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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Plan review/audit activities with manager or lead auditor
  2. Prepare for assigned review/audit activities
  3. Conduct assigned review/audit activities
  4. Analyse information and evaluate performance
  5. Report review/audit results

Range Statement

This field allows for different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included.

Legislation, regulations, standards, codes, workplace procedures and requirements include the latest version of one or more of:

federal legislation, such as the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, Australian Heritage Council Act, Native Title Act and National Environmental Protection Measures

state/territory government legislation and local government by-laws, policies, regulations and plans dealing with land use, acquisition, planning and protection; environmental protection; cultural/heritage protection; vegetation management; nature conservation and wildlife/plant protection; water and water management; soil conservation; pollution and contaminated sites; fisheries, forestry and mining operations

legislation, standards and codes of practice for work health and safety (WHS), and handling of dangerous goods

Australian and international standards covering environmental management (e.g. AS/NZS ISO 14000 Basic Set:2007 Environmental Management Basic Set); quality and/or environmental management systems auditing (e.g. AS/NZS ISO 19011:2014 Guidelines for auditing management systems)

registration/licensing and/or accreditation requirements

site/project/program information, such as applicable legislative requirements and approval requirements, site processes, work schedules, emergency preparedness and response procedures, job hazard analyses, safe work procedures and work method statements, and sampling and in-situ measurement procedures (e.g. water, air, noise and soils)

workplace environmental management system, plans, monitoring/inspection procedures and management actions to prevent/control environmental impacts or risks for specific sites, projects and/or programs (e.g. sampling, monitoring, construction and mining)

workplace documents, such as standard operating procedures (SOPs); work schedules; audit/review procedures; recording and reporting procedures; equipment manuals and warranties; safety data sheets (SDS) and safety procedures; waste minimisation, containment, processing and safe disposal procedures.

Scope of review/audit activities includes one or more of:

components of an initial environmental review (IER) prior to establishing an environmental management system (EMS)

periodic inspection against environmental management plan requirements for:

monitoring and measurement

materials and energy usage

materials storage and handling, and spills

wastewater management

air emissions management

noise management

chemical waste management

solid waste management

scheduled review/internal audit of site, section, function or work area

scheduled review/internal audit of components of an workplace EMS, such as:

non-conformity, corrective/preventative actions

competence, training and awareness programs

control of records

supplier or contractor performance

emergency preparedness and response

adequacy of environmental management for new or changed operations, processes and work activities

investigation of a complaint, environmental incident or suggested improvements.

Information includes one or more of:

workplace environmental management policies, procedures, plans and actions, and work instructions

background information, such as:

previous internal review/audit reports

previous external audit reports

records of complaints, incidents, non-conformance/non-compliance and the corrective and/or preventative actions taken

site documentation, such as:

minutes of meetings

log books, records of environmental monitoring and test results, and regular performance reports

records of equipment use, calibration and maintenance

records of training

instructions for contractors and suppliers

external reports (e.g. external experts and regulator)

records of observations, inspections and interviews.

Review/audit results include one or more of:

observations

findings

examples of best practice

non-conformances/non-compliances with options for corrective and preventative actions, and improvements

WHS requirements include:

compliance with relevant federal/state/territory WHS legislation at all times

assuming that samples are potentially hazardous and applying standard precautions

accessing and applying current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and state/territory Departments of Health, where relevant.

Performance Evidence

Evidence of competence in this unit must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and include demonstration of:

planning, organising, conducting and evaluating environmental review/audit activities on at least two (2) occasions

accessing, interpreting and applying relevant legislative and regulatory requirements, audit standards, environmental management plans, workplace policies, procedures and plans for review/audit activities

preparing for environmental review/audit activities by scrutinising relevant background information, review/audit criteria, tools and evidence requirements

consulting effectively with interested parties and keeping them informed about the review/audit process

clearly explaining environmental performance requirements and review/audit procedures

identifying and obtaining sufficient information to make valid judgements about environmental performance

analysing information systematically to identify significant performance trends, patterns, gaps and areas of risk; and instances of non-conformance/non-compliance

evaluating performance against specified benchmarks and identifying corrective/preventative actions and/or improvement strategies

seeking advice when issues/problems are beyond scope of competence/responsibility

providing clear, timely reports/briefings containing evidence-based findings and recommendations that enable effective action to be taken

recognising hazards, assessing risks and working safely.

Knowledge Evidence

Must provide evidence that demonstrates knowledge of:

environmental protection/management/audit terminology, concepts, principles and examples of best practice relevant to job role

legislative/regulatory requirements and compliance strategies

key aspects of workplace environmental management systems (EMS), policies, procedures and plans

procedures for conducting environmental performance review/audit activities

procedures for site sampling, environmental monitoring and testing and reporting of results

correct use of review/audit tools (e.g. performance criteria, checklists and benchmarks)

common examples of environmental non-conformance/non-compliance, and corrective/preventative actions and strategies for improving environmental performance

common issues and problems that may arise when conducting environmental review/audit activities and the recommended actions in each case

hazards and risks relevant to review/audit activities and specified health, safety and workplace emergency response procedures.