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ISO 14001 LA study materials
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ISO 14001 LA practice questions

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Question 1Fundamental principles and concepts of an environmental management system

In ISO 14001:2015, which subject area corresponds to the 'Check' phase of the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle?

  1. Operation
  2. Improvement
  3. Planning
  4. Performance evaluation Correct answer.

Explanation

The standard explains in its introduction that Planning corresponds to clause 6, Do to clauses 7 and 8, Check to clause 9 (performance evaluation), and Act to clause 10 (improvement). Monitoring, internal audit and management review are the activities that let the organization check how the system is performing.

Question 2Fundamental principles and concepts of an environmental management system

Which statement best describes an environmental aspect?

  1. An element of activities, products or services interacting with the environment Correct answer.
  2. A measurable result of the management of environmental aspects
  3. A commitment in the policy to protect the environment from harm
  4. A change in the environment, adverse or beneficial, arising from activities

Explanation

An environmental aspect is an element of an organization's activities, products or services that interacts or can interact with the environment. Aspects are the causes; the resulting changes to the environment are the impacts.

Question 3Fundamental principles and concepts of an environmental management system

How is an environmental impact best defined?

  1. An element of a product or activity that interacts with the environment
  2. The state or characteristic of the environment at a particular point in time
  3. A change to the environment, adverse or beneficial, arising from environmental aspects Correct answer.
  4. The measurable result of the management of an organization's aspects

Explanation

The definition of environmental impact covers any change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from environmental aspects. The beneficial element matters: an impact such as habitat creation is still an impact.

Question 4Fundamental principles and concepts of an environmental management system

In ISO 14001:2015, compliance obligations consist of:

  1. only requirements the organization chooses to adopt, such as industry codes
  2. legal requirements and other requirements the organization must or chooses to comply with Correct answer.
  3. legal requirements together with contractual obligations with customers only
  4. only the legal requirements that are applicable to the organization

Explanation

Compliance obligations include both mandatory requirements, such as legislation and permits, and other requirements the organization decides or is obliged to comply with, such as voluntary commitments, industry codes and agreements with interested parties. Organizations must determine these and consider them throughout the system.

Question 5Fundamental principles and concepts of an environmental management system

Under ISO 14001:2015, which party is responsible for establishing the environmental policy?

  1. The EMS project team
  2. Top management Correct answer.
  3. The environmental management representative
  4. The internal audit function

Explanation

Clause 5.2 places the duty to establish, implement and maintain the environmental policy on top management, within the defined scope of the system. The 2015 revision deliberately removed the earlier requirement for a management representative, spreading leadership accountability across top management.

Question 6Fundamental principles and concepts of an environmental management system

Which commitment must be included in the environmental policy?

  1. A commitment to fulfil compliance obligations Correct answer.
  2. A commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by a set date
  3. A commitment to publish an annual sustainability report
  4. A commitment to certify all suppliers to ISO 14001

Explanation

Clause 5.2 requires the policy to include commitments to protection of the environment, to fulfilment of compliance obligations and to continual improvement of the environmental management system. The protection commitment must include pollution prevention and other specific commitments relevant to the organization's context.

Question 7Fundamental principles and concepts of an environmental management system

Continual improvement, as used in ISO 14001:2015, means:

  1. the periodic review of the environmental policy by top management
  2. the annual re-setting of the environmental objectives
  3. a recurring activity to enhance environmental performance Correct answer.
  4. the result of corrective action taken after an internal audit

Explanation

Continual improvement is defined as a recurring activity to enhance performance, and in the environmental context it refers to enhancement of environmental performance. It is an ongoing activity, not a one-off correction, and it is distinct from the individual tools, such as corrective action or management review, that may support it.

Question 8Fundamental principles and concepts of an environmental management system

How does ISO 14001:2015 address preventive action?

  1. Through the corrective action process described in clause 10.2
  2. Through a dedicated clause requiring records of preventive actions
  3. Through the emergency preparedness and response process only
  4. Through risk-based thinking applied when planning the EMS Correct answer.

Explanation

The 2015 edition has no separate preventive action clause; instead, preventive action is addressed through risk-based thinking in clause 6.1, where risks and opportunities that need to be addressed are determined and planned actions are integrated into the system.

Question 9Fundamental principles and concepts of an environmental management system

When determining the scope of its environmental management system, an organization must consider:

  1. only the environmental aspects that top management has approved as significant
  2. the site boundaries, the permits held at each site and the number of employees
  3. the market position of the organization and the size of its workforce
  4. internal and external issues, compliance obligations and organizational boundaries Correct answer.

Explanation

Clause 4.3 requires the scope to take account of the external and internal issues, the compliance obligations, and the organizational units, functions and physical boundaries, as well as the activities, products and services within its authority and influence. The resulting scope must be maintained as documented information and made available to interested parties.

Question 10Fundamental principles and concepts of an environmental management system

Applying a life cycle perspective when determining environmental aspects means considering:

  1. the age profile of the equipment operated on the organization's site
  2. the expected service life of the organization's products in years
  3. the environmental performance of competitors' equivalent products
  4. stages from raw material acquisition through end-of-life treatment and disposal Correct answer.

Explanation

A life cycle perspective means considering the stages of a product or service from raw material acquisition or generation of resources through to end-of-life treatment and disposal, including upstream and downstream elements the organization can control or influence. The standard is explicit that this does not require a detailed life cycle assessment.

Question 11Fundamental principles and concepts of an environmental management system

Clause 4.1 of ISO 14001:2015 requires the organization to determine:

  1. the legal and other requirements applicable to its significant environmental aspects
  2. the needs and expectations of every party that interacts with the organization
  3. external and internal issues relevant to its purpose and affecting intended outcomes Correct answer.
  4. the environmental impacts of every process within the scope of the EMS

Explanation

Clause 4.1 requires the organization to determine the external and internal issues relevant to its purpose that affect its ability to achieve the intended outcomes of the environmental management system, including environmental conditions affected by or capable of affecting the organization. These issues feed into the risks and opportunities determined in clause 6.1.

Question 12Fundamental principles and concepts of an environmental management system

With respect to interested parties, ISO 14001:2015 requires the organization to determine:

  1. which interested parties are affected by the content of the environmental policy
  2. which interested parties are relevant and which of their needs become compliance obligations Correct answer.
  3. the communication needs of all interested parties without any exception
  4. the expectations of every party that could be affected by the organization

Explanation

Clause 4.2 requires the organization to determine the interested parties that are relevant to the environmental management system and the relevant needs and expectations of those parties. Some of those needs and expectations are adopted as compliance obligations, which then must be managed under clause 6.1.3.

Question 13Fundamental principles and concepts of an environmental management system

When determining its significant environmental aspects, an organization shall:

  1. apply the example criteria set out in Annex A of ISO 14001
  2. obtain the agreement of interested parties on the criteria it uses
  3. give priority to aspects that are regulated by environmental legislation
  4. establish criteria and retain documented information on the aspects and the criteria Correct answer.

Explanation

Clause 6.1.2 requires the organization to establish criteria for determining significant environmental aspects and to retain documented information on the aspects and the criteria used. The criteria are for the organization to define; Annex A offers guidance but prescribes no fixed criteria, and interested party agreement is not required.

Question 14Fundamental principles and concepts of an environmental management system

Compliance obligations must be taken into account:

  1. only when evaluating compliance at the end of each calendar year
  2. only during the annual management review carried out by top management
  3. only when setting and reviewing the environmental objectives
  4. when establishing, implementing, maintaining and improving the EMS Correct answer.

Explanation

Clause 6.1.3 requires the organization to determine and have access to compliance obligations and to determine how they apply, and then to take them into account when establishing, implementing, maintaining and continually improving the system. This makes compliance obligations an input across planning, operation and evaluation rather than a single annual exercise.

Question 15Fundamental principles and concepts of an environmental management system

Environmental objectives established under clause 6.2 must:

  1. be approved by the relevant regulatory authority before implementation
  2. be measurable, monitored, communicated and updated as appropriate Correct answer.
  3. cover every environmental aspect identified in the aspects register
  4. be expressed as absolute reductions in emissions at each site

Explanation

Clause 6.2 requires objectives to be consistent with the environmental policy, measurable where practicable, monitored, communicated and updated as appropriate. They must be established at relevant functions and levels and take into account significant aspects, compliance obligations, risks and opportunities and the organization's options.

Question 16Fundamental principles and concepts of an environmental management system

Under clause 8.1, for processes that the organization outsources, it shall:

  1. exclude the related environmental aspects from the EMS scope
  2. ensure that the outsourced processes are controlled or influenced Correct answer.
  3. audit each supplier at least once in every calendar year
  4. require each supplier to be certified to ISO 14001

Explanation

Clause 8.1 requires the organization to ensure that outsourced processes are controlled or influenced, consistent with a life cycle perspective and with the authority and ability the organization has over the process. The type and degree of control or influence is determined by the organization, for example through contractual requirements or monitoring.

Question 17Fundamental principles and concepts of an environmental management system

Clause 8.2 requires the organization to establish, implement and maintain:

  1. processes to prepare for and respond to potential emergency situations Correct answer.
  2. a fixed annual schedule for evacuating each building on the site
  3. insurance cover for every environmental emergency that has been identified
  4. a business continuity plan certified by an external certification body

Explanation

Clause 8.2 requires processes needed to prepare for and respond to potential emergency situations, including planned actions to prevent or mitigate adverse environmental impacts. The organization must also respond to actual emergency situations and periodically test the planned response where practicable.

Question 18Fundamental principles and concepts of an environmental management system

Under clause 9.1.1, the organization shall determine:

  1. what to monitor and measure, the methods, and the criteria and indicators Correct answer.
  2. the audit frequency that must be applied to each process within scope
  3. the number of nonconformities raised in the previous audit cycle
  4. the environmental performance of its key suppliers and contractors

Explanation

Clause 9.1.1 requires the organization to determine what needs to be monitored and measured, the methods for monitoring, measurement, analysis and evaluation, the criteria and indicators against which environmental performance will be evaluated, and when monitoring and measuring shall be performed. It must also determine when results are to be analysed and evaluated.

Question 19Fundamental principles and concepts of an environmental management system

The internal audit programme shall be planned taking into account:

  1. the number of findings raised by the certification body
  2. the budget allocated to the environmental management function
  3. the environmental importance of processes and results of previous audits Correct answer.
  4. the availability of the external certification body's audit team

Explanation

Clause 9.2 requires the audit programme to be planned, established, implemented and maintained, taking into consideration the environmental importance of the processes concerned, changes affecting the organization, and the results of previous audits. The frequency, methods and responsibilities are defined within the programme.

Question 20Fundamental principles and concepts of an environmental management system

Which of the following is a required output of management review?

  1. a documented list of all the environmental aspects of the organization
  2. a signed statement of compliance with all applicable legal requirements
  3. decisions on improvement opportunities and any need for changes to the EMS Correct answer.
  4. an updated register of interested parties and their needs and expectations

Explanation

Clause 9.3 requires management review outputs to include conclusions on the continuing suitability, adequacy and effectiveness of the system, decisions related to opportunities for continual improvement, and any need for changes to the environmental management system, including resources. The aspects list, compliance statement and interested party register are inputs or working documents, not required review outputs.

Question 21Fundamental principles and concepts of an environmental management system

When planning the environmental management system, clause 6.1.1 requires the organization to determine risks and opportunities related to:

  1. financial performance, market share and customer satisfaction only
  2. only the environmental aspects that have been assessed as significant
  3. the competence of personnel and the adequacy of infrastructure only
  4. environmental aspects, compliance obligations and other issues and requirements Correct answer.

Explanation

Clause 6.1.1 requires the organization to determine the risks and opportunities related to its environmental aspects, compliance obligations, and other issues and requirements identified in clauses 4.1 and 4.2, that need to be addressed to give assurance that the system can achieve its intended outcomes. The purpose includes preventing or reducing undesired effects, including the potential for external environmental conditions to affect the organization.

Question 22Fundamental principles and concepts of an environmental management system

ISO 14004 provides:

  1. guidelines for a phased or flexible implementation of an environmental management system
  2. general guidelines on the implementation, maintenance and improvement of an EMS Correct answer.
  3. requirements for bodies auditing and certifying environmental management systems
  4. guidelines for incorporating ecodesign into an environmental management system

Explanation

ISO 14004 gives general guidelines on the implementation, maintenance and improvement of an environmental management system, and is often used alongside ISO 14001 as guidance rather than as requirements. The other documents in the family address different needs, such as ecodesign or phased implementation.

Question 23Fundamental principles and concepts of an environmental management system

The harmonized structure shared by ISO management system standards:

  1. requires the EMS to be integrated with the organization's quality management system
  2. allows an organization to be certified without establishing an environmental policy
  3. replaces sector-specific environmental requirements with generic ones
  4. supplies identical core text, terms and definitions that help align the standards Correct answer.

Explanation

The harmonized structure provides identical core text, common terms and core definitions so that ISO management system standards can be aligned and more easily used together. It does not compel integration of systems and does not remove any requirement of the individual standards.

Question 24Fundamental principles and concepts of an environmental management system

Environmental performance is:

  1. the measurable results of the management of environmental aspects Correct answer.
  2. the extent to which the organization has fulfilled its compliance obligations
  3. the achievement of the environmental objectives set out in the policy
  4. the outcome of audits carried out on the environmental management system

Explanation

Environmental performance is defined as the measurable results of the management of environmental aspects. Because it is measurable, it is evaluated against criteria and indicators determined under clause 9.1.1, using environmental performance indicators where appropriate.

Question 25Fundamental principles and concepts of an environmental management system

Clause 10.1 requires the organization to determine opportunities for improvement and implement necessary actions to:

  1. achieve the intended outcomes of its environmental management system Correct answer.
  2. satisfy the needs and expectations of all of its interested parties
  3. eliminate all of the significant environmental aspects it has identified
  4. reduce the number of internal audits needed in each audit cycle

Explanation

Clause 10.1 requires the organization to determine opportunities for improvement, drawing on the results of monitoring, internal audit and management review, and to implement the necessary actions to achieve the intended outcomes of the environmental management system. Improvement is therefore directed at the system's intended outcomes, not at eliminating aspects or satisfying every party.

Question 26Fundamental principles and concepts of an environmental management system

In ISO 14001:2015, the term 'environment' refers to:

  1. the environmental aspects and impacts that an organization has identified as significant
  2. the legal and other requirements that govern an organization's environmental conduct
  3. the natural ecosystems lying outside an organization's site boundary that its activities may affect
  4. the surroundings in which an organization operates, including air, water, land, natural resources, flora, fauna, humans and their interrelations Correct answer.

Explanation

The standard defines environment as the surroundings in which an organization operates, including air, water, land, natural resources, flora, fauna, humans and their interrelations. The definition extends from within an organization to local, regional and global systems, and it expressly includes people, so it is not confined to external 'nature'. Significant aspects, impacts and legal requirements are separate defined concepts built on top of this definition.

Question 27Fundamental principles and concepts of an environmental management system

A cement plant's kiln releases sulphur dioxide into the air. In ISO 14001:2015 terms, the release is ______, while the resulting change in local air quality is ______.

  1. an environmental condition; an environmental aspect
  2. an environmental aspect; an environmental impact Correct answer.
  3. an environmental aspect; an environmental condition
  4. an environmental impact; an environmental aspect

Explanation

An environmental aspect is an element of an organization's activities, products or services that interacts or can interact with the environment, so the emission itself is the aspect. An environmental impact is a change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partly resulting from those aspects, so the altered air quality is the impact. Cause (aspect) and effect (impact) are deliberately kept as separate defined terms throughout the standard.

Question 28Fundamental principles and concepts of an environmental management system

Which group of clauses in ISO 14001:2015 primarily corresponds to the 'Check' phase of the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle described in the standard?

  1. Clauses 6.1 and 6.2, covering planning of actions and environmental objectives
  2. Clauses 7 and 8, covering support and operation
  3. Clause 10, covering general improvement and corrective action
  4. Clauses 9.1, 9.2 and 9.3, covering monitoring and evaluation, internal audit and management review Correct answer.

Explanation

In the PDCA model presented in the standard, Plan corresponds to clause 6, Do to clauses 7 and 8, Check to clause 9, and Act to clause 10. The Check phase therefore covers performance evaluation: monitoring, measurement, analysis and evaluation, internal audit, and management review. These processes assess whether the environmental management system is achieving its intended outcomes before improvement actions are taken under Act.

Question 29Fundamental principles and concepts of an environmental management system

An organization is subject to a national wastewater discharge regulation and has also voluntarily signed an industry charter on water efficiency. In ISO 14001:2015 terms, these are best described as:

  1. a legal requirement and an operational control
  2. a legal requirement and another compliance obligation Correct answer.
  3. a legal requirement and an environmental objective
  4. a legal requirement and an environmental aspect

Explanation

Compliance obligations are defined as legal requirements that an organization has to comply with plus other requirements that it has to or chooses to comply with. Because the organization has chosen to sign the voluntary charter, the resulting water efficiency commitment becomes an 'other requirement' and therefore a compliance obligation in its own right. Both items must then be taken into account when identifying aspects and when establishing, implementing and maintaining the environmental management system.

Question 30Environmental management system requirements

When determining the external and internal issues relevant to its purpose, which item does ISO 14001:2015 require an organization to include?

  1. the findings of its certification body's audits
  2. the environmental conditions it affects or may be affected by Correct answer.
  3. the environmental objectives of its customers
  4. the commercial strategies of its main competitors

Explanation

Clause 4.1 requires the organization to determine external and internal issues relevant to its purpose and that affect its ability to achieve the intended outcomes of the EMS, and it names environmental conditions affected by or capable of affecting the organization as part of this. These issues then feed into the scope, planning and the design of the EMS.

Question 31Environmental management system requirements

How does ISO 14001:2015 require the organization to treat the scope of its environmental management system?

  1. It shall be kept confidential and released only to top management and the certification body.
  2. It shall be maintained as documented information and be available to interested parties. Correct answer.
  3. It shall be reissued in full after each management review of the environmental management system.
  4. It shall be formally approved by the certification body before it is applied to the site.

Explanation

Clause 4.3 requires the organization to determine the boundaries and applicability of the EMS and states that the scope shall be maintained as documented information and be available to interested parties. All activities, products and services within that scope must then be covered by the EMS.

Question 32Environmental management system requirements

Under ISO 14001:2015, who takes accountability for the effectiveness of the environmental management system?

  1. the operations manager
  2. the environmental management representative
  3. top management Correct answer.
  4. the person responsible for the internal audit programme

Explanation

Clause 5.1 requires top management to demonstrate leadership by taking accountability for the effectiveness of the EMS. Tasks for operating the system may be assigned under clause 5.3, but this accountability itself cannot be delegated.

Question 33Environmental management system requirements

Which of the following is a required characteristic of environmental objectives under ISO 14001:2015?

  1. They must be achievable within a single financial year.
  2. They must be reviewed by the certification body each year.
  3. They must be measurable, where practicable. Correct answer.
  4. They must be approved by relevant interested parties.

Explanation

Clause 6.2.1 requires objectives to be consistent with the environmental policy, measurable where practicable, monitored, communicated and updated as appropriate. It does not impose a fixed time horizon, external approval or certification body review.

Question 34Environmental management system requirements

What does ISO 14001:2015 require with respect to resources for the environmental management system?

  1. Provide resources only after certification has been achieved.
  2. Leave resource decisions to the certification body.
  3. Determine and provide the resources needed for the environmental management system. Correct answer.
  4. Limit resources to the annual environmental training budget.

Explanation

Clause 7.1 requires the organization to determine and provide the resources needed for the establishment, implementation, maintenance and continual improvement of the EMS. This covers human, technical and financial resources as determined by the organization.

Question 35Environmental management system requirements

When creating and updating documented information, ISO 14001:2015 requires the organization to ensure that it is:

  1. translated into every language used by interested parties
  2. numbered sequentially and kept for at least five years
  3. written on paper and signed by the highest level of management
  4. identified and described and approved as suitable and adequate Correct answer.

Explanation

Clause 7.5.2 requires appropriate identification and description (for example title, date, author, reference number), appropriate format and media, and review and approval for suitability and adequacy. The standard does not mandate paper, numbering, retention periods or translation.

Question 36Environmental management system requirements

According to ISO 14001:2015, what is the purpose of continually improving the environmental management system?

  1. To expand the scope of the system each year
  2. To reduce the cost of certification
  3. To enhance environmental performance Correct answer.
  4. To eliminate the need for internal audits

Explanation

Clause 10.3 requires continual improvement of the suitability, adequacy and effectiveness of the EMS in order to enhance environmental performance. Enhancement of environmental performance, not merely improvement of the system itself, is the stated aim.

Question 37Environmental management system requirements

Which commitment is explicitly required in the environmental policy by ISO 14001:2015?

  1. a commitment to prevention of pollution Correct answer.
  2. a commitment to publish an annual sustainability report
  3. a commitment to zero environmental incidents
  4. a commitment to procure only certified products

Explanation

Clause 5.2 requires commitments to protection of the environment, including prevention of pollution and other specific commitments relevant to the context, to fulfilment of compliance obligations, and to continual improvement of the EMS to enhance environmental performance. Absolute targets, public reporting and certified procurement are not required.

Question 38Environmental management system requirements

An organization identifies local residents as an interested party relevant to its environmental management system. What does ISO 14001:2015 require the organization to determine about them?

  1. the number of complaints they are likely to submit each year
  2. whether they support the organization's environmental objectives
  3. the environmental training they will be offered
  4. which of their needs and expectations become compliance obligations Correct answer.

Explanation

Clause 4.2 requires the organization to determine the interested parties relevant to the EMS, their relevant needs and expectations, and which of these needs and expectations become compliance obligations. That determination then feeds into planning under clause 6.

Question 39Environmental management system requirements

ISO 14001:2015 requires the organization to determine risks and opportunities that need to be addressed in relation to which of the following?

  1. its environmental aspects, compliance obligations and other issues and requirements Correct answer.
  2. only the environmental aspects it has identified as significant
  3. the financial risks reported in its annual accounts
  4. only the compliance obligations recorded in its legal register

Explanation

Clause 6.1.1 requires the organization to determine risks and opportunities related to its environmental aspects, compliance obligations, and other issues and requirements identified under clauses 4.1 and 4.2. The aim is to give assurance that the EMS can achieve its intended outcomes, prevent or reduce undesired effects, and achieve continual improvement.

Question 40Environmental management system requirements

When determining environmental aspects, ISO 14001:2015 requires the organization to take into account:

  1. changes to the organization, including planned or new developments and new or modified activities Correct answer.
  2. the views of interested parties as the primary input for deciding significance
  3. only normal operating conditions, since abnormal conditions are covered by emergency planning
  4. the aspects of its suppliers only where they operate on the organization's own site

Explanation

Clause 6.1.2 requires consideration of changes, including planned or new developments and new or modified activities, products and services. It also requires a life cycle perspective and consideration of abnormal conditions and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations.

Question 41Environmental management system requirements

Which statement best describes the requirement for compliance obligations in ISO 14001:2015?

  1. The organization shall list its compliance obligations in its environmental policy.
  2. The organization shall obtain a written legal opinion on every obligation it identifies.
  3. The organization shall have every obligation confirmed by the regulator before applying it.
  4. The organization shall determine its compliance obligations and determine how they apply to it. Correct answer.

Explanation

Clause 6.1.3 requires the organization to determine compliance obligations related to its environmental aspects, to determine how they apply, and to take them into account when establishing, implementing and improving the EMS. Documented information of its compliance obligations must be maintained.

Question 42Environmental management system requirements

When planning how to achieve its environmental objectives, what must the organization determine?

  1. the resources required, who is responsible, the completion date and how results will be evaluated Correct answer.
  2. the market price of the technology needed to achieve each objective
  3. the name of the external auditor who will verify the achievement of each individual objective and each associated indicator
  4. the maximum number of objectives that may remain open at year end

Explanation

Clause 6.2.2 requires the organization to determine what will be done, what resources will be required, who will be responsible, when it will be completed, and how results will be evaluated, including indicators for monitoring.

Question 43Environmental management system requirements

Which action best satisfies the competence requirement of ISO 14001:2015?

  1. requiring every employee in the organization to hold the same environmental qualification
  2. outsourcing all work activities that have a significant environmental aspect to a contractor
  3. recording attendance at an environmental awareness briefing for each employee who handles waste
  4. determining the competence needed and ensuring the persons doing the work are competent Correct answer.

Explanation

Clause 7.2 requires the organization to determine the competence needed for persons whose work affects environmental performance or the ability to fulfil compliance obligations, and to ensure those persons are competent on the basis of education, training or experience. Documented information is retained as evidence of competence.

Question 44Environmental management system requirements

What does ISO 14001:2015 require regarding internal communication?

  1. Internal communication shall be limited to the environmental management team.
  2. Internal communication shall be reported to the certification body annually.
  3. Internal communication shall be documented for every conversation held.
  4. It shall communicate information relevant to the environmental management system among the various levels and functions. Correct answer.

Explanation

Clause 7.4.2 requires internal communication of information relevant to the EMS among the various levels and functions, as established by the communication process, and it must enable persons doing work under the organization's control to contribute to continual improvement.

Question 45Environmental management system requirements

Which activity is required when controlling documented information?

  1. Keeping every version of every document for an indefinite period of time
  2. Protecting it from loss of integrity and controlling its distribution, access and retrieval Correct answer.
  3. Storing all of it in a single central filing cabinet at the head office location
  4. Restricting access to top management and the environmental manager only

Explanation

Clause 7.5.3 requires documented information to be available and suitable for use where and when it is needed, and protected from loss of integrity, loss of confidentiality and improper use, with control of distribution, access, retrieval and use, as well as storage, preservation and control of changes.

Question 46Environmental management system requirements

For the processes needed to meet its environmental management system requirements, what does ISO 14001:2015 require the organization to do?

  1. write a separate documented procedure for every process in each department
  2. outsource each process to a contractor that holds an ISO 14001 certificate
  3. establish criteria for the processes and control them against those criteria Correct answer.
  4. automate each process so that human intervention is no longer needed at all

Explanation

Clause 8.1 requires the organization to establish criteria for those processes and to implement control of the processes in accordance with the criteria, including controlling planned changes and reviewing the consequences of unintended changes.

Question 47Environmental management system requirements

What does ISO 14001:2015 require with respect to testing emergency response?

  1. Every potential emergency scenario shall be tested each month.
  2. Testing shall be carried out by the local emergency services.
  3. Testing is required only after a real emergency has occurred.
  4. The organization shall periodically test its planned response actions, where practicable. Correct answer.

Explanation

Clause 8.2 requires the organization to periodically test planned response actions where practicable, and to periodically review and revise its processes and procedures, in particular after testing and after the occurrence of an emergency.

Question 48Environmental management system requirements

Which element is required by the monitoring and measurement requirements of ISO 14001:2015?

  1. use an accredited external laboratory for all monitoring and measurement activities
  2. limit monitoring and measurement to emissions to air and discharges to water
  3. ensure that calibrated or verified monitoring and measurement equipment is used and maintained Correct answer.
  4. publish all monitoring and measurement results on the organization's public website

Explanation

Clause 9.1.1 requires the organization to determine what needs monitoring and measuring, the methods, the criteria and indicators for evaluating environmental performance, and when results are analysed and evaluated, and it requires calibrated or verified monitoring and measurement equipment to be used and maintained.

Question 49Environmental management system requirements

Which requirement applies to the internal audit programme under ISO 14001:2015?

  1. Audits shall cover every clause of the standard in full during a single audit day.
  2. Audits shall be conducted only after a nonconformity has been reported by an interested party.
  3. Auditors shall be selected and audits conducted so that the audit process is objective and impartial. Correct answer.
  4. Audits shall be performed by auditors employed by the certification body that certifies the organization.

Explanation

Clause 9.2.2 requires auditors to be selected and audits to be conducted so that the audit process is objective and impartial. The programme must also be planned with regard to the importance of processes and the results of previous audits.

Question 50Environmental management system requirements

Which documented information must the organization maintain in relation to its environmental aspects?

  1. the aspects and associated impacts, the criteria for determining significance, and the significant aspects Correct answer.
  2. only the list of significant aspects, together with the applicable legal limits and permit conditions
  3. the aspects raised by interested parties and the organization's response to each of them
  4. every environmental aspect of every product throughout its life cycle, each with a quantified impact assessment

Explanation

Clause 6.1.2 requires documented information of the environmental aspects and associated environmental impacts, the criteria used to determine significant aspects, and the significant environmental aspects themselves. The significant aspects must also be communicated to the various levels and functions of the organization.