What is ISO 14001:2015?

ISO 14001 is the internationally recognized standard for Environmental Management Systems (EMS). It provides a framework for organizations to design and implement an EMS, and continually improve their environmental performance. By adhering to this standard, organizations can ensure they are taking proactive measures to minimize their environmental footprint, comply with relevant legal requirements, and achieve their environmental objectives. The framework encompasses various aspects, from resource usage and waste management to monitoring environmental performance and involving stakeholders in environmental commitments.

The Benefits of implementing ISO 14001:2015

• A globally recognised course certificate which helps in understanding the roles and responsibilities of an auditor, plan, conduct and report the audit.

• Understand the audit requirements of ISO 14001:2015 standard.

• Organisations certified to ISO 14001 demonstrate their commitment to continuous improvement and reduce environmental impact.

• The certificate can significantly improve your bargaining position when taking part in public and private green procurement tenders. As consumers are becoming increasingly aware of environmental and ecological issues, ISO 14001 certification helps your brand stand out as a responsible provider.

• Companies that implement the ISO 14001 EMS aim to minimize wastage, from materials to energy consumption, throughout the supply chain and can thereby reduce cost.

Assessment to ISO 14001:2015

Having chosen a third-party certification body for your audit, it will review your documentation to ascertain that it meets all the requirements of ISO 14001. This is followed at a later date by an audit to check that records are being kept and documented working practices are being followed
After a successful audit, a certificate of registration to ISO 14001 will be issued. Then there will be continual surveillance visits (usually once a year) to ensure that the system is maintained and continues to be effective.

Certification Process:

Pre Audit

Client interested in obtaining a certificate of registration under the EMS scheme from CQAL shall have established a documented quality system in accordance with the requirements of current version of the ISO 14001 standard and the applicable product standards.

CQAL Certification Services reviews the submitted documentation against the requirements of ISO 14001 standard and prepares a report detailing its finding. The deficiencies, if any, will have to be corrected prior to assessment since this documentation will form a part of the assessment criteria during the assessment.

Stage – 1 Audit

Stage 1 assessment shall include – Review of manual/ procedures, supporting documentation, evaluation of client’s location, assessment of preparedness for stage 2 audit, collecting of information regarding the scope of the management system, statutory and regulatory aspects, legal aspects and risks and processes and locations, preparation of an audit plan for stage 2 audit, evaluation of internal audits and management review performed by the customer.

Stage – 2 Audit

Stage 2 assessment is an on-site assessment which includes

- Evaluation of the implementation, including the effectiveness of the client’s management system

- Evidence about conformity to all requirements of the applicable standard or scheme

- Performance monitoring and reviewing against key performance objectives and targets

- Conformance to regulatory and legal aspects relevant to the standard

- Operational control of the client’s processes

- Internal auditing, management review and management responsibility, the competence of personnel, performance data, audit findings and conclusions

- Links between the normative requirements, policy, performance objectives and targets

Certification

CQAL Certification Services will issue a certificate of registration to the applicant once the corrective action has been accepted. The certificate carries a validity of three years from the date of issue subject to satisfactory findings during surveillances.

The certified clients are committed through the signing of a certification agreement to comply with the certification body’s requirements.

Surveillance Audit

• The Organization may choose one of two surveillance methods:

-  Annual surveillance method – which includes conducting one surveillance audit annually, and performing a Recertification every third year

-  Semi-annual surveillance method – which includes conducting two audits annually and a Recertification every third year

• Surveillance audits shall be conducted at least once a year. The date of the first surveillance audit shall be not more than 12 months from the last day of stage 2 audit.

• The following clauses shall be checked in each surveillance audit cycle:

- Implementation or the corrective actions required by the previous audit

- Review of changes in the organization

- Management reviews

- Internal system audits

- Customer complaints

- Corrective and preventive actions

- Scopes/activities that have changed since the last audit

- Customer complaints & appeals received in the Division concerning the organization

- Use of marks (certification logos)

Renewal

The client’s environmental system is re-assessed for the renewal of the certificate. All actions related with renewal (including completion of corrective actions) shall be completed before the expiry of the certificate to ensure continuity of certificate.

• CQAL Certification Policy
• Statement of Impartiality
• Use of Certification Logo
• Suspension, Withdrawing Procedure
• Appeals & Complaints Procedure
• Expansion/Reduction of Scope of Certification

Form Downloads

• Application for ESM Certification
• Client Status Suspension and Withdrawn

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Are we ready for a certification audit? What is the cost of an audit to ISO 14001:2015? When can we get audited? Please Contact us for more information!