Each year, Emerson requires that at least 25 percent of its facilities worldwide are audited by outside consultants for environmental compliance. The purpose of these audits is to evaluate environmental regulatory compliance, as well as the overall environmental management practices of each plant.
The audit process also encourages plant environmental managers to look beyond basic compliance to explore ways to implement innovative and productive environmental management practices.
Prior to an on-site inspection by the environmental consulting firm, each plant is required to complete a detailed questionnaire provided by the Corporate Environmental Affairs Department. Once the formal audit is completed and the outside auditor submits a written report, Environmental Affairs works with the division president and facility personnel to ensure that all audit findings are addressed.
In addition, a number of surprise audits are conducted each year at our facilities throughout the world. Either scheduled or surprise audits take at least one day and may take several days (depending on the size of the facility), as auditors conduct detailed inspections of the facility and environmental records.
In any year that a site is not formally audited, the division environmental coordinator visits the plant and completes a checklist to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. Corporate environmental staff oversee this annual process.