| Day 1 09.00 | Introduction | The course structure is outlined. The site that is to be audited is described |
| Module 1 | Icebreaker |
Environmental thinking: A short environmental exercise to encourage participants to think in environmental and auditing terms |
| Module 2 | Tutorial: Environmental business issues. Terminology |
A summary of some environmental issues, and why they are important now. Differences in audit types. |
| Module 3 | Tutorial: The EMS Standards | A discussion of the various EMS standards, including LCA< labelling and performance assessment standards |
| Module 4 | Workshop: Questionnaire | Audit understanding: A discussion of the pre-course work, to create a discussion about EMS auditing, the problems and constraints |
- Lunch - |
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| Module 5 | Tutorial: Auditing concepts and framework | The audit begins with a discussion of the framework and requirements to undertake a professional audit, such as objective evidence |
| Module 6 | Tutorial: Environmental aspects. Identification |
An introduction to identifying environmental aspects, and why this is important for the auditor |
| Module 7 | Workshop: Life cycle assessment OR |
Audit preparation: Participants identify the environmental aspects for the site to be audited. (There is an alternative workshop if the participants already have an environmental background) |
| Evening Module 8 (2hrs) |
Workshop: Stage 1 Audit documentation. Site documentation understanding |
Audit preparation: Participants create a list of useful documentation for an audit, and study the technical background of the site to be audited and their EMS. |
| Day 2 08.30 Module 8 |
Workshop: Documentation feedback |
Audit preparation: A debate on what documentation would be useful to the auditor for this audit and when it is most useful |
| Module 9 | Tutorial: Legislation. Codes of Practice | The framework of environmental law |
| Module 10 | Tutorial: detailed planning (Checklists) |
How to create suitable EMS audit checklists |
- Lunch - |
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| Module 11 | Workshop: Checklist preparation | Audit preparation: Participants identify some of the detailed issues that the auditor should look at, using documented procedures and their experience. |
| Module 12 | Tutorial: Environmental impacts - significance | How to assess environmental impacts ("risk") |
| Module 13 | Workshop: Part 1 - site review and questions | Simulated site audit: A tour of the auditee's site using pictures. Participants may question the site personnel about the environmental issues they see, and the types of problems they can see |
| Evening Module 13 (2hrs) |
Workshop: Part 2 - Risk assessment Parts 3 - Case study preparation |
Simulated site audit: Participants perform a simple "impacts assessment" for the auditee's site. Preparation for "Stage 1" of the audit |
Day 3
08.30 |
Workshop : Impact assessment feedback | Simulated site audit: A discussion of the main issues for the auditee's site, discussing the limitations of environmental assessment, and how these methods may be audited |
| Module14 | Tutorial: Objectives and targets: Improvement, Policy | An understanding of what the auditor might expect in the auditee's improvement program |
| Module 15 | Tutorial: External communications and Environmental Statements |
A discussion on what external communication methods might be present, plus the EMAS requirement to produce an "environmental statement" or report |
| Module 16 | Tutorial: EMS nonconformities | How to write clear and informative nonconformities so that the auditor can leave a professional audit record behind |
| Module 17 | Tutorial: Audit meetings |
A brief summary of running audit opening meetings and review meetings |
| Module 18 | Workshop: Senior management review | Simulated site audit: An exercise in questioning the auditee's senior managers about the EMS, their priorities and understanding |
| Module 19 | Case Study: Part 1 - Group Preparation | Simulated site audit: An audit team discussion of "Stage 1" of the audit. This is the top-management part of the EMS audit, looking at strategic processes in the auditee's system |
- Lunch - |
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| Module 19 | Case Study: Part 1 feedback | Simulated site audit: A review of the findings of "Stage 1" of the audit, including nonconformances, audit trails to follow, auditing techniques |
| Module 20 | Tutorial: Auditing techniques | A summary of some useful audit techniques, such as questioning and note taking |
| Module 21 | Tutorial: Accreditation, Certification and Sources of information | A summary of the current UK and worldwide accredited certification system, future trends, and some useful sources of information |
| Module 22 | Workshop: EMS nonconformity writing | Simulated site audit: Participants write a nonconformity concerning the auditee's system and have it critiqued in open session |
| Evening Module 23 (2hrs) |
Case Study: Part 2 - Introduction and preparation | Simulated site audit: An audit team discussion of "Stage 2" of the audit, at process-level. Participants also have to take into account corrective actions carried out by the auditee at the end of "Stage 1" of the audit. |
| Day 4 08.30 Module 23 |
Case Study: Part 2 - Feedback | Simulated site audit: A review of the findings of "Stage 2" of the audit, including nonconformances, audit trails to follow, auditing techniques and major/minor nonconformities |
| Module 24 | Cast Study: Part 3 - Introduction and Preparation | Simulated site audit: Preparation for auditing a further section of "Stage 2" of the audit, focusing on using questioning skills |
- Lunch - |
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| Module 25 | Examination comments | A brief review of the examination on the last day and what to expect |
| Module 26 | Workshop: Audit report | A review of the audit reporting workshop |
| Module 27 | Tutorial: Closing Meeting | How to hold a closing meeting with the auditee - differences between1st and 3rd party practice |
| Evening Module 28 (2hrs) |
Workshops: Report preparation and prepare for Closing Meeting | Simulated site audit: A framework for writing audit reports for the auditee |
| Day 5 08.30 Module 28 |
Workshop: Nonconformity writing and Closing Meeting sequence | On-site audit: Audit teams hold Closing Meetings to explain their audit findings clearly, and summarise their conclusions on the audit |
- Lunch - |
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| 13.30 | Examination | 'Open book', 2 hours - test of understanding not memory |
| Course Review / Questions | Any final points that need to be raised. Possible dates determined to visit participants' sites visits | |
| 16.00 | Close |
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