IEMA Lead Environmental Auditor

Course details

The environment has been described as the ‘next competitive edge’, and is playing a key role in the strategies of proactive, forward-looking companies. An Environmental Management System (EMS) provides organisations with a framework to systematically evaluate, manage and minimise the environmental impacts of its activities. An effective EMS can help to increase sales, reduce costs, ensure compliance and create a competitive advantage for the organisation.

Environmental audits are used to assess the environmental risks and liabilities of a business but also to help management improve business performance. The ISO standard for environmental management systems ISO 14001, and the associated EU Eco Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) Regulation require environmental audits to be carried out by companies on a regular basis.

This advanced Environmental Management System (EMS) auditing course will equip learners with:

• A detailed understanding of how to audit and assess the effectiveness of any EMS.
• A broad understanding of the range and diversity of environmental aspects, issues and environmental legislation and regulations pertinent to companies wishing to gain certification to ISO 14001 and EMAS.
• A practical understanding of how to implement an EMS and troubleshoot EMS issues.
• Knowledge of important related environmental tools and standards.

The course should also prepare delegates for the role of environmental auditors/assessors of EMS to standards acceptable to third party certification bodies.

All attendees should be familiar with the requirements of ISO 14001/EMAS before attending this course.

The auditing elements of this course are designed to meet the international best practice standard for management system auditing, ISO 19011:2011 “Guidelines for auditing management systems”.

There is continuous assessment of practical work carried out throughout the course and a written examination at the end.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this training course, delegates should be able to:

• Apply the Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills of Environmental Auditors as identified in ISO19011
• Apply techniques used in the identification of environmental aspects & impacts.
• Evaluate and explain the significance of environmental impacts.
• Analyse and validate environmental objectives, targets, management and monitoring regimes relating to a range of industry types.
• Describe and identify the relationship and differences between a range of audit types
• Evaluate current environmental issues, their inter-relationships and how they relate to the auditing process.
• Identify key pieces of environmental legislation and define their relevance in the context of environmental auditing.
• Describe and explain the roles and responsibilities of the auditor, the audit team and other relevant bodies.
• Plan, initiate, implement, manage, monitor and review a broad range of audit programmes.
• Demonstrate the main competences required for leading an environmental audit and the main competencies required in an audit team.

Entry Requirements

In advance of attending all attendees must be familiar with the following texts;

• ISO 14001 (or EMAS in the EU)
• The latest issue of ISO 19011
• Appropriate extracts from the relevant accreditation authority guidelines (e.g. in ISO/IEC 17020, ISO/IEC 17021, IAF/ILAC-A4:2004 and IAF MD 5: 2009).

Suggested reading material should include:

• ISO 14004 Environmental Management Systems – General Guidelines on principles, systems and supporting techniques
• ISO 14031 Environmental Management – Environmental Performance Evaluation – Guidelines

Course Programme

Day 1

• Global issues
• Auditing of EMS
• Recap and update of ISO 14001 and EMAS
• Evaluating significance of aspects including actual and potential impacts arising from normal and abnormal conditions

Day 2

• Sources and types of air pollution
• Environmental risk assessment techniques
• Environmental legislation (European/Irish)
• ISO 14031 and environmental performance indicators
• Developing objectives and targets

Day 3

• Emergency preparedness and response
• The EMS auditing process & “best practice” approach to auditing
• The role of certifiers, auditors and verifiers
• Internal audit and review
• Life cycle assessment

Day 4

• Comprehensive audit case-study and exercises
• Preparation for audit
• Audit role-play
• Review and discussion of audit findings
• Requirements of certification bodies

Day 5

• Closing Meetings
• Integrated management systems
• Course Review
• Examination