Presentation Outline

Issue / Dilemma What are Environmental Audits?

Legal Requirements
Should Audit Report be Written? What to Look for in an Environmental

Management Audit?
Benefits of Regular Audit

Issue / Dilemma
Most people know the word Environmental Audit, but not many know its importance and benefits. Some have a misconception that environmental audit is a fault-finding exercise and a waste of time this statement then followed by this dilemma : to audit or not to audit

What Are Environmental Audit?

Meaning process of determining whether our operations and practices are in compliance with regulatory requirements, company policies and procedures, and accepted standards. Two types of environmental audit
1. Environmental Compliance Status 2. Environmental Management System

What Are Environmental Audit? Cont

Environmental Compliance Status mainly to check on compliance with the legal of federal, state and local requirements Environmental Management System to make sure the compliance will stay forever because something can goes wrong by anytime

What Are Environmental Audit? Cont

What should we look in order to comply with Environmental Management System:

1. Tangible things or physical evidence
2. Reviewing records

Tangible things or physical evidence (Examples..)

Discoloration of soil
General Condition of housekeeping Condition of hazardous waste container.severely dented or show sign of leakage The labels

Routine inspection

Reviewing records (Examples..)

Sign documents of hazardous waste manifests Environmental permit

Waste water discharge monitoring report

Systematic plan that have to follow accordingly and keep up to date

Employee training record

Legal Requirements
The Environmental Quality Act (EQA) 1974 of Malaysia

specifies requirements on environmental audit; as contained in Section 33A Environmental Audit :

(1) The Director General may require the owner or occupier of any vehicle, ship or premises, irrespective of whether the vehicle, ship or premises are prescribed under Section 18 or otherwise, to carry out environmental audit and to submit an audit report in the manner as may be prescribed by the Minister by regulations made under this Act. (2) For the purpose of carrying out an environmental audit and to submit a report thereof, the owner or occupier so directed shall appoint qualified personnel who are registered under subsection (3) For the purpose of this section, the Director General shall maintain a list of qualified personnel who may carry out any environmental audit and submit a report thereof.

Legal Requirements (Cont..)

In addition, Section 51 of the EQA 1974 further states:
(1) In addition to and not in derogation of any of the powers contained in any other provision of this Act, the Minister after consultation with the Council may make regulations for or with respect to - (t) regulating environmental audit and the submission of an audit report and the appointment of qualified personnel to assist the Director General in carrying out an environmental audit of any vehicle, ship or premises, irrespective of whether the vehicle, ship or premises are prescribed under section 18 or otherwise, and their manner of operation, and prescribing the fees chargeable

Should Audit Report be Written?

Avoid preparing an audit report unless required by

authority, but...
Alert all about recurring non-compliance situation.

Keep info with you as long as situation not against the law requirements
Sit down with plant manager to brief and fix findings
Tight financial support? Always giving priority to the

serious one because that may cause total damage to the plant

What to look for Management Audit?

in

an

Environmental

Look at the people involved

The Management Structure Who Held Accountable? The Staffing Level and Training Received Their Response Capabilities They have Specific/Personal Environmental Plan? Any close relationship with regulatory agencies? (leads to potential non-compliance)

What to look for Management Audit?

in

an

Environmental

Ask open-ended Questions (5W, 1H) on

Environmental Policy Organization Written Procedures Training Review of environmental management system

Benefits of Regular Audit

Correct problem at early stage (too late will be too costly)

Leads to cost savings

Minimize environmental liability Reduce liability insurance costs Re-direct employee attention to environment issues 3rd party perceived company as environmental responsible organization Improve corporate image and investor relation