclosure of Violation Table’ of identified issues

2. Audit– It includes:

• Setting ground rules
• Determining solutions for the identified issues
• Regular meetings to document data
• Evaluation of the following documents

– Environmental policies

– Compliance

– Reports related to training

– Monitoring and storing records of Air, Water and Noise pollution

– Determining the emergency response process

– Addressing environment-related complaints

– Evaluating documents to ensure legal compliance

• Site inspection
• Evaluating operations to ensure compliance
• Collecting samples if required
• Cross-examining EHS personnel, operation, management, maintenance and policies
• Identifying issues of concern
• Conduction of a closing meeting enlisting and discussing all the identified issues and implementing corrective actions

3. Post-Audit– It includes

• Preparation of Environment Audit reports and the Disclosure of Violation Table
• Listing identified issues and concerned areas
• Listing action taken and required follow-ups