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Online version: PDF - DTIE
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123<br />
EMS STAGE 4:<br />
CONDUCTING THE EMS AUDIT AND<br />
REPORTING ON ENVIRONMENT<br />
PERFORMANCE<br />
4.1 Environment Management System<br />
(EMS) Audit<br />
The Environment Audit is necessary to:<br />
S<br />
E<br />
C<br />
T<br />
I<br />
O<br />
N<br />
2<br />
• Verify the effectiveness of the environment management programme;<br />
• Ensure that environment objectives and targets are being met;<br />
• Evaluate how the EMS should be modified and expanded in the context<br />
of future business expansion, new environment legislation, emerging<br />
environment issues, and the growth of the tourism and hospitality<br />
industry as a whole.<br />
The ISO 14000 series on environment management include three standards that<br />
provide guidance on environment auditing:<br />
• ISO 14010 Guidelines for Environment Auditing; General Principles;<br />
• ISO 14011 Guidelines for Environment Auditing; Audit Procedures;<br />
Auditing of Environment Management Systems;<br />
• ISO 14012 Guidelines for Environment Auditing; Qualification Criteria<br />
for Environment Auditors.<br />
EMS audits are generally conducted every one or two years. An audit can<br />
be performed by the internal environment management team, by an external<br />
environment auditor, or through a joint internal and external effort. In selecting<br />
auditors, it is important to bear in mind the following:<br />
• The auditors should have a good appreciation of environment<br />
management systems and issues. ISO 14012 outlines specific criteria<br />
for environment auditors.<br />
• The reliability of the audit is important. Auditors should be<br />
independent of the activities they audit. In other words, people cannot<br />
be asked to audit activities they have been working on, or the activities<br />
of their own department.<br />
What Should an EMS Audit Produce?<br />
An EMS audit should answer these questions:<br />
• Is the environment management system complete?<br />
• Have objectives and targets been set?<br />
• Does the environment management programme cover all aspects of<br />
business activity? In hospitality businesses this includes front and<br />
back office, food and beverage, kitchens, housekeeping, laundry,<br />
maintenance, banqueting, conference centre, visitor centre, retail<br />
outlets (pastry shops, gift shops etc), business centre, sports and<br />
leisure facilities, gardens, transport and administration.