ISO 14001:2015 Readiness Assessment

Have the environmental conditions that can affect the organization’s purpose or be affected by its environmental aspects been determined?

Has the external issues including cultural, social, political, legal, financial, technological, economic, etc. been determined?

Have internal issues such as products and services, culture, people, size, and knowledge been determined?

Have the interested parties that are relevant to the environmental management system been determined?

Have the relevant needs and expectations of these interested parties been determined?

Has which of these needs and expectations needed for your compliance obligations been determined?

Has the scope of your EMS issues relating to your organization, its context, and the needs and expectations of interested parties been determined?

Has the scope of your EMS relating to your organization’s units, functions, and physical boundaries been determined?

Has the scope of your EMS relating to your activities, products, and services been determined?

Has the scope of your EMS relating to your authority and ability to exercise control and influence been determined?

Have you determined the knowledge gained when identifying the context and needs of interested parties when establishing and maintaining your EMS?

Has top management taken accountability for the effectiveness of the EMS?

Has top management established the policy and objectives in line with strategic direction?

Has top management ensured the EMS processes have been aligned with the business objectives?

Has top management ensured the allocation of adequate resources?

Has top management directed and supported persons who contribute to the effectiveness of the environmental management system?

Has top management supported relevant management roles to demonstrate their leadership as it applies to their areas of responsibility?

Is the EMS policy appropriate – considering knowledge gained from Clause 4 requirements, as well as the impacts of its activities, products, and services?

Is the EMS policy appropriate strategic – providing a framework for setting environmental objectives?

Is the EMS policy appropriate proactive – by including a commitment to the protection of the environment?

Is the EMS policy appropriate to ensure fulfillment of your compliance obligations and to continually improve your EMS?

Have responsibilities and authorities for relevant roles been assigned and communicated, including responsibility and authority for ensuring conformity to ISO 14001:2015?

Have responsibilities and authorities for relevant roles been assigned and communicated, including responsibility and authority for reporting EMS performance to top management?

Does the planning process consider Clause 4 requirements?

Does the planning process respond to risks and opportunities associated with the aspects and compliance obligations?

Did aspects determination include consideration of a life cycle perspective?

Has the organization communicated significant aspects throughout your organization?

Has the organization determined, and has access to, compliance obligations related to its environmental aspects?

Has the organization determined how these compliance obligations apply to the organization?

Has the organization accounted for these obligations when establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving its EMS?

Has the organization developed an appropriate plan to address the significant aspects, compliance obligations, risks, and opportunities - considering technological options and its financial, operational, and business requirements?

Have sufficient and adequate resources been allocated to fulfill the needs of the environmental management system considering human resources, natural resources, infrastructure, technology, and financial requirements?

Have these resources been identified at the ‘Planning’ stage?

Have top management allocated resources needed and reviewed for adequacy?

Has competency been determined – applied to internal employees AND persons working on behalf of the organization?

Has your organization ensured that persons working under its influence are aware of its policy, aspects and impacts, their contribution to the EMS, and the implications of not conforming with these requirements?

Have controls been determined considering each life cycle stage, to ensure your environmental requirements are addressed in the design and development process for your products or services?

Have processes been established, implemented, and maintained to prepare for and respond to potential emergency situations identified during the ‘Planning’ stages?

Has your organization determined what needs to be measured, the frequency of measurement, and the evaluation of results?

Does the process include the determination of the frequency of evaluation of compliance?

Does the process include the evaluation of compliance and undertaking of action if needed?

Does the process include the maintenance of knowledge and understanding of its status?

Has a management review been conducted and recorded covering all the requirements of the new ISO 14001:2015 standard?

When nonconformance occurs, does the organization take steps to control and correctly deal with the consequences?

Are corrective actions appropriate to the significance of the effects of the nonconformities encountered, including the environmental impact?

Does your organization continually improve the suitability, adequacy, and effectiveness of the environmental management system to enhance environmental performance?