Businesses can conduct many different types of environmental audits, making it difficult to decide which audit(s) your company should execute.
To simplify things, we have outlined five of the most common types of environmental audits that your company should consider.
5 Different Types of Environmental Audits for Business Owners
Our list of environmental audits includes the following types.
1. Multi-Media Audits
A multi-media environmental audit examines four different forms of media that are each linked to one another. These include:
- Soil
- Air
- Water
- Waste
Reviewing these elements can provide meaningful insights, and you can use the results of this kind of audit to identify cost-saving opportunities. A multi-media audit can also reveal ways to reduce risk and improve compliance as well.
During a multi-media audit, we evaluate your processes and examine which chemicals you use. We identify the equipment that is used to process those chemicals as well.
Multi-media audits are vital for any industrial business, as they play a key role in compliance and can also reveal whether your business is operating safely.
The scope of a multi-media audit can be tailored to your needs, but a typical multi-media audit will examine your business’s:
- Waste management processes
- Oil and substance storage
- Pesticide usage
- Water protection programs
- Emergency planning compliance
- Air pollution control
We will examine these facets of your business and then compile our findings, which will be listed in a final report. The report will list all site observations and identify any issues while also including suggestions for fixing said issues.
2. SPCC
Spill prevention, control, and countermeasure (SPCC) plans are required by state law for industrial companies. An SPCC plan serves as a reference for oil storage protocols and outlines testing procedures. More importantly, they are a resource that guides emergency response during a spill.
Your SPCC plan should describe what measures you have taken to prevent accidental oil spills, and it must also outline how your team will react should a spill occur.
Typically, an SPCC plan includes the following components:
- Plan administration information
- General facility information
- Discharge prevention protocols
- Recordkeeping requirements
- Security protocols
- Operational procedures
- Discharge response
We can assist with the creation of an SPCC plan or help review your existing plan while identifying any deficiencies. If needed, we can modify or wholly replace your SPCC plan, and if you do not currently have an SPCC plan at all, we can develop one for you.
All SPCC plans are developed by our expert staff that prides itself on decades of experience and is licensed to create or alter SPCC plans.
Need a quick turnaround? We can assist with that, too, as we can typically offer a 7-10-day turnaround.
3. Tier II Reporting
One of the most important federal laws affecting industrial companies in Texas is the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). Under EPCRA, you must submit an annual Tier II report, commonly known as an emergency and hazardous chemical inventory form.
Your Tier II report must be completed by March 1st of each year and submitted to the following:
- Your local fire department
- Your local emergency planning committee
- Your state emergency response commissions
A Tier II form lists all of the hazardous chemicals that your facility uses, which helps firefighters improve potential responses to your buildings. Tier II data is also used to map the distance from your facility to sensitive populations.
We can assist with Tier II reporting by conducting a comprehensive assessment of your facility. The audit will identify all chemicals used on the premises, though you can provide a list of all in-use chemicals to us in advance. You may also provide this data on-site.
Once we have received this data, we will begin the reporting process. We will determine which substances are stored in amounts that are above the set limits and then prepare your Tier II reporting documents.
We are a full-service partner, so we will submit your completed Tier II report for you and provide copies to all agencies by the imposed deadline.
4. TRI Reporting
Like Tier II reporting, Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) reporting is a requirement established under EPCRA. TRI reports must outline how facilities are managing chemical waste through processes that include the following:
- Controlled releases
- Disposal
- Treatment
- Energy recovery
- Recycling
TRI reporting is required if your facility uses toxic chemicals at levels that exceed reporting thresholds. The exact thresholds vary based on your industry, and the type of chemical being used will also affect its discharge limit.
Our TRI reporting services can help you determine whether you exceed the relevant thresholds. We can also prepare all reports and submit them to the appropriate agencies.
5. ISO 14001 Audits
ISO 14001 is an internationally-recognized system for environmental management that outlines the best practices to help your business achieve compliance. An ISO 14001 audit evaluates your company’s adherence to set practices and will identify any shortcomings.
Our team can tailor the scope of your ISO 14001 audit to align with the needs of your business and assess your current posture. We can also speak with stakeholders and assist with risk management as well.
We are also certified to perform ISO 45001 audits, which provide guidance on reducing workplace risks. An ISO 45001 also helps with improving employee safety.
If you want to achieve the best results, we suggest using several of our auditing services.
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