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ISO 14001 audit checklist

ISO 14001 audit checklist

Stay on top of your environmental responsibilities with a checklist that guides you through key requirements. You can cover legal compliance, review procedures, and identify issues early.

Use this template
or download pdf
ISO 14001 audit checklist

Stay on top of your environmental responsibilities with a checklist that guides you through key requirements. You can cover legal compliance, review procedures, and identify issues early.

Use this template
or download pdf

About the ISO 14001 audit checklist

The goal of the ISO 14001 standard is to ensure a clear and consistent focus on a company’s environmental performance. This editable ISO 14001 audit checklist promotes team-wide awareness and strengthens competence around the company’s environmental impact. You can adapt the digital template to your specific needs and concerns using the Lumiform app or download the checklist’s PDF version.

Strengthen your environmental strategy with proven tools

Environmental management, in the business context, refers to the oversight and organization of all operations that affect the environment. An effective strategy must align with ISO 14001 requirements, which means maintaining a system that controls all activities, services, and products that could cause environmental harm. The aim is to ensure resources are used responsibly, guiding organizational growth within a sustainable development model.

This ISO 14001 audit checklist supports compliance with local environmental laws, improves emergency preparedness, and communicates your environmental values clearly to staff. It enables you to reduce your organization’s environmental footprint, meet regulatory requirements, and continuously improve internal processes, especially when managed through a digital platform.

Benefits of using the ISO 14001 audit checklist

With the ISO 14001 checklist, you don’t have to rely on paper-based systems. While you can still use the ISO 14001 PDF, digital templates and the app unlock added functionality and flexibility, allowing for a more efficient and dynamic environmental management system.

Features available in the Lumiform app include:

Having a structured environmental management system in place is essential to identifying non-compliance risks early. This allows you to take corrective action before small issues become big problems.

The ISO 14001 template helps improve your company’s environmental performance. This enhances your reputation, reduces incidents, and shows stakeholders your commitment to sustainable practices.

Download Lumiform’s ISO 14001 audit checklist today

Get straight to what matters: tracking, reviewing, and improving how your operations interact with the environment. This customizable template gives you the clarity to assess where improvements are needed and the control to act before issues escalate. With assigned responsibilities, automatic reminders, and guided checklists, you can take a proactive approach without second-guessing critical steps.

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Preview of the template
Audit
Introduction
Complete all sections starting below. This internal self-evaluation will assess the compliance of your Environmental Management System with ISO 14001:2015. Do not forget to attach evidence to items where needed, and to sign off and complete this assessment at the end.
4.1 General requirements
Has the company established and maintained an environmental supervision system consistent with the requirements contained in ISO 14001?
4.2 Environmental Policy
Has top supervision described the organization’s environmental policy?
Is the environmental policy relevant to the nature, scale, and environmental influences of the organization’s activities, products, or services?
Does environmental management include a commitment to continual improvement and prevent pollution?
Is the environmental policy documented, implemented, sustained and communicated to all workers?
Does the environmental policy include an assurance to comply with relevant environmental legislation and regulations and with other conditions to which the organization subscribes?
Does the environmental policy implement a framework for setting and reviewing environmental objectives and targets?
Is the environmental policy accessible to the public?
4.3 PLANNING
4.3.1 Environmental aspects
Does the organization regularly update information regarding its features and significant impacts?
Has the organization established and maintained procedures to distinguish the environmental aspects of its activities, products, or assistance that it can control and over which it can be expected to have an influence?
Has the organization assured that its aspects and related meaningful impacts are considered in setting its environmental objectives?
Has the organization determined which of its features have a significant influence on the environment?
4.3.2 Legal and other requirements
Has the organization organised and supported a procedure to identify and have access to legal and other necessities to which the organization subscribes, that are applicable to the environmental aspects of its activities, products, or services?
4.3.3 Objectives and targets
Has the organization established and sustained documented environmental objectives and targets, at each important function and level within the organization?
Has the company, when establishing and reviewing its objectives, thought of: The legal and other necessities? Its meaningful environmental aspects? Its technological options? Its financial, operational, and business requirements? The beliefs of engaged parties?
Are the organization’s goals consistent with its environmental policy, including the commitment to the prevention of pollution?
4.3.4 Environmental management program(s)
Has the organization developed and maintained environmental management program(s) for obtaining its objectives and targets?
Are environmental management program(s) reviewed and replaced when appropriate if new or modified activities, products, or services are implemented in the organization?
Do environmental management program(s) designate responsibility for accomplishing objectives and targets at each relevant function and level of the company?
Do environmental management program(s) define the means and timeframe by which they are to be obtained?
4.4.1 Structure and responsibility
Has management implemented resources essential to the implementation and control of the environmental management system?
Resources involve human resources and specialized skills, technology, and financial resources?
Has the organization’s top management appointed (a) particular management representative(s) who irrespective of other responsibilities, has outlined roles, responsibilities, and authority to: Warrant that the environmental management system (EMS) demands are established, implemented, and sustained in accordance with this International Standard. Report on the appearance of the EMS to top management for review and as a basis for improvement of the EMS.
Has the organization established, documented, and communicated the roles, duties, and authorities to facilitate effective environmental management? How is this achieved?
4.4.2 Training, awareness and competence
Has the organization set and maintained procedure to make it workers at each relevant function aware of:
The importance of conformance with the environmental policy and methods and with the requirement of the environmental management system (EMS)?
Has the organization recognised the training needs for all personnel whose profession may create a significant impact on the environment? How is this done?
Their roles and responsibilities in achieving conformance with the environmental policy and methods and with the demands of the EMS, including emergency preparedness and response demands?
The potential results of departure from the specified operating procedure?
The significant environmental influences, actual or potential, of their work activities and the environmental advantages of improved personal performance?
How does the organization guarantee that personnel performing tasks which can cause important environmental impacts are competent on the basis of proper education, training, and/or experience?
4.4.3 Communication
Concerning its environmental aspects and environmental management system, has the organization organised and maintained procedures to guarantee the following: Internal communication between the various levels and functions of the organization? Proper receiving, documenting, and replying to relevant communication from external interested parties?
Has the organization considered its process(es) for external communication on its meaningful environmental aspects and recorded its choice?
4.4.4 Environmental management system documentation
Has the organization organised and stated information in paper or electronic form to: Describe the core parts of the management system and their interaction? Give direction to related documentation?
4.4.5 Document control
Has the organization established and maintained procedures for controlling all documents required by this International Standard to assure the following:
They can be located.
Obsolete documents are immediately removed from all points of issue and points of use or otherwise proved against unintended use.
Any old documents are held for legal and/or knowledge preservation purposes are suitably identified?
They are regularly reviewed, revised as necessary, and approved for competence by authorized personnel.
Are the company’s documents legible, dated, and readily identifiable, stated in an orderly manner and retained for a detailed period?
The current versions of relevant documents are accessible at all locations where operations essential to the effective functioning of the environmental management system are done.
Has the organization established and supported procedures and responsibilities concerning the formulation and modification of the different types of documents?
4.4.6 Operational control
Has the organization recognised those operations and activities that are associated with the identified important environmental aspects in line with its policy, objectives, and targets?
Has the organization planned these activities, including subsistence, in order to ensure that they are carried out under specified circumstances by: Establishing and keeping documented procedures to cover situations where their deficiency could lead to deviations from the environmental policy and the goals? Stipulating operation criteria in the procedures? Establishing and sustaining procedures related to the identifiable significant environmental features of goods and services practised by the organization and communicating relevant procedure and requirements to suppliers and contractors?
4.4.7 Emergency preparedness and response
Has the organization organised and maintained procedures to recognise the potential for and respond to accidents and emergency situations, and for stopping and mitigating the environmental impacts that may be connected with them?
Has the organization reviewed and improved, where necessary, its emergency preparation and response procedure, in particular, after the occurrence of accidents or emergency situations?
Has the organization regularly tested such procedures where practicable?
4.5 Checking and Corrective Action
4.5.1 Monitoring and measurement
Has the organization established and maintained documented procedures to monitor and measure, on a regular basis, the key characteristics of its operations and activities that can have a meaningful impact on the environment?
Does the monitoring and measurement include the documentation of information to track performance, relevant operational controls and conformance with the company’s environmental objectives and targets?
Does the organization calibrate tools and maintain records according to the organization’s procedures?
Has the organization established and maintained a documented method for periodically assessing compliance with relevant environmental legislation and regulations?
4.5.2 Nonconformance and corrective and preventive action
Has the organization organised and maintained procedures for defining responsibility and authority for the handling and investigating nonconformance, taking action to mitigate any impacts caused, and for admitting and completing corrective and preventive action?
When improving and preventive actions are taken to eliminate the causes of actual and potential non-conformances, are they appropriate to the magnitude of problems and corresponding with the environmental impact encountered?
Has the organization performed and recorded any changes in the documented procedures resulting from improving and preventive action?
4.5.3 Records
Are the environmental records deposited and maintained in such a way that they are readily retrievable and defended against damage, deterioration, or loss?
Has the organization established and sustained methods for the identification, maintenance, and disposition of environmental records, including: Training records The outcomes of audits (EMS audits) The outcomes of reviews (Management Reviews)
Are the organization’s documents legible, identifiable, and traceable to the activity, product, or service included?
Are records maintained, as suitable to the system and to the organization, to demonstrated conformance to the requirements of this International Standard?
Are the retention times for records established and recorded?
4.5.4 Environmental management system audit
Has the organization set and maintained program(s) and procedure(s) for recurrent environmental management system audits to be carried out in order to: -Determine whether or whether not the environmental management system conforms to planned arrangements for environmental management including the requirements of this International -Standard and has been accurately implemented and maintained? Produce information on the results of audits to management?
Is the organization’s audit program, including any plan, based on the environmental importance of the activity concerned and the consequences of previous audits?
Does the audit plan cover the audit scope, frequency, and methodologies, as well as the responsibilities and demands for conducting audits and reporting results?
4.6 Management Review
Does the organization’s top management, at periods it determines, review the environmental management system to secure its continuing suitability and effectiveness?
Does the management review process guarantee that the required information is gathered to allow management to carry out this evaluation?
Are the management reviews reported?
Does each management review address the possible need for changes to the policy, objectives, and other details of the environmental management system, in the light of: Environment management system audit outcomes? Changing circumstances? The commitment to continual development?
Sign Off
I, the subscriber, approve this audit took place and was completed precisely.
Name and signature of auditor:
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Frequently asked questions

What is the purpose of aan ISO 14001 audit?

An ISO 14001 audit reviews how well a company’s environmental management system meets the standard’s requirements. It checks for proper planning, control, and documentation of activities that impact the environment. It’s similar to a health assessment for your environmental processes, covering key areas from legal compliance to how you handle incidents.

How are ISO 27001 and ISO 14001 different?

ISO 27001 focuses on information security, such as protecting data from breaches and unauthorized access. On the other hand, ISO 14001 deals with environmental management. The first keeps your servers safe, while the other keeps your emissions, waste, and environmental impact in check. Both require organized systems, but they focus on entirely different risks and business areas.

What documents are needed during an ISO 14001 audit?

Auditors typically ask for your environmental policy, legal compliance logs, risk assessments, monitoring records, and evidence of objectives being reviewed and tracked. Ideally, keep a document control register that shows what’s been updated, who signed off, and where to find the latest version. This saves you time during audits.

This template, developed by Lumiform employees, serves as a starting point for businesses using the Lumiform platform and is intended as a hypothetical example only. It does not replace professional advice. Companies should consult qualified professionals to assess the suitability and legality of using this template in their specific workplace or jurisdiction. Lumiform is not liable for any errors or omissions in this template or for any actions taken based on its content.