Environmental Auditing

An environmental audit, which can extend to include key aspects of health and safety, is typically described as a systematic, independent and documented process that identifies potential Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) risks and liabilities that can impact a business.  Such audits are often used to evaluate the management priorities and associated costs for the business going forward.  Audits can be broad in scope, addressing all activities at a facility, or may be limited to specific elements, for example waste management or emissions monitoring procedures.

What is the benefit?

The identification of potential EHS risks and liabilities can be facilitated by well planned and executed audits. Without a programme of regular audits, risks and liabilities may remain unidentified. Unless key audit findings are addressed, there remains the exposure to overall business risk and potentially heightened costs.

To be of benefit to an organisation, the audit process has to be robust and preferably in accordance with a recognised standard such as ASTM or World Bank Guidelines.  These specifications offer an audit framework or approach that can be applicable to different sectors.  Their approach can prevent duplication and also maximise the robustness of the audit with a more effective allocation of resources.  In the absence of such standards or guidelines, some clients develop their own audit protocols or will sometimes carry out standalone reviews of the relevant EHS issues.

Why CRA?

CRA offers an environmental audit service that includes environmental due diligence, EHS compliance and management system audits.  It also extends to progressing single-issue audits, such as those that may be encountered as part of corporate governance reviews and supply-chain assessments.  CRA has extensive experience of supporting clients’ internal audit functions, for example by providing guidance on legislative requirements in many jurisdictions globally.

CRA carries out and manages the full environmental or EHS audit process using an integrated-team approach for each assignment.  By combining our responsiveness with a dedicated project manager and experienced specialist consultants, and through close liaison with a client, the process can be undertaken in an efficient and cost effective manner.

We adopt a technically rigorous approach to assess the potential environmental risks and associated liabilities; we also recognise how to focus on what is material to each specific project and to incorporate the value-drivers established with the client. We are also able to draw on CRA’s wider expertise in specialist markets such as renewable energy, environmental technologies, waste management and the built environment.  Hence, in addition to the more traditional environmental liability issues, we can also review what may be considered the developing longer term liabilities.  For example, those linked to climate change mitigation or adaptation.

For additional information on how CRA could help you, please contact Bryan Hughes on bhughes@cra.co.uk or 0115 965 6700.