Home > Services:Expertise > Site Management >

Assessments and Audits

Environmental Management Systems/ Audits

An Environmental Management System (EMS) audit provides clients with a third party independent examination of the management components of their current EMS. Key audit elements include:

• Environmental policy
• Assignment of responsibility for environmental tasks
• Written standards and procedures
• Monitoring to demonstrate compliance
• Reviewing and improving the system

Audits are typically limited and address only the EMS itself and whether or not the required elements of the system are currently in place. However, audits can be designed also to address whether or not the corporate programs and initiatives in place to implement the management system are in full conformance within the spirit of the EMS, and whether or not the suite of programs meets current industry best practice, applicable legislation or an external independent standard.

Audit criteria are developed and a checklist formulated based on a review of the EMS reference package that includes information regarding the management system, policy, standards and procedures. Criteria are reviewed and finalized with clients prior to initiating the formal audit process.

Audit project scope includes environmental baseline and impact studies, regulatory compliance assessments, risk assessments and corporate EH&S liability and due diligence audits for major facility acquisitions. Many of these projects have included detailed environmental regulatory review for approvals/ permitting and submissions to various funding agencies.