Environmental Management System Auditing

ISO 14001 Management System Auditing

Having an Environmental Management System (EMS) has become increasingly important over the past decade. It is becoming ever more common that larger companies will only work with contractors who have an Environmental Management System which is certified to external standards e.g. ISO 14001. Establishing an EMS which is certified to external standards is very beneficial and often an additional requirement when tendering for large contracts. Having an EMS is also beneficial when trying to achieve other accreditations such as Achilles or SSIP (SafeContractor, Constructionline, Altius etc.), while making complicated PQQs that much easier to complete.

An effective EMS is the cornerstone to a company’s environmental strategy and helps to ensure you are complying with all legislation and striving to achieve best practise. Our auditors will develop an EMS compiling a legal compliance register and a register of your environmental aspects. This will allow a system of policies and procedures to be established which ensures you are complying with legislation and effectively managing any activities which pose a risk to the environment. We can help you to initially achieve external accreditations and as part of retaining your accreditations will enable you to continually improve your environmental performance.

We have a multi-faceted team with experience of varying industrial sectors, including Food Manufacture, Warehousing and Distribution, Electrical Network Distribution and The Health Sector to name a few.

Once an EMS has been implemented it is extremely important that it is regularly audited to ensure it is running correctly. Our auditors are IRCA Lead Auditor trained and will come into your company to assess the effectiveness of your EMS. Having an independent assessment has various benefits over an internal assessment:

  • Independent assessments can often identify flaws that would be missed by an internal auditor.
  • Having an independent auditor also provides 3rd party validation of a management system prior to an accreditation audit.
  • Independent audits can save time and money by removing the need to employ and/or train a member of staff with the responsibility of conducting the audits.

Independent audits can be staged and would usually be scheduled in preparation for an accreditation audit to ISO 14001/EMAS/Green Dragon/Achilles. Our ISO 14001 preparation audit (or alternate accreditation) will flag up any issues with the EMS which can be resolved before your accreditation audit.

Following an audit a full report will be presented, following a similar format to the major accreditation bodies, identifying Observations, Minor Non Conformities and Major Non Conformities. The difference being our report will come with recommendations for improvements.

Our EMS consultancy services are tailored to your requirements, this can be as simple as a basic environmental policy or a full EMS system which complies with legislation, meets best practise and can be accredited for your clients and stakeholders.


EMS Auditing Case Studies

Environmental Management System Auditing

Extracts from legislation and guidance

"Set up an environmental management system

You may also need to develop an environmental management system (EMS) to help avoid pollution and act appropriately if an incident does occur. You can use your pollution incident response plan to develop your EMS.

You must have an EMS if you have an environmental permit."

Environment Agency guidance - Pollution prevention for businesses

"You can develop and maintain your own management system or use an environmental management system scheme or standard.

If you have a larger site or carry out a more complex activity (like installations and waste operations dealing with hazardous waste), the Environment Agency prefers management systems:

  • based on a recognised standard
  • independently checked by an accredited body"

Environment Agency guidance - Develop a management system: environmental permits

"You must have a procedure for checking you’re complying with your permit, procedures and management system. Record what checks are carried out, who did them and what action was taken."

Environment Agency guidance - Develop a management system: environmental permits

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Geo Pollution Technologies (UK) LTD - company number - 04689357

ABOUT US

GPT head office is based in South Wales and covers all areas of South Wales, West Wales and Mid Wales including Cardiff, Swansea, Bridgend, Newport, Port Talbot, Powys, Llanelli, Neath, Pembrokeshire and Aberystwyth.

We also cover the South West of England from our premesis in Exeter including Cornwall, Devon, Taunton, Redruth, Truro, St Austell, Falmouth, New quay, Torquay, Paignton, Bristol, Plymouth, Bath, Gloucester and Somerset, .

We also operate across the midlands, London, Birmingham, Leicester, Northampton, Derby, Stoke, Nottingham, Coventry, Liverpool, Worcester, Southampton, Swindon, Manchester, Sheffield, Slough, Heathrow, Leatherhead and Surrey.