How to prepare for ISO 14001 certification

How to get ISO 14001 Certification Singapore

Identify the core team

ISO 14001 Environmental Management system is an Management system certification that deals with the environmental impacts created by the organization. Implementation and certification of the ISO requires high level of commitment from the top management. There are four phases in acquiring ISO 14001 certificate. The four phases of certification depends on building up with a strong core team. The core team can consist of a Team Leader reporting to the top management and team members representing all the process in the organization.

Derive the action plan

Implementing and acquiring the ISO certification will require an action plan to be framed for timely achieving the certificate. The timeline for certification shall include the following phases

i) Gap analysis

ii) Training

iii) Implementation

iv) Certification audit

Identify the process , its aspect and impact

The Core team members as an first phase of certification shall include the gap analysis. The gap analysis is the process to identify the gaps in the existing system in comparing to the ISO 14001 standards. The Core team / Consultant verifies the Scope of the Organization and its activities including the physical boundaries. The respective process for accomplishing the Scope of the organization is determined and each of the process is clearly defined with its Input, value addition activities, and the output with controls at each stages and performance indicators to identify the effectiveness and efficiency of the process.  Each process is achieved with a two or more activities for which the aspects relating to the environment is found. On further group discussions the impacts created to the environment is clearly identified with the priority number considering the frequency of occurrences, severity and ability to detect and control its impact accordingly. The applicable statutory and regulatory requirements are also identified and the criticality of the impacts is categories for further control and the management.

Comply with the Legal requirements

ISO 14001 Environmental Management System requires the organization to have a defined system for compliance with legal (statutory and regulatory requirements) Complying with legal requirement is taken as commitment from top management in implementation of the ISO 14001 Environmental management system. The system requires to identify the legal requirement and taking action for complying the requirements and reviewing the compliance obligation for its changes and suitability.

Conduct the Internal Audit :

As a part of requirement of ISO 14001 Environmental management system the organization has to conduct a periodic internal audit. Internal audit is an systematic documented process of collecting the evidences and evaluating it against the audit criteria to reveal the audit findings. The internal audit is to be taken as an process for identifying the gaps rather than to point out the mistakes of others. The internal audit must be taken as an frequent activity during the initial phase of implementation and reduce or increase the frequency depending upon its results. The internal audit ensures the EMS is effectively implemented. Internal audit must be objective and impartial  to full fill its purpose in EMS

Contact IAS (third party certification)

ISO ( International Organization for standardization ) Involves in developing the standards such as ISO 9901 Quality management system, ISO 14001 Environmental Management system, ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management system, ISO 22000 Food safety Management system, ISO 27001 Information security Management system. The ISO does not directly involve any audits but an accredited Certification body carries out the audit. Integrated Assessment System Pvt Ltd (IAS Pvt Ltd) is an accredited certification body from (UQAS, United Kingdom). If an organization requires an ISO certification it is required to fill out an application form with basic details such as Name of the organization, No of employees, Management system opted for, Scope of the Management system. The certification body contact the organization with an agreement on certification.

Complete the ISO 14001 audits

The ISO 14001 audits takes place in two Stages

1) Stage 1 (Readiness audit) : The stage 1 audit is conducted to ensure that all the requirements of the ISO 14001 are fulfilled by the implemented management system

2) Stage 2 (Effectiveness audit) : The purpose of the stage 2 certification audit is to ensure the effectiveness of the implemented management system

Obtain ISO 14001 certifications

After the ISO certification body conducts an stage 2 certification body it asses the audit reports and releases some Non conformity report to the organization if any. The Non conformity report is categorized as Major (When no system is defined) Minor (The system is not adhered) and the observations for the improvement. After the Non conformity  ( NC ) is found to be effectively closed  the corrective action the certification body considers process the ISO 14001 certification and releases the ISO certificate with an validity period of 3 years subjected yearly clearance of surveillance audit each year.

We also provide iso 22000 certification