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ISO-14001-Lead-Auditor PECB Certified EMS ISO 14001 Lead Auditor Exam Question and Answers

Question # 4

The following statements are related to audit methods. Review each one and select the two that are true:

A.

During a virtual audit, evidence can only be collected using methods that involve human interaction.

B.

During a virtual third-party surveillance audit, the auditor should seek permission from the auditee prior to recording an individual or if taking screenshots of documents.

C.

The sampling methods that are used to obtain audit evidence should be agreed by the auditee.

D.

Auditors are expected to use a combination of different audit methods to collect information during an audit.

E.

During a multi-day stage 2 initial certification audit, auditors must be permitted to take copies of procedures and records off-site for review.

F.

As Top Management represents the most senior members of the organisation, audit evidence collected by interview from this group does not require verification by other methods.

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Question # 5

An internal auditor of a manufacturer of aluminium products for the car industry raised a nonconformity against section 6.2.2 of ISO 14001 in Report IA202. The nonconformity (NC3) stated:

" Top management has not analysed why none of the environmental objectives set for the last year have been met. "

A third-party auditor reviewing the internal audit process came across the nonconformity and found that no corrective action was documented. The EMS Manager confirmed no action had been taken, but added he expected a number of objectives to be achieved in the next three months so there was no need for further action. He explained in confidence that the organisation was fighting a takeover bid and resources for environmental projects had been cut.

From the information, select three non-conformities options that the auditor could raise to ISO 14001.

A.

6.2.1 - New environmental objectives associated with the takeover should be set

B.

9.2.2 - Report IA202 contained a nonconformity (NC3) lacking in necessary detail

C.

6.2.2 - Actions were not taken to fully implement the environmental objectives set by management

D.

7.4.3 - Management should communicate the impacts of the takeover on the EMS to the bidders

E.

7.1 - The top management failed to provide the resources needed to meet the objectives

F.

10.2.a - Management failed to take corrective action to deal with the audit nonconformity

G.

9.3 - A management review should be undertaken to determine the implications of the takeover on the EMS

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Question # 6

Sparkle is an organisation that provides mobile car cleaning services at customers ' premises. It has been certified to ISO 14001 for some time and has appointed a new EMS Manager. The audit plan during a surveillance audit includes the improvement actions and the auditor asks to see the most recent management review meeting minutes.

Which six statements would represent output audit evidence for the management review?

A.

Updated environmental signs in the production facility

B.

Procurement of new spill kits for operators

C.

Changes in the EMS documentation

D.

Plan to prioritise environmental improvement as a business strategy

E.

Allocation of a bigger budget for the EMS department

F.

Report of performance of EMS objectives in the last year

G.

Minutes of previous management reviews

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Question # 7

An organisation has the following environmental policy document displayed in the reception area:

" This organisation is committed to providing electric cables to customers ' requirements, in accordance with environmental regulations for their manufacture, use and disposal. The organisation will strive to increase the environmental awareness of its personnel, suppliers, subcontractors and interested parties. Continual environmental improvement is a permanent objective of the organisation. This policy shall be communicated to all employees with the opportunity for them to seek clarification where required. Where required the policy shall be communicated to all interested parties. "

Referring to the above policy statement, select three options for which the organisation is meeting ISO 14001 requirements.

A.

The organisation ' s processes deliver the intended improvement to the environment.

B.

The organisation has a commitment to environmental protection.

C.

The organisation satisfies its customers ' environmental requirements.

D.

The organisation is committed to continual environmental improvement.

E.

The organisation clearly meets all statutory requirements.

F.

The organisation makes available its environmental policy to interested parties.

G.

The organisation uses suppliers committed to environmental sustainability.

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Question # 8

Which two of the following actions are the exclusive responsibility of an audit team leader during all stages of an initial certification audit?

A.

Granting certification to the organisation being audited

B.

Evaluating the process established by the auditee to identify significant environmental aspects

C.

Communicating with the auditee regarding the logistics for the audit

D.

Planning the audit

E.

Defining the duration of the audit

F.

Sending the report to the accreditation body

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Question # 9

Which one of the following options describes the main purpose of a Stage 1 audit?

A.

To determine readiness for Stage 2

B.

To get to know the organisation

C.

To compile the audit plan

D.

To check for legal compliance by the organisation

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Question # 10

Which one of the following conclusions in the audit report is not required by the certification body when deciding to grant certification?

A.

The plans to address corrective actions related to minor nonconformities have been accepted.

B.

The scope of certification has been fulfilled.

C.

The corrections taken by the organisation related to major nonconformities have been accepted.

D.

The organisation fully complies with all legal and other requirements applicable to the Environmental Management System.

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Question # 11

Which two of the following statements apply to a Stage 2 certification audit plan?

A.

The previous audit findings are detailed in the audit plan.

B.

The questions to be asked during the audit are detailed in the audit plan.

C.

The audit team leader is responsible for creating the audit plan.

D.

The audit plan is shared with the auditee in advance of the audit.

E.

A significant portion of the audit must be allocated to evaluating the organisation ' s processes for ensuring legal compliance.

F.

All of the organisation ' s site processes to be audited must be addressed in the audit programme.

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Question # 12

You work for a certification body. In two months, you will have to lead an audit of a pharmaceutical organisation, ABC, that manufactures vaccines to combat a pandemic. When planning the audit team, you select one of the certification body auditors who is professionally qualified in Biochemistry and Pharmacy. However, she is not fully aware of all legal applicable requirements. You recommend the certification body hire a compliance expert to assist the audit team. In which two clauses of ISO 14001:2015 would you consider that auditors ma y need the help of the expert?

A.

5.2 Environmental Policy

B.

7.1 Resources

C.

5.1 Leadership

D.

4.2 Understanding needs and expectations of interested parties

E.

9.2 Internal audits

F.

9.1.2 Compliance obligations

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Question # 13

A large chemical organisation, CrackerPRO, has a plant located in a rural area surrounded by livestock farms. When cleaning several vessels 4–5 times per day, it releases water vapor with a strong acidic smell lasting for 10 minutes each time.

You are conducting a second-stage initial certification audit at the plant. When auditing the processes of assessing impacts and identifying environmental aspects with the Environmental Supervisor, you find that the emission of that acidic vapor has not been evaluated as a significant aspect. During further auditing, you learn that neighbouring farmers have made repeated complaints in the last 6 months about the acid smells and reported an increase in animals becoming sick as a result.

The Environmental Supervisor states that the farmers are looking for financial compensation from the company which their lawyers are resisting. She insists that no legal requirements have been broken and that all complaints have been rejected.

You raise a nonconformity against ISO 14001. Based on the scenario, select one of the options which would constitute an acceptable nonconformity.

A.

7.4.3 — CrackerPRO failed to communicate to neighbouring farmers concerning the release of acidic vapours resulting from its chemical cleaning operations.

B.

6.1.2 — The organisation failed to review its decision on not considering the significant aspect of acidic vapour emissions when interested parties reported serious impacts resulting from these emissions.

C.

4.2.c — The needs and expectations of neighbouring farmers were not incorporated into the Environmental Management System as compliance obligations.

D.

6.1.3 — CrackerPRO failed to meet its compliance obligations concerning its environmental impacts on neighbouring farms.

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Question # 14

You are responsible for the second surveillance audit of ABC, a medium-sized metal mechanical manufacturing organisation. The significant environmental aspects are loud noise, solid waste, energy consumption and liquid waste.

During the opening meeting, you are informed that when COVID-19 started, sales increased considerably, so they had to open a third shift, from 10 pm to 6 am. You interview the Production Manager.

You: How did you carry out this change and how did you evaluate the impact on ABC’s EMS?

PM: It was very simple, we just did it.

You: Did you introduce any change in the EMS?

PM: No. It is the same processes, the same products, the same materials, therefore the same environmental aspects.

You: What about the people?

PM: We distributed the most experienced workers among the three shifts. They trained the newly hired personnel.

Which of the six key questions from the following list would you ask? Have you...

A.

revised the internal audit programme?

B.

reviewed the environmental objectives?

C.

reviewed the infrastructure maintenance plan?

D.

evaluated the extra amount of waste that will be generated?

E.

developed any formal documented plan to change the EMS?

F.

reviewed the needs and expectations of interested parties?

G.

reviewed the authorities and responsibilities of all roles?

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Question # 15

You are leading a recertification audit of XM, a manufacturer of cosmetics products. After the initial certification, XM moved to another site.

After the opening meeting, you are visiting the new site with the production manager (PM). The dialogue is as follows:

You: It seems that you are doing some work in the right-hand corner of the site.

PM: Yes, when we moved to this site, there was a very old, three-stories high building; it was almost empty, and we decided to demolish it and to build a new office for the administrative personnel. DEMO services are doing the job, which is almost over.

You: Do you know what the old building was used for?

PM: I was told that it was a warehouse for chemical storage, including a laboratory and toilets for the personnel. It had also a chimney, I do not know what for.

You: Did you consider it necessary to refer to some parts of the EMS for this work?

PM: No, we were busy moving all equipment and materials to the new site, we did not have time to care about something that was going to disappear.

Which four audit trail issues would you follow?

A.

Audit DEMO ' s head office personnel

B.

XM ' s supervision of DEMO when doing the work

C.

Environmental impacts related to the demolition

D.

DEMO ' s quality policy

E.

XM ' s contract with DEMO to conduct the work

F.

DEMO ' s environmental policy

G.

Business information on DEMO

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Question # 16

Showitoff is an organisation specialising in the design and production of wall decorating materials for the domestic market. During an ISO 14001 certification audit of the site, the auditor comes across an open, walled area just outside the maintenance department. It contains various scraps of wood and metal as well as several rusty components. They are lying on an oily floor. When asked about it, the EMS Manager states that he presumes that the materials come from maintenance work.

The auditor interviews the Maintenance Manager in his department. He notes that shelves containing various spares are well labelled and neatly stacked. He asked about the " dump " outside and is told that it contains some excess materials that the Manager likes to keep in case they come in handy at some stage. The auditor points out that the " dump " might be classed under regulations as a landfill site, which requires an operating licence. The Maintenance Manager is not aware of such a licence.

The auditor decides to review the process for evaluation of compliance with environmental regulations in more depth.

Select three options that provide a meaningful audit trail for this process.

A.

How are maintenance staff made aware of regulatory requirements?

B.

How is the handling of waste materials monitored?

C.

How is the material content of scrap items verified?

D.

Is a regulatory expert employed on the internal audit programme?

E.

Are operators trained in the identification of legal requirements?

F.

What environmental aspects have been identified as being associated with regulations?

G.

What are the qualifications of the EMS and Maintenance Managers?

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Question # 17

Which two of the following options are an advantage of using a sampling plan for the audit?

A.

Reduces the audit duration

B.

Implements the audit plan efficiently

C.

Gives confidence in the audit results

D.

Overrules the auditor ' s instincts

E.

Use of the plan for consecutive audits

F.

Prevents conflict within the audit team

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Question # 18

An audit team leader arrives at a steel fabrication organisation that manufactures fire escape stairs to carry out a Stage 2 certification audit. At a meeting with the EMS Manager, she is informed that they have secured their largest contract from a construction organisation to manufacture and install fire escape stairs. They appointed a subcontractor to perform the installation work. The EMS Manager wants the ISO 14001 audit extended to cover the installation site.

During the audit, a team member found that several complaints had been made to the organisation regarding their installation operators being seen to dispose of excess paint into the site drains, which breached legal requirements. The EMS Manager blames the contractors they had to take on because of the big contract. The auditor raises a nonconformance against clause 8.1 of ISO 14001.

Which one of the following statements would support this finding?

A.

There was no statement in the installation contract of the need for the subcontractor to comply with the EMS policy.

B.

There was no record that the operators were aware of the environmental risks associated with their work.

C.

The organisation did not provide the correct resources to prevent the environmental incidents from taking place.

D.

The organisation failed to check the competence of the operators to perform work in an environmentally friendly way.

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Question # 19

Just before the closing meeting of a third-party audit, the audit team leader is invited to a meeting with the EMS Manager.

He tells the audit team leader that a member of the audit team was seen taking videos on the factory floor using his mobile phone and wants him suspended from the closing meeting with any nonconformities raised by him rescinded.

When asked about this, the auditor said that he had obtained permission from the Production Manager who was escorting him around.

Select three options of how the audit team leader might respond to the EMS Manager.

A.

Insist that the nonconformities must stand since there is clear evidence from other sources apart from the videos.

B.

State that he will find out from the team member if the taking of videos was a routine method for him to gather evidence.

C.

Advise the EMS Manager that the auditor was given permission by the Production Manager and that he will delete the videos immediately after the closing meeting.

D.

Inform the EMS Manager that auditors take videos for their report to help management understanding at the closing meeting and that they will be deleted after the audit.

E.

State that the auditor will take no further part in the audit and all his videos will be deleted immediately.

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