Analysis Past Year Questions EVT472

Definition
i. Standardization (2011)
A:
Process of developing and implementing technical standards
Help to maximize compatibility, interoperability, safety, repeatability or quality
Facilitate to breaking down the technical barriers to trade (TBT)

ii. Environmental objective (2011)

A:
Objective set by the organization consistent with its environmental policy

iii. Nonconformance / nonconformity (2011) (2015)

A:
Non-fulfilment of a requirement

iv. Emergency preparedness and response (2011)

A:
provisions for assessing the potential for accidents and emergencies,
preventing incidents and their associated environmental impacts

v. Records (2011)
A:
document stating results achieved or providing evidence of activities
performed

vi. Environmental Management System (2014) (2015) (2016)

A:
Part of the management system used to manage environmental aspects, fulfil
compliance obligations and address risks and opportunities

vii. Standard (2013) (2014) (2015) (2016)

A:
A standard is a document that provides requirements, specifications,
guidelines or characteristics that can be used consistently to ensure that
materials, products, processes and services are fit for their purpose

Environmental aspect (2015) (2016)

A:
Element of an organizations activities or products or services that interacts or
can interact with the environment
viii. Environmental target (2016)
A:
Detailed performance requirement, quantified, where practicable, applicable
to the organization/ part thereof that arises from the environmental objectives
and the need to be set and met in order to achieve these objectives.

ix. Environmental performance (2015) (2016)

A:
Performance related to the management of environmental aspects
Results can be measured against the organizations environmental policy,
environmental objectives or other criteria, using indicators

x. Continuous improvement (2015)

A:
Recurring process of enhancing the environment management system in
order to achieve improvement in overall performance consistent with
organisations environment policy

xi. Environmental impact (2015)

A:
Any change to the environment whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or
partially resulting from an organizations environmental aspects

xii. Interested party (2015)

A:
Person or group concerned with or affected by the environmental of an
organization

xiii. Environmental audit (2013)

A:
Systematic, independent and documented process for obtaining audit
evidence and evaluating it objectively to determine the extent to which the
audit criteria are fulfilled
 Chapter 1 EMS (ISO14000): an overview

Q: Objective ISO14000 (2012) (2013) (2013) (2015)

A:
To result in better environmental management & applicable in all countries
To encompass EMS & the environmental aspects of products
To promote the broader interests of the public as well as users of these
standards
To be scientifically based
To be practical, useful and usable
To be cost-effective, non-prescriptive and flexible
To develop a common language platform for environmental issues

Q: Explain how EMS can assist organization to reduce env. impact and increase
operating efficiency (2014)
A:
a) Reduced raw material/resource use
b) Reduced energy consumption
c) Improved process efficiency
d) Reduced waste generation and disposal costs
e) Utilization of recoverable resources
 Chapter 2 The development of EMS

Q: Purpose of standard for the organization (2016)

A:
a) Cut costs through improved systems and processes
b) Increase customer satisfaction, through improved safety, quality and
processes
c) Access new markets, through ensuring the compatibility of products and
services
d) Reduce their impact on the environment

Q: Explain the important of standard on business community and society (2013)

(2014) (2015)
A:
a) Demonstrate compliance with current and future statutory and regulatory
requirements
b) Increase leadership involvement and engagement of employees
c) Improve company reputation and the confidence of stakeholders through
strategic communication
d) Achieve strategic business aims by incorporating environmental issues into
business management
e) Provide a competitive and financial advantage through improved
efficiencies and reduced costs
f) Encourage better environmental performance of suppliers by integrating
them into the organizations business systems

Q: key principles in standard development process (2014) (2015)

A:
i. Consensus: The view of all interests parties are taken into account
ii. Industry-wide: To draft standards that satisfies industries and consumer
worldwide
iii. Voluntary International: standardization is market-driven and therefore
based on voluntary involvement of all interests in the marketplace

Q: ISO Membership (2012) (2014)

A:
i. Full members (or member bodies)
Influence ISO standards development and strategy by participating and
voting in ISO technical and policy meetings.
Can sell and adopt ISO International Standards nationally.

ii. Correspondent members

Observe the development of ISO standards and strategy by attending
ISO technical and policy meetings as observers.
 Can sell and adopt ISO International Standards nationally

iii. Subscriber members

Keep up to date on ISOs work but cannot participate in it.
Do not sell or adopt ISO International Standards nationally

Q: Six sub-committees under TC 207 (2012)

A:
i. SC1: environmental management systems
ii. SC2: Environmental auditing
iii. SC3: Environmental labelling
iv. SC4: Environmental performance evaluation
v. SC5: Life cycle analysis
vi. SC6: Terms and definitions

Q: Strategic Action group on the Environment (SAGE) (2011) (2012)

A:
Main objectives
a) Provide for a common approach to environmental management similar to
quality management
b) Improve systems, techniques and measure improvements in environmental
performance
c) Facilitate trade and remove trade barriers through their use

Group under SAGE

i. Environmental management systems
ii. Environmental auditing
iii. Environmental labelling
iv. Environmental performance evaluation
v. Life cycle analysis
vi. Guide for environmental aspects in product standards

Q: List historical evolution of development ISO14000 (2015)

A:
a) History of Environmental Management
b) History of Standardization

Q: Event influence to the birth of international EMS and its relation with formation of
SAGE (2014) (2015) (2016)
A:
a) 1986 the general agreement on tariff and trade negotiation in Uruguay
- To promote common approach to environment management
- To enhance an organizations ability to attain and measure improvement in
environmental performance
b) 1992 United Nation conference on environment and development in Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil
- To facilitate and remove technical barrier to trade
 Chapter 3 ISO 14000 series

Q: Illustrate the EMS Model (2013) (2014) (2016)

A:
PDCA Cycle

Q: Benefit of implementing EMS (2013)

A:
a) Demonstrate compliance with current and future statutory and regulatory
requirements
b) Provide a competitive and financial advantage through improved
efficiencies and reduced costs
c) Improve company reputation and the confidence of stakeholders through
strategic communication

Q: ISO14001 vs ISO14004 (2014) (2015)

A:
ISO 14001 ISO 14004
Objective Contain actual requirement (that
As an aid/guidelines to establish
can be objectively audited) that
EMS and can be used by
organisation has to comply in organisation to claim that they
order to be certified to the EMS
meets the requirement in
ISO14001 (either through self-
declaration, declaration by
customer or by independent
assessment body)
Helps an organization to meet Applicable to any organization,
its Environmental obligations regardless of its size, type,
reliably and consistently location or level of maturity
Q: ISO14000 (EMS) vs ISO9000 (QMS) more focus on process rather than product.
Justify (2014)
A:
a) Concern the way an organization goes about its work
b) ISO 9001 gives the requirements for what the organization must do to
manage processes affecting quality of its products and services.
c) ISO 14001 gives the requirements for what the organization must do to
manage processes affecting the impact of its activities on the environment.
d) Promote the use of PDCA model that can be applied in all processes

Q: Why EMS is a process standard not performance standard (2013) (2014)

A
a) Concern the way an organization goes about its work
b) Focuses on processes affect final products or services

Q: BS5750 (equivalent to QMS) vs BS7750 (equivalent to EMS). (Distinguish) (2014)

(2015)
A:
a) BS5750 is a quality management system standard
b) BS7750 is an environmental management systems standard
c) Both are process standard and not performance standards

Q: ISO14000 is generic standard. Explain term generic (2014) (2015)

A:
Generic means that the same standards can be applied:
a) to any organization, large or small, whatever its product or service,
b) in any sector of activity, and
c) whether it is a business enterprise, a public administration, or a government
department.

Q: Benefit of Env. Labelling (2016)

A:
a) Accurate and verifiable environmental claims that are not misleading
b) Prevention or minimization of unwarranted claims
c) Facilitation of international trade
d) Reduction in marketplace confusion

Q: Purpose of Env. labelling (2014)

A:
a) set of rules and guidelines for how the environmental aspects of a product can
legitimately be represented on a consumer label or in a declaration.
b) ensure that the consumer is only being given valid purchasing information
 c) provides businesses with a globally recognized and credible set of
international benchmarks against which they can prepare their environmental
labelling

Q: Describe activities of LCA (2014) (2015)

A:
a) Goal definition (ISO 14040) - The basis and scope of the evaluation are
defined
b) Inventory Analysis (ISO 14044) - Create a process tree in which all
processes from raw material extraction through waste water treatment are
mapped out and connected and mass and energy balances are closed
c) Impact Assessment (ISO 14044) - The are environmental effects are
grouped and weighted
d) Improvement Assessment/Interpretation (ISO 14044) - Areas for
improvement are identified

Q: Explain the benefit / purpose of EPE standard (ISO14031) and LCA analysis
(ISO14041) (2015) (2016)
A:
EPE (ISO14031) LCA (ISO14041)
Purpose provides guidance on how an provide tool for identifying and
organization can evaluate its evaluating the environmental
environmental performance aspects of products and services
from the cradle to the grave
(from the extraction of resource inputs to the
eventual disposal of the product or its waste)

Benefit a) Better understanding of an a) Examines system-wide effects

organizations impacts on the (cradle-to-grave)
environment b) Helps identify trade-offs among
b) Demonstrating compliance with alternatives
regulations; c) Identifies opportunities for
c) Determining proper allocation of improvement
resources

Q: identify 14000 series used as product oriented support tools (2014) (2015)
A:
a) Environmental labelling
b) Life cycle assessment
c) Environmental aspects in product design and development
 Chapter 4 Requirement ISO 14001

Q: Explain the meaning of other requirements (2014)

A:
other requirements might include industry codes, or similar requirements to which
your organization may subscribe

Q: Essential resources need in order to establish, implement, maintain and improve

EMS (2015)
A:
a) human
b) specialised skills
c) technology
d) financial

Q: Element to be taken into consideration in developing EMS Policy (2013) (2014)

(2015) (2016)
A:
a) includes a commitment to the protection of the environment
b) provides a framework for setting environmental objectives
c) appropriate to the purpose and context of the organization, including the
nature, scale and environmental impacts of its activities, products and
services
d) includes a commitment to continual improvement of the EMS

Q: Function of management representative (2011) (2012)

A:
a) Ensuring EMS requirement are established, implemented & maintained
b) Reporting performance of EMS to top management for review
c)

Q: Input should be included in MR (2014) (2015)

A:
a) the environmental performance of the organization
b) status of corrective and preventive actions
c) communication(s) from external interested parties (complaint)
d) results of internal audits and evaluations of compliance with legal and with
other requirements to which the organization subscribes
e) follow-up actions from previous MR
Q: purpose conducting internal audit (2014) (2015)
A:
a) To determine whether EMS conforms to planned arrangements for
environmental management including the requirements of this International
Standard
b) To determime wether EMS has been properly implemented and is maintained
c) To provide information on the results of audits to management

Q: Factor need to be considered and advantages when using employees for internal
audit (2012)
A:
Factor to be considered
a) Integrity and impartiality
b) Knowledge, skill and technical experience about the activities to be audited
c) independent from the operating managers of the function being audited
d) free from bias and conflict of interest

Advantages
a) Reduced cost to employ external auditor
b) More familiar with the business process as they are continuously employed in
the same concern and have access to much confidential information
c) maintains a group of highly skilled people available to cope with non-recurring
and exceptional jobs
d) provides an excellent training ground for future executives

Q: EMS Objective vs EMS Target (2013) (2015)

A:
EMS Objective EMS Target
Overall environmental goal arising from Detailed performance requirement,
the environmental policy that the quantified where practicable, applicable
organization sets itself to achieve and to the organisation / part thereof that
which is quantified where practicable arises from the environmental objectives
and that need to be set and met in order
to achieve those objectives

consider its technological options, its financial, operational and business

requirements, and the views of interested parties
take into account the legal requirements and other requirements to which the
organization subscribes
Q: distinguish between external and internal communication (2016)
A:
Internal communication External communication
The process of exchanging information An informal exchange of information and
among the people of same or different massage between an organization and
level within the organization other organization, group and individuals
outsides its formal structure.

Example: regular work meeting, bulletin Example: annual report, newsletters,

boards and intranet sites. websites, community meetings and
complaints

Q: Requirement for having emergency preparedness and response (2012)

A:
a) reduce injuries
b) protect employees and neighbors
c) reduce asset losses
d) minimize production downtime

Q: Justify why training and awareness should not be conducted as one-time activity
(2014)
A:
a) The employees come and go
b) Technology and process changes
c) Environmental requirement changes

Q: Distinguish between roles and responsibility (2015)

A:
Roles
positions of each members of the
organisation assume or the parts that they
play in a particular operation or process
Responsibilities
specific tasks or duties that each
member of the organisation are expected
to complete and accountable as a function
of their roles.

Q: How EMS helps organization comply with mandatory and voluntary requirement
(2014) (2015)

A:
a) Support regulatory compliance when the standards are used to meet market
and regulatory needs
b) serve as the technical basis for environmental regulations
c) Demonstrate compliance with current and future statutory and regulatory
requirements
Q: Explain the characteristic how to measure operation and activity (2014)
A:
a) Direct Measurement
Measuring a critical quantity or quality

b) Indirect Measurement
Filling out of forms during the process indicating tasks were performed
correctly
Periodic observations of tasks to ensure that it is being properly conducted
Periodic interviews with personnel to ensure that they are aware of
requirements
 Chapter 5 EMS Documentation

Q: Level of documentation in management system (2011) (2013) (2014)

A:

Q: Discuss when training is needed (2011)

A:
a) New Employee Hire
b) Change in Job Description
c) Corrective Action notes failure to follow instructions
d) New or Altered Procedures / Process
e) New Regulations (local, state or federal)

Q: Disadvantages of integrate management systems /standard (2012)

A:
i. Documentation can be more complicated
ii. Responsibility of management system can be conflicted in some
organizational structures
iii. External third party audits can be more difficult

Q: Explain how to identify env. aspects (2015) (2016)

A:
Activities are first reviewed in process increments small enough to be
examined for impacts, but large enough to get the job done in a reasonable
time.
All environmental aspects of the procedures or process are identified.
Identified all potential and actual environmental impacts from these aspects
The aspects are judged for their significance. A measurement system is
developed to separate those aspects which are significant and those that are
not.

Q: Document control (function and importance) (2012) (2013) (2015)

A:
Function
a) Can be located
b) Periodically reviewed, revised & approved
c) Current versions of documents are available at appropriate locations
where required
d) Obsolete document are controlled

Importance
a) ensure staff are working from the most recent version of the document
b) ensure the use of approved procedures and processes
c) ensure the staff that need the document actually receive (and are aware
of) the document

Q: Objective of documentation (2014) (2016)

A:
a) explain and require practices and procedures to promote consistency
b) identify responsible personnel
c) identify places where lack of consistency in performing a task would lead to
an environmental problem or deviation of the ems
d) to provide necessary information to employees and other interested parties as
appropriate.

Q: Explain important area should be taken into consideration during initial

environmental review (IER) (2013) (2015)
A:
a) Identification of environmental aspects
b) Identification of existing resources and capability
c) Identification of applicable legal requirements and other requirements
d) Examination of existing environmental management practices and procedures

Q: Eight steps in developing training program (2012)

A:
Step 1: Assess training needs requirements
Step 2: Define training objectives
Step 3: Select suitable programs and methods
Step 4: Prepare training plan (who, what, when, where, how)
Step 5: Implement training program
Step 6: Track training (and maintain records)
Step 7: Evaluate training effectiveness
Step 8: Improve training program (as needed)
Q: Illustrate why organisation need to establish, implement and maintain a
programme(s) for achieving its objectives and targets (2014) (2015)
A:
a) to describe how the organization will translate its goals into concrete actions
so that environmental objectives and targets will be achieved
b) designation of responsibility for achieving objectives and targets at relevant
functions and levels of the organization
c) the means and time-frame by which they are to be achieved
 Chapter 6 EMS Audit (ISO19011)

Q: Auditing principles (2012) (2015) (2016)

A:
i. Integrity - perform their work with honesty, diligence, responsibility and
impartial manners
ii. Fair presentation - obligation to report truthfully and accurately
iii. Confidentiality - security of information and protection of information
acquired in the course of their duties
iv. Independence - independent of performing the audited activity wherever
practicable, and in all cases act in a manner that is free from bias and conflict
of interest
v. Evidence-based approach - Audit evidence should be verifiable and based
on samples of the information available

Q: Principle in conducting the audit report (2013)

A:
a) Report the audit results in accordance with the audit programme procedures
b) Provide a complete, accurate, concise and clear record of the audit
c) Should be issued within an agreed period of time
d) Should be distributed to the recipients as defined in the audit procedures or
audit plan

Q: Explain tasks that should be taken into consideration in conducting opening

meeting (2013) (2014) (chapter 6)
A:
a) introduction of the participants and outline of their roles
b) confirmation of the audit objectives, scope and criteria
c) confirmation of the audit plan and other relevant arrangements with the
auditee
d) presentation of the methods to be used to conduct the audit,
e) confirmation of the language to be used during the audit

Q: How to conduct closing meeting (2014)

A:
Advising that the audit evidence collected was based on a sample of the
information available
The method of reporting
Presentation of the audit findings and conclusions
Presentation of the audit findings and conclusions in such a manner that they
are understood and acknowledged by the auditees management
Any related post-audit activities
Q: Objective to conduct closing meeting (2012) (2015)
A:
a) to present the audit findings and conclusions
b) to advise the auditee of situations encountered during the audit that may
decrease the confidence that can be placed in the audit conclusions
c) to have and agreement on the time frame for an action plan to address audit
findings

Q: Qualification to be environmental auditors (2011)

A:
i. exhibit professional behaviour during the performance of audit activities (ethic,
open-minded, observant)
ii. possess the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve the intended results of
the audits they are expected to perform
iii. experience in a relevant technical, managerial or professional position
involving the exercise of judgement, decision making, problem solving and
communication

Q: Explain how competency of an auditor can be achieved (2016)

A:
a) Formal education / training and experience that contribute to the development
of knowledge and skill in the management system discipline
b) Training programme that cover generic skill and knowledge of an auditor
c) Experience in a relevant technical, managerial and professional position
involving judgement, decision making and communication
d) Audit experience received by supervisions of others auditor in the same
discipline

Q: Define the meaning between adequacy and effectiveness (2013) (2014)

A:
a) Adequacy Ability to reasonably or legally satisfy requirement
b) Effectiveness The degree of the target achievement or the extent to which
objectives of audit are achieved
 Chapter 7 Registration and audit process

Q: typical audit activities that will be done during the audit process (2015)
A:
i. Initiating the audit (initiating contact with the auditee)
ii. Conduct document review
iii. Preparing for the on-site audit activities
iv. Conducting on-site audit activities
v. Preparing, approving and distributing the audit report to auditee
vi. Completing the audit
vii. Conducting the audit follow-up

Q: Objective performing EMS audits (2011)

A:
i. determine conformance of an auditees EMS with the EMS audit criteria
ii. determine whether the auditees EMS has been properly implemented and
maintained
iii. to identify areas of potential improvement in the auditees EMS
iv. assess the ability of the internal management review process to ensure the
continuing suitability and effectiveness of the EMS

Q: distinguish between accreditation and certification

A:
Accreditation Certification
the formal recognition by an independent the provision by an independent body of
body, generally known as an written assurance (a certificate) that the
accreditation body, that a certification product, service or system in question
body operates according to international meets specific requirements.
standards.

Q: Distinguish between registration (application) audit and surveillance audit (2013)

A:
Surveillance audit Registration audit
Subsequent audit by certification body Initial audit to get organizationals system
certified
On-going periodic review of an Expire in 2-3 years
organizations management system
To ensure continued appliance with ISO To add credibility by demonstrate product
standard & policies and process meet expectation
 Chapter 8 Registration of ISO14000

Q: Factor pursuing ISO 14000 registration (2013)

A:
a) Reduce costs
b) Reduce the effort required to manage legal compliance
c) Reduce the risks associated with any costs or damage to your reputation
d) Less pollution
e) Greater efficiencies, cost reductions
f) Improved productivity

Q: Outline preliminary steps involve in ISO14001 certification (2013) (2016)

A:

Q: Distinguish between award certification, award conditional certification and

withhold certification (2012)

Award certification Award conditional Withhold certification

certification
Q: Procedure for investigating and correcting NC (2013) (chapter 5)
- Non-conformances arise from internal and external audit.
- Immediately notify the compliance and system manager and relevant
senior management and raise an incident note
- Endeavour to immediately cease to sell any non-conforming product held
in a stock
- Identify all relevant customers, and notify those customers in writing within
three business days of the non-conformity product and maintain records of
this advise.

Q: six steps in performing continual improvement (2013) (chapter 6)

1. Establish priority areas
2. Identify monitoring and audit rules
3. Determining process frequency
4. Configuring parameters
5. Following up
6. Communicating results

Q: Environmental management for organisation vs environmental management for

product and process (2012)

Q: Illustrate diagram to relate between environment policy, objective and target

(2014)

All the best

May Allah bless all of you and ease your task!!