ISO 14001 Environmental Courses

This is a common question alongside ‘What does an audit do?’ - put simply, it’s about checking that what’s supposed to happen is happening, not just in terms of rules being followed but also in the effectiveness of processes and systems, for example, are they delivering the results we expect them to deliver?

For more information, see our video 'What is an Audit?'

An internal auditor collects evidence of conformity by interviewing personnel, reviewing documented information, and observing process activities. While doing this they may identify nonconformities or flag potential issues.

A policy is a high-level document/statement that is required by all management system standards. It is the top-management level document of the MS, which needs to be prepared and approved by top management to define its overall intentions and directions regarding Quality (ISO 9001), Environment (ISO 14001) etc.

A procedure is a specified way to carry out a process or an activity, that may be documented or not. Take purchasing, for example, it comprises a series of activities: selecting, evaluating, and approving suppliers, raising purchase orders, and verifying that the received goods or services meet requirements. The key personnel will need to know how to go about performing the tasks and any points of authorisation. They might be briefed on this and/or given a document to follow.

For more information on policy v’s procedure see our blog.