Training Module
Auditing Environmental Operational Controls
Understand how to audit implementation, monitoring, emergency linkage, and supplier/contractor environmental controls under ISO 14001
Training Module
Auditing Environmental Operational Controls
Understand how to audit implementation, monitoring, emergency linkage, and supplier/contractor environmental controls under ISO 14001
Training Module
Auditing Environmental Operational Controls
Understand how to audit implementation, monitoring, emergency linkage, and supplier/contractor environmental controls under ISO 14001
Move from “controls exist” to “controls work under real conditions”
Environmental controls often look complete on paper but fail in day-to-day execution, change situations, and contractor interfaces. This module builds an audit lens that follows operational reality, not procedure claims, and supports clear judgements on effectiveness.
Move from “controls exist” to “controls work under real conditions”
Environmental controls often look complete on paper but fail in day-to-day execution, change situations, and contractor interfaces. This module builds an audit lens that follows operational reality, not procedure claims, and supports clear judgements on effectiveness.
Move from “controls exist” to “controls work under real conditions”
Environmental controls often look complete on paper but fail in day-to-day execution, change situations, and contractor interfaces. This module builds an audit lens that follows operational reality, not procedure claims, and supports clear judgements on effectiveness.
Training module overview
Training module overview
Training module overview
Operational controls are where an environmental management system either becomes a practical way of working—or remains a documentation exercise. In audits, this topic is often reduced to checking procedures, signage, and training records, while the real risks sit in implementation gaps, weak monitoring, unmanaged change, and contractor behaviour on-site.
This module equips auditors (internal and third-party) to audit ISO 14001 operational controls with an effectiveness lens: how controls are implemented, how they are monitored, how they connect to emergency preparedness, and how environmental requirements are applied across suppliers and contractors. The focus is on audit trails, evidence strategies, and common failure modes, without re-teaching control design or generic audit craft.
Operational controls are where an environmental management system either becomes a practical way of working—or remains a documentation exercise. In audits, this topic is often reduced to checking procedures, signage, and training records, while the real risks sit in implementation gaps, weak monitoring, unmanaged change, and contractor behaviour on-site.
This module equips auditors (internal and third-party) to audit ISO 14001 operational controls with an effectiveness lens: how controls are implemented, how they are monitored, how they connect to emergency preparedness, and how environmental requirements are applied across suppliers and contractors. The focus is on audit trails, evidence strategies, and common failure modes, without re-teaching control design or generic audit craft.
Applicable environments
This module focuses on auditing clauses and controls that are specific to ISO 14001. It is intended for auditors working with organisations operating an environmental management system (EMS) according to this standard.
Target audience
Target audience
Target audience
Aspiring auditors who want to audit environmental management systems against ISO 14001 following best practices
Practising ISO 14001 auditors who want to strengthen their audit knowledge, judgement, and effectiveness
Aspiring auditors who want to audit environmental management systems against ISO 14001 following best practices
Practising ISO 14001 auditors who want to strengthen their audit knowledge, judgement, and effectiveness
Decision support
Is this module for you?
It is a good fit if you…
seek to audit whether environmental controls work in day-to-day operations.
are aiming to judge implementation and monitoring beyond documented procedures.
focus on evidence from real operating conditions and change situations.
are prepared to assess links between controls, emergencies, and contractor activity.
expect to strengthen audit conclusions on environmental control effectiveness.
seek to audit whether environmental controls work in day-to-day operations.
are aiming to judge implementation and monitoring beyond documented procedures.
focus on evidence from real operating conditions and change situations.
are prepared to assess links between controls, emergencies, and contractor activity.
expect to strengthen audit conclusions on environmental control effectiveness.
If most of the points above apply, this module is likely a good fit.
It may not be the best fit if you…
prefer to design or optimise environmental controls or mitigation measures.
are looking for guidance on EMS implementation or operational practices.
focus primarily on environmental performance improvement initiatives.
do not intend to audit environmental operational controls under ISO 14001.
prefer to design or optimise environmental controls or mitigation measures.
are looking for guidance on EMS implementation or operational practices.
focus primarily on environmental performance improvement initiatives.
do not intend to audit environmental operational controls under ISO 14001.
Agenda
Agenda
Agenda
Operational control audit scope (what you are judging)
Building an audit trail from aspects to operational control
Implementation evidence on the ground
Monitoring and control assurance
Linkage to emergency preparedness and response
Supplier and contractor environmental controls
Case-based audit simulation
Show detailed agenda...
Operational control audit scope (what you are judging)
Building an audit trail from aspects to operational control
Implementation evidence on the ground
Monitoring and control assurance
Linkage to emergency preparedness and response
Supplier and contractor environmental controls
Case-based audit simulation
Show detailed agenda...
Operational control audit scope (what you are judging)
Building an audit trail from aspects to operational control
Implementation evidence on the ground
Monitoring and control assurance
Linkage to emergency preparedness and response
Supplier and contractor environmental controls
Case-based audit simulation
Show detailed agenda...
Learning outcomes
Learning outcomes
Learning outcomes
Key outcomes
Judge whether environmental operational controls are implemented and operating as intended in real work conditions
Build an audit trail from environmental needs to operational control evidence without relying on documentation alone
Identify monitoring evidence that demonstrates control effectiveness
Judge whether environmental operational controls are implemented and operating as intended in real work conditions
Build an audit trail from environmental needs to operational control evidence without relying on documentation alone
Identify monitoring evidence that demonstrates control effectiveness
Additional capabilities
Evaluate how emergency preparedness is reflected in operational control design and update discipline
Audit contractor and supplier environmental controls across the interface from contract to site behaviour
Recognise common operational control nonconformity patterns and distinguish systemic failures from isolated lapses
Evaluate how emergency preparedness is reflected in operational control design and update discipline
Audit contractor and supplier environmental controls across the interface from contract to site behaviour
Recognise common operational control nonconformity patterns and distinguish systemic failures from isolated lapses
Additional benefits
Additional benefits
Additional benefits
Learning materials
Slide deck
Participant workbook
Templates & tools
Practical, reusable artefacts to apply the module directly to your organisation.
Operational control evidence map (audit trail worksheet)
Monitoring adequacy checklist (signals, thresholds, response)
Contractor environmental control sampling guide
Emergency linkage audit prompts (abnormal/incident conditions)
Red-flag pattern sheet (typical operational control failures)
Operational control evidence map (audit trail worksheet)
Monitoring adequacy checklist (signals, thresholds, response)
Contractor environmental control sampling guide
Emergency linkage audit prompts (abnormal/incident conditions)
Red-flag pattern sheet (typical operational control failures)
Confirmation
Certificate of completion
Module ID
HAM-E-A-02
Domain
Audience
Auditor
Language
English
Delivery
Live virtual
Duration
2.5 h
List price
CHF 200
Excl. VAT. VAT may apply depending on customer location and status.
Delivery & learning format
Delivery & learning format
Delivery & learning format
Virtual live teaching
This module is delivered live, with a strong focus on discussion, practical application, and direct interaction with the instructor.
Sessions work through realistic examples, clarify concepts in context, and apply methods directly to participants’ organisational realities.
Custom delivery options
For organisations with specific constraints or learning objectives, the module can be adapted in format or scope, including in-house delivery and contextualised case material.
Not sure if this module is right for you?
Not sure if this module is right for you?
Not sure if this module is right for you?
For an optimal learning experience
Preparation guidance
This module is designed as part of a modular training approach. Topics are deliberately distributed across modules and are not repeated in full, in order to avoid unnecessary redundancy. Each module is self-contained and can be taken on its own. Where prior knowledge or experience is helpful, this is indicated below so you can decide whether any preparation is useful for you.
For an optimal learning experience
Preparation guidance
This module is designed as part of a modular training approach. Topics are deliberately distributed across modules and are not repeated in full, in order to avoid unnecessary redundancy. Each module is self-contained and can be taken on its own. Where prior knowledge or experience is helpful, this is indicated below so you can decide whether any preparation is useful for you.
For an optimal learning experience
Preparation guidance
This module is designed as part of a modular training approach. Topics are deliberately distributed across modules and are not repeated in full, in order to avoid unnecessary redundancy. Each module is self-contained and can be taken on its own. Where prior knowledge or experience is helpful, this is indicated below so you can decide whether any preparation is useful for you.
Assumed background
This module assumes participants can already apply generic audit craft (evidence, sampling, interviews, findings). It also assumes basic familiarity with ISO 14001 concepts and the organisation’s environmental controls as an auditable subject (not as a design exercise).
Helpful background includes:
Ability to follow end-to-end operational workflows on-site and across contractor interfaces
Confidence distinguishing documented intent from operational evidence (observations, records-in-use, supervision, and outcomes)
This module assumes participants can already apply generic audit craft (evidence, sampling, interviews, findings). It also assumes basic familiarity with ISO 14001 concepts and the organisation’s environmental controls as an auditable subject (not as a design exercise).
Helpful background includes:
Ability to follow end-to-end operational workflows on-site and across contractor interfaces
Confidence distinguishing documented intent from operational evidence (observations, records-in-use, supervision, and outcomes)
Preparatory modules
Foundational modules (depending on background)
Useful if you are new to the underlying concepts or want a shared baseline before attending this module.
Auditing Operational Control
Audit evidence and judgement for whether operational controls work as intended in day-to-day practice
3 h
Auditing Operational Control
Audit evidence and judgement for whether operational controls work as intended in day-to-day practice
3 h
Auditing Operational Control
Audit evidence and judgement for whether operational controls work as intended in day-to-day practice
3 h
Audit Foundations
Understand core audit mindset, evidence logic, materiality-based focus, and audit test plan design
7 h
Audit Foundations
Understand core audit mindset, evidence logic, materiality-based focus, and audit test plan design
7 h
Audit Foundations
Understand core audit mindset, evidence logic, materiality-based focus, and audit test plan design
7 h
Supporting modules (optional)
Helpful if you want to deepen related skills, but not required to participate effectively.
Environmental Operational Control
Understand how ISO 14001 operational controls are defined, implemented, and maintained across processes, procurement, and change
7 h
Environmental Operational Control
Understand how ISO 14001 operational controls are defined, implemented, and maintained across processes, procurement, and change
7 h
Environmental Operational Control
Understand how ISO 14001 operational controls are defined, implemented, and maintained across processes, procurement, and change
7 h
Environmental Aspects & Impacts Assessment
Understand how to identify environmental aspects, evaluate impacts and significance, and maintain the assessment over time in an ISO 14001 context
7 h
Environmental Aspects & Impacts Assessment
Understand how to identify environmental aspects, evaluate impacts and significance, and maintain the assessment over time in an ISO 14001 context
7 h
Environmental Aspects & Impacts Assessment
Understand how to identify environmental aspects, evaluate impacts and significance, and maintain the assessment over time in an ISO 14001 context
7 h
Audit Execution: Communication & Interviewing
Learn the skills for effective interview planning, questioning, and conversation control for reliable audit evidence
7 h
Audit Execution: Communication & Interviewing
Learn the skills for effective interview planning, questioning, and conversation control for reliable audit evidence
7 h
Audit Execution: Communication & Interviewing
Learn the skills for effective interview planning, questioning, and conversation control for reliable audit evidence
7 h
Audit Reporting & Follow-up
Understand how to write evidence-based findings, structure audit reports, and follow up agreed actions to verified closure
7 h
Audit Reporting & Follow-up
Understand how to write evidence-based findings, structure audit reports, and follow up agreed actions to verified closure
7 h
Audit Reporting & Follow-up
Understand how to write evidence-based findings, structure audit reports, and follow up agreed actions to verified closure
7 h
Continuous learning
Follow-up modules
Continuous learning
Follow-up modules
Continuous learning
Follow-up modules
After completion of this module, the following modules are ideal to further deepen your competence. If you are looking for a structured learning path, modules can also be taken as part of a professional track.
Auditing Environmental Aspects & Impacts
Understand how to audit aspect identification, significance evaluation, and lifecycle perspective in an ISO 14001 environmental management system
Duration
3 h
List price
CHF 250
View module
Auditing Environmental Aspects & Impacts
Understand how to audit aspect identification, significance evaluation, and lifecycle perspective in an ISO 14001 environmental management system
Duration
3 h
List price
CHF 250
View module
Auditing Environmental Aspects & Impacts
Understand how to audit aspect identification, significance evaluation, and lifecycle perspective in an ISO 14001 environmental management system
Duration
3 h
List price
CHF 250
View module
Auditing Supplier & Outsourced Process Management
Audit risk-based supplier coverage, contract controls versus operational reality, and interface failures across organisational boundaries
Duration
2.5 h
List price
CHF 200
View module
Auditing Supplier & Outsourced Process Management
Audit risk-based supplier coverage, contract controls versus operational reality, and interface failures across organisational boundaries
Duration
2.5 h
List price
CHF 200
View module
Auditing Supplier & Outsourced Process Management
Audit risk-based supplier coverage, contract controls versus operational reality, and interface failures across organisational boundaries
Duration
2.5 h
List price
CHF 200
View module
Ready to improve your management systems?
We support continuous improvement by embedding ISO requirements into everyday practice and daily operations.
Ready to improve your management systems?
We support continuous improvement by embedding ISO requirements into everyday practice and daily operations.
Ready to improve your management systems?
We support continuous improvement by embedding ISO requirements into everyday practice and daily operations.