An environmental audit is an evaluation to ensure a company meets environmental compliance, identifies management system implementation gaps, and institutes related corrective actions. The main goal of an environmental audit is to identify and resolve any potential risks related to the company’s operations to prevent any costly fines or legal course of action. The auditing process is comprehensive and generally covers eight different areas. In this article, we’ll take you through each of these areas.
What Is an Environmental Audit?
Environmental audits aim to ensure that the company or its facilities meet the standards and regulations set forth by law. They stand as an independent assessment that reviews the legal and environmental compliance status of an organization in an operational context, including:
- The amount of harm that the assessed entity may pose.
- Determines potential pollution risks and corresponding environmental impacts.
- Identifies improvements that can be implemented to help improve environmental impacts.
These environmental audit assessments can be conducted by:
- Companies themselves employ internal auditors.
- External auditors hired by third parties.
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What Are the Benefits of an Environmental Audit?
The importance of an environmental audit in today’s context is significant. Protecting the environment requires environmental assessments and audits. These assessments help to provide scientific data to understand better the risks that pose a company and how they might be mitigated.
The benefits of an environmental audit include:
- Quickly identify issues of non-compliance.
- Minimize their waste, water, and energy costs.
- Avoid fines by regulatory agencies.
- Improve their relationships with key stakeholders.
- Identify opportunities for improvement in supply chain management, waste management, energy usage, and more.
What Are the 8 Types of Environmental Audits?
Many different types of environmental audits exist to ensure safety and compliance. At HQTS, our auditing process covers eight main areas.
Ambient Air Quality
The ambient air quality is the air that surrounds us. Air monitoring is an integral part of air quality management systems. They help to assess the extent of any pollution, provide air pollution data to the general public quickly and efficiently, support implementation of air quality goals, evaluate the effectiveness of emission controls, and provide information on air quality trends while helping to support extra research. Most air quality monitoring networks are designed to support human health objectives.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality (IAQ) is the air quality within and around buildings. Understanding and controlling common pollutants indoors can help to reduce the risk of indoor health issues, as the health effects from indoor air pollution can occur not only soon – but after exposure many years later.
Indoor air pollution can come from a range of factors, including:
- Fuel-burning combustion appliances.
- Tobacco products.
- Building materials and furnishings.
- Household cleaning products.
- Excess moisture and pesticides.
Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM)
Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) is a microscopic solid or liquid matter that is suspended in the atmosphere, and that is too small to be seen by the naked eyeParticulate matter is the sum of solid and liquid particles in the air. SPMs have been shown to have adverse health effects on humans when inhaled over long periods. Common SPM hazards include dust, pollen, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets. The deeper they penetrate the respiratory system, the harder it can become for people to breathe.
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
SO2 is a toxic and bad-smelling gas of greatest concern, as it is a part of a group of chemicals known as sulfur oxides (SOx). The control measures that reduce SO2 can generally be expected to reduce people’s exposures to all gaseous SOx. This is important to ensure the reduction of sulfur pollutants as SO2 can affect people’s health and the environment. Short-term exposure can harm the human respiratory system, and the SO2 emissions in the air can also lead to forming other sulfur oxides.
Nitrogen Dioxide (NOx)
Nitrogen dioxide is an irritant gas and can cause inflammation of the airways. Nitric oxide is not considered hazardous to health when at typical ambient concentrations, but nitrogen dioxide can be. NOx gases react to form smog and acid rain, both of which can cause adverse health effects. Long-term exposure to NOx can decrease lung function and increase the risk of respiratory conditions.
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that can be harmful when inhaled. CO is released when something is burned, such as cars, trucks, and other vehicles or machinery that combusts fossil fuels. Gas heaters, leaking chimneys, furnaces, and gas stoves can also release CO and affect indoor air quality. A high level of CO inside can cause dizziness, confusion, unconsciousness, and even death.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Carbon dioxide is a gas consisting of one-part carbon and two parts oxygen. It is one of the most important gases in the world, and plants use it to produce carbohydrates in a process called photosynthesis. Since humans and animals depend on plants for food, this is necessary for survival. When CO2 builds up in the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels, it has a warming effect that may change the earth’s climate. High levels of CO2 are correlated with low productivity; therefore, this could be a crucial concern in offices, schools, and homes.
Oxygen Gas (O2) Temp Noise
The differential oxygen concentration and time are compared using an OD sensor response. The gases are measured, and the O2 temp noise is determined.
All the above are vital to ensuring the environment is safe, and people stay healthy. Using a third-party inspection company can help to assist with your audit environmental process.
Conclusion: What Are the 8 Areas Covered by an Environmental Audit?
Environmental audits measure the effects of certain activities on the environment against set criteria or standards. Environmental audits aim to ensure that the organization or its facilities meet the standards and regulations set forth by law – and save money for the business in the long term.
For environmental audits, it is always wise to have a neutral third party that can independently assess all eight factors throughout your supply chain. At HQTS, we have over 25 years of experience in quality assurance. We can assess your environmental credentials to ensure compliance with national and international environmental policies and regulations. Are you interested to learn more about our auditing services? Contact us today if you need an environmental auditor!
