Code Of Ethics, EHS Standards, Systems, Audits

Question 1

Why is a code of ethics important?

Answer 1

-Sets the “tone from the top” for the organization’s cultures
-establishes ethical expectations

Question 2

Environmental Management System (EMS)

Answer 2

Framework that helps an organization achieve its environmental goals through consistent review, evaluation, and improvement of its environmental performance

Question 3

The most commonly used framework for EMS?

Answer 3

ISO 14001

Question 4

Environmental Aspect

Answer 4

-Element of an organization’s activities or products or services that interacts or can interact with the environment
-the “cause” of an organization’s environmental impacts

Question 5

Environmental Impact

Answer 5

Any change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from an organization’s environmental aspects

Question 6

Environmental Objective

Answer 6

Overall environmental goal that an organization sets for itself to achieve

Question 7

Environmental Target

Answer 7

Detailed performance requirement arising from the environmental objectives that needs to be set and met in order to meet those environmental objectives

Question 8

Each Environmental Target should be SMART

Answer 8

Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Realistic
Time-Bound

Question 9

Risk

Answer 9

Uncertainty or a potential occurrence (can be positive or negative)

Question 10

Opportunity

Answer 10

A risk with a positive impact

Question 11

Threat

Answer 11

A risk with a negative impact

Question 12

Conformity

Answer 12

Meets a requirement. In EMS, conformity is used vs compliance

Question 13

ISO 50001

Answer 13

Energy Management System

Question 14

ISO 45001

Answer 14

Occupational Health and Safety Management System

Question 15

What is an Audit?

Answer 15

Objective examination and evaluation of one or more areas of an organization

Question 16

Types of Audits:

Answer 16

1. First-Party (Internal)
2. Second-Party (External)
3. Third-Party (External)

Question 17

First Party Audit

Answer 17

Performed within an organization (internal) to determine its status against its own procedures, adopted external standards, or mandatory requirements
-typically conducted by auditors employed by the organization itself
-important because they help an organization identify gaps and systemic breakdowns in process

Question 18

Second Party Audit

Answer 18

-Performed on suppliers, vendors, or service providers by a customer or a contracted organization (external) on behalf of a customer.
-important because they ensure contractual requirements between organization and vendors are being met

Question 19

Third Party Audit

Answer 19

-performed by regulatory agencies and registration/certification bodies
-independence of the auditor from the organization is very important
-important because they provide independent verification that an organization is in compliance with laws and regulations

Question 20

ASTM International: ASTM E2107-06

Answer 20

-standard practice for environmental regulatory compliance audits
-the only voluntary audit standard based on current US practices
-focuses on regulatory compliance

Question 21

ASTM International: ASTM E2365-14

Answer 21

-standard guide for environmental compliance performance assessment
-focuses on air, water, waste prevention, waste management, and toxic reduction

Question 22

EPA Audit (Self-Disclosure) Policy

Answer 22

-outlines EPA’s requirements for voluntary disclosure and serves to safeguard human health and the environment by providing several major incentives for regulated entities to voluntarily discover and fix violations of federal environmental laws and regulations

Question 23

Incentives for self discovery and disclosure within EPA’s audit policy:

Answer 23

1. Significant Penalty Reductions
2. No Recommendation for Criminal Prosecution
3. No Routine Requests for Audit Reports

Question 24

9 conditions for Penalty Mitigation are:

Answer 24

1. Systematic Discovery
2. Voluntary Discovery
3. Prompt Disclosure (within 21 days or less)
4. Independent Discovery & Disclosure
5. Correction and Remediation
6. Prevent Recurrence
7. No Repeat Violations
8. Not an Ineligible Violation
9. Cooperation

Question 25

ISO 19011

Answer 25

Guidelines for Auditing Management Systems