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