ISO 14001 Clause 4.1 Organization and its context - What does an Auditor expect?

[stuarthutton]

Hi All,

I am currently undertaking a project to determine the internal/external issues and environmental conditions in which we operate and am finding myself going round in circles on how best to tackle this.

My question is this, would an auditor be looking for this in the format of a list or a document with a more detailed breakdown on how each factor influences the EMS and its outcome, positively or negatively?

It would be very helpful to see examples of those who have been accredited already

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate any input, the Elsmar community has become an invaluable resource tool to aid our ISO 14001:2015 implementation process in the short time I've been a member.

Stu

 

[Randy]

Sometimes a business plan or annual plan will suffice. Review A.4.1 in the Annex portion of the standard.

 

[stuarthutton]

Hi All ,

Can anybody share with me an example of their own interpretation of clause 4.1, the context of an organisation, internal, external and environmental issues ?

I am a little confused into the detail required of this clause.

Thanks in advance.
Stu

 

[fars0x0]

hi stu
also same issue , did you find answer?

 

[zac2944]

I'm bumping this older thread because I have the same question. [FONT=&quot]

My interpretation of this requirement ([/FONT][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]14001:2015 section 4.1 Understanding the organization and its context) [/FONT]is to ensure that the organization has a high-level conceptual understanding of the internal and external issues that can affect its ability to achieve the intended outcomes of its EMS.

This is the stuff we review at management meetings. In my case it would be demand for environmental performance from corporate management, customer, and local and state regulations. Meeting minutes from my management meeting will show discussion of such topics and where applicable corresponding changes in my EMS.

I'm not due for my 2015 transition audit until Jan 2018, but that is how I'm currently planning to demonstrate conformance.

Anyone doing something different?
[/FONT]

 

[LUV-d-4UM]

When we had our transition audit, the Top Management presented last years Business Plan Cascade (which is the version of Business Plan that is communicated to everyone in the company) and we identified the interested parties and their requirements and in turn we developed the SWOT analysis and strategic plan to meet those requirements. That was 4.1 and 4.2.

 

[Randy]

If you have a copy of 14001:2015 take the time to study Annex A, A.4.1 because it tells you what you need to know and gives examples of what might be expected.

Try not to all wrapped around the axle with interpretation, study 14001:2015 cover to cover and leave out the guessing

 

[weakness]

We prepared a format for summarize this expectation
Risk and opportunities
We determined related parties,expectation,risk ,opportunities,
We choosed control method,kpi and kpı responsible.
Here is an example .

 

[batman1056]

I am in the process of upgrading to the new standard and have been trying answer 4.1 and 4.2 - I did reason somewhere that its easier to do 4.2 then 4.1 - but still struggling - anyone fancy sharing what they wrote?

 

[John C. Abnet]

Good day Batman1056;
Please allow me to share a truncated paraphrase of a recent procedure that covers 4.0 . Keep in mind that 4.1+4.2= 4.3. These are then acted upon via 6.1.


Hope this helps