4.1 General requirements
4.1
Is the EMS established, documented, implemented, maintained, and continually improved in accordance with ISO 14001 requirements?
This catch-all question can only be answered at the end of the whole audit. Typically, if there is a noncompliance here, there must be other major noncompliances somewhere else in the system. If so, reference them in the ‘Auditor Notes’ field.
4.1
Is the scope of the EMS defined?
Does the EMS apply to the entire organization and all its activities? Are any operating units, locations, or activities excluded? Are these exclusions, if any, documented? Are the exclusions reasonable and justified?
4.2 Environmental Policy
4.2
Has the top management defined the environmental policy?
Is it appropriate to the nature, scale and environmental impacts of the organization’s activities, products and services?
Does it include a commitment to continual improvement and prevention of pollution?
Does it include a commitment to comply with legal requirements and with other requirements to which the organization subscribes?
Does it provide the framework for setting environmental objectives and targets?
Is it documented, implemented and maintained?
Is it communicated to all persons working for or on behalf of the organization?
Is it available to the public?
Is the policy addressing the most important and severe environmental impacts (e.g. is nontrivial)?
Are there explicit commitments to continual improvement? How are commitments to the prevention of pollution articulated? Are any specific types of pollution named?
Are there explicit commitments to comply with legal requirement? Are there any other requirements to which the organization subscribes (for example, industry guidelines)?
Are the policy goals sufficiently specific, so that particular objectives can be set for achieving these goals? Is there a clear relationship