Environmental Audits
Environmental Audits play a substantial role in sustainability by helping keep companies and organizations accountable when it comes to their practices.
Our Environmental auditors carry out audits to detail a company’s practices and make recommendations on what needs to be done to ensure the relevant environmental regulations are being followed.
The environmental auditing process can be varied and requires knowledge of environmental management methods and techniques, environmental laws, regulations and related documents, environmental management systems and standards, and audit procedure, processes and techniques.
There are two main types of environmental audit that our environmental auditors can conduct. One is a compliance audit in cases where a business is meeting internal and external environmental guidelines and legislation.
The other is a management performance audit which measures if a business is meeting the criteria for management systems.
Audit criteria might include types of compliance requirements, such as regulations or management practices, which work to benefit the environment.
Audits provide information about the organization’s operational status compared to management’s expectations of environmental performance. In other words, if management expects the organization to comply with the regulations, then an audit provides information as to whether or not compliance has actually been achieved.
If the organization has not achieved compliance, the environmental audit process will also reveal what specific measures are required to address this shortcoming.
One way to think of audits is as diagnostic exams or operational tune-ups. When businesses take the exam, they gain a better understanding of just where they stand in regard to specific criteria, including:
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Compliance
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Greening
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Management Systems
Our audits at Crowder also allow businesses to determine what they need to change and what actions they should take to improve their overall operational efficiency.
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Environmental Compliance Audits are conducted and submitted to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) of the Federal Ministry of Environment as the case may be.
Preparing for an Audit
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Have all requested materials/records ready when requested
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Organize files so we minimize disruption of your day
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Provide complete files
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Please make yourself available during the time of the audit and communicate any planned absences
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Provide work space for auditors if requested
Audit Process
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Step 1: Planning
The auditor will review prior audits in your facility and professional literature. The auditor will also research applicable policies and statutes and prepare a basic audit program to follow.
Step 2: Notification
Our office will notify the appropriate department or department personnel regarding the upcoming audit and its purpose, at which time an opening meeting will be scheduled.
Step 3: Opening Meeting
This meeting will include management and any administrative personnel involved in the audit. The audit's purpose and objective will be discussed as well as the audit program. The audit program may be adjusted based on information obtained during this meeting.
Step 4: Fieldwork
This step includes the testing to be performed as well as interviews with appropriate department personnel.
Step 5: Report Drafting
After the fieldwork is completed, a report is drafted. The report includes such areas as the objective and scope of the audit, relevant background, and the findings and recommendations for correction or improvement.
Step 6: Management Response
A draft audit report will be submitted to the management of the audited area for their review and responses to the recommendations. Management responses should include their action plan for correction.
Step 7: Closing Meeting
This meeting is held with department management. The audit report and management responses will be reviewed and discussed. This is the time for questions and clarifications. Results of other audit procedures not discussed in the final report will be communicated at this meeting.
Step 8: Final Audit Report Distribution
After the closing meeting, the final audit report with management responses is distributed to department personnel involved in the audit.
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Step 9: Follow-up Review
The purpose of this review is to conclude whether or not the corrective actions were implemented.
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Environmental Audits in Nigeria are repeated in 3 years interval. Submitted for certification at NESREA offices or the regulation authorities.
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