The review process
The organisation’s environmental management system should be reviewed to ensure that the policy, objectives and targets remain relevant, particularly in the light of new environmental legislation, the need for continual improvement, changes in the local environment and emerging environmental concerns.
The review should include:
- progress in achieving (or changes to) environmental objectives and targets;
- findings of environmental management system audits;
- evaluation of the suitability of the environmental policy in relation to:
- changing legislation;
- advances in science/ technology;
- changes in the products or activities of the organisation;
- changing expectations and requirements of interested parties;
- identification of new environmental impacts; and
- environmental incidents.
- evaluation of effectiveness of verification and monitoring systems;
- identification of areas for improvement; and
- changes required in documentation and procedures.
The findings and conclusions of the environmental review should be documented, communicated to all interested parties and retained within the recording element of the system. The review provides the basis for improving and developing the environmental management system.