A small services organisation has been contracted to handle the disposal of waste for a local hospital. You are an auditor conducting a Stage 2 audit of the hospital to ISO 14001. You are reviewing the contract with the Service Manager (SM) of the small organisation. An addendum to the contract only requires that biological waste be disposed of in the most environmentally friendly way, without reference to any regulatory requirements.
You: How was the waste disposal plan for the contract developed?
SM: We have a basic template that covers the materials, labour requirements, and methods to be employed.
Some of that is specified by the hospital.
You: How does the plan deal with specific items like biological waste, which are included in the contract and can pose biological hazards to the environment?
SM: The basic plan covers general waste, but we have an addendum that covers biological waste.
You: Are you aware of the regulatory requirements for environmentally responsible waste disposal standards in hospitals?
SM: Yes, in general, but we depend on the hospital to look after that side of things. They are the experts.
You raise a nonconformity against section 8.1.c of ISO 14001.
At the Stage 2 closing meeting of the audit, the hospital ' s EMS Manager objects to the nonconformity raised and asks for it to be withdrawn. He insists that they meet all the regulations.
Which option the audit team leader should take in response to the request?

• A. Advise that the nonconformity will be reconsidered after the meeting.
• B. Offer to downgrade the nonconformity to an opportunity for improvement if the hospital can prove its compliance with regulations.
• C. Consult with the auditor who raised the nonconformity and ask whether he will agree to withdraw it.
• D. Confirm that it is a valid nonconformity supported by a lack of evidence for meeting the requirement.

A large chemical organisation, CrackerPRO, has a plant located in a rural area surrounded by livestock farms.
When cleaning several vessels 4-5 times per day, it releases water vapor with a strong acidic smell lasting for
10 minutes each time.
You are conducting a second-stage initial certification audit at the plant. When auditing the processes of assessing impacts and identifying environmental aspects with the Environmental Supervisor, you find that the emission of that acidic vapor has not been evaluated as a significant aspect. During further auditing, you learn that neighbouring farmers have made repeated complaints in the last 6 months about the acid smells and reported an increase in animals becoming sick as a result.
The Environmental Supervisor states that the farmers are looking for financial compensation from the company which their lawyers are resisting. She insists that no legal requirements have been broken and that all complaints have been rejected.
You raise a nonconformity against ISO 14001. Based on the scenario, select one of the options which would constitute an acceptable nonconformity.

• A. 4.2.c - The needs and expectations of neighbouring farmers were not incorporated into the Environmental Management System as compliance obligations.
• B. 6.1.3 - CrackerPRO failed to meet its compliance obligations concerning its environmental impacts on neighbouring farms.
• C. 7.4.3 - CrackerPRO failed to communicate to neighbouring farmers concerning the release of acidic vapours resulting from its chemical cleaning operations.
• D. 6.1.2 - The organisation failed to review its decision on not considering the significant aspect of acidic vapour emissions when interested parties reported serious impacts resulting from these emissions.

The audit team leader presents the audit outcome at the closing meeting attended by the Chief Executive and the senior managers of a care home. The agenda involves the reporting of a low number of minor nonconformities in the EMS to ISO 14001. It becomes clear to the audit team leader and team members that the Chief Executive becomes increasingly agitated as the meeting progresses.
Before the audit team leader can present a summary of the audit results, the Chief Executive interrupts the report and angrily claims that the whole process is flawed and that the organisation has wasted its time on trying to get certification because it has chosen the wrong certification body.
Select the one option you would take as the audit team leader in response to the situation.

• A. Suggest that a meeting break is taken to allow a separate meeting with the Chief Executive to discuss his concerns.
• B. Terminate the meeting to allow you to consult with your line manager in the certification body.
• C. Request firmly that the Chief Executive holds back his comments until the report is completed.
• D. Bring the meeting to a close and advise that it will be rescheduled to continue at a later date.

The audit lifecycle describes the ISO 19011 process for conducting an individual audit.
Which two of the following are part of conducting the audit activities?

• A. Verify corrective action effectiveness
• B. Determine audit conclusion
• C. Distribute the audit report
• D. Determine audit feasibility
• E. Assign work to the audit team
• F. Hold the opening meeting

An organisation has the following environmental policy document displayed in the reception area.
" This organisation is committed to providing electric cables to customers ' requirements, in accordance with environmental regulations for their manufacture, use and disposal. The organisation will strive to increase the environmental awareness of its personnel, suppliers, subcontractors and interested parties. Continual environmental EMS improvement is a permanent objective of the organisation. This policy shall be communicated to all employees with the opportunity for them to seek clarification where required. Where required, the policy shall be communicated to all interested parties. " Referring to the above policy statement, select three options for which the organisation is meeting ISO 14001 requirements.

• A. The organisation satisfies its customers ' environmental requirements.
• B. The organisation ' s processes deliver the intended improvement to the environment.
• C. The organisation has a commitment to environmental protection.
• D. The organisation uses suppliers committed to environmental sustainability.
• E. The organisation clearly meets all compliance obligations.
• F. The organisation has a good reputation for recycling its waste.
• G. The organisation makes available its environmental policy to interested parties.
• H. The organisation is committed to continual improvement.