The correct answers are A and D .

This question relates mainly to ISO 14001:2015 Clause 7.3 — Awareness and Clause 5.2 — Environmental policy .

Persons doing work under the organisation’s control, including subcontractor personnel where relevant, need to be aware of the organisation’s environmental policy. In this scenario, the environmental policy specifically includes two clear commitments:

A. Complying with legal requirements — Correct

The policy states that the organisation will “comply with relevant legislation.” Therefore, subcontractor personnel must be aware that their work must comply with applicable legal and environmental requirements. This is especially important because installation work may involve paint, waste, emissions, spill risks, drainage controls, and site environmental rules.

D. Commitment to environmental protection — Correct

The policy states that the organisation will “protect the environment by acting with responsibility at all times.” Therefore, subcontractor personnel should understand their responsibility to protect the environment while carrying out installation activities.

The other options are not the best answers:

B. Continual improvement of the EMS — Incorrect in this context

Continual improvement is an ISO 14001 policy requirement generally, but the policy text given in the question focuses on protecting the environment, complying with legislation, and setting objectives to enhance environmental performance. It is not one of the two clearest issues directly stated in the provided policy wording.

C. Addressing customer complaints — Incorrect

Customer complaints may be relevant to performance evaluation or corrective action, but they are not a stated commitment in the environmental policy.

E. Communicating with trade unions — Incorrect

This is not an environmental policy awareness requirement in the scenario.

F. Conducting environmental risk assessments — Incorrect

Risk assessment may be part of EMS planning, but the question asks what subcontractor personnel should be aware of in relation to the environmental policy, not what technical EMS activities they must conduct.

Therefore, the two correct issues are A. Complying with legal requirements and D. Commitment to environmental protection .

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This sequence is derived from ISO 19011:2018 – Guidelines for Auditing Management Systems, which is used in conjunction with ISO 14001:2015 by auditors. Specifically, the audit process steps during the " conducting the audit " phase include:

Determining the source of information (Clause 6.4.5): Includes documents, interviews, records, and observations.

Collecting data by sampling (Clause 6.4.6): Sampling helps in managing resources and gathering relevant evidence effectively.

Gathering audit evidence (Clause 3.8): Audit evidence is the data collected and verified to support findings.

Evaluating against audit criteria (Clause 3.9): Evidence must be evaluated against standards such as ISO 14001 requirements, internal policies, etc.

Developing audit findings (Clause 6.4.9): Conclusions regarding conformance, nonconformance, and opportunities for improvement.

Review of findings (Clause 6.4.10): Cross-verification and validation before finalizing results.

Audit conclusions (Clause 6.4.11): Final statements summarizing the audit based on findings.

This structured process ensures audits are performed impartially, with verifiable, evidence-based outcomes that contribute to continual improvement.

The correct answers are B and D .

This question relates to ISO 14001:2015 Clause 9.3 — Management review . Management review inputs include changes in internal and external issues relevant to the EMS and information on environmental performance, including the extent to which environmental objectives have been achieved.

B. Changes in EMS leadership — Correct

A new EMS Manager is a change in the organisation’s internal situation that may affect the EMS. Leadership, responsibilities, competence, communication, and EMS coordination can all be affected, so this is a valid management review input.

D. Report of performance of EMS objectives in the last year — Correct

ISO 14001 requires management review to consider the extent to which environmental objectives have been achieved. A report on EMS objective performance is therefore a direct input to management review.

The other options are not the best answers:

A. Allocation of a bigger budget for the EMS department — Incorrect

This is more likely to be a management review output , because management review outputs include decisions and actions related to resources.

C. Decision to purchase new spillage kits for operators — Incorrect

This is also more likely to be an output or action from review, not an input.

E. Improvement in the organisation’s profitability — Incorrect

Profitability alone is not a specific ISO 14001 management review input unless it is directly linked to EMS resources or environmental performance.

F. Minutes of previous management reviews — Incorrect as written

ISO 14001 requires consideration of the status of actions from previous management reviews , not simply the previous minutes themselves. The records may help provide evidence, but the actual required input is the status of previous actions.

Therefore, the two best inputs are B. Changes in EMS leadership and D. Report of performance of EMS objectives in the last year .

According to ISO 14001:2015:

Clause 4.2:

The organization must understand the needs and expectations of interested parties, which includes regulatory bodies and applicable legal requirements. Legal expertise may be necessary to fully assess this.

Clause 9.1.2:

The organization must evaluate compliance obligations, which requires understanding applicable legal requirements.

Legal compliance evaluation often requires specialized legal or regulatory knowledge, especially in highly regulated sectors like pharmaceuticals.

The best actions are F and A .

F. Urgently contact the certification body and explain the situation — Correct

This is the first and most important action. In a third-party certification audit, the certification body controls the audit programme, audit team appointment, audit duration, audit competence, and certification process. If a team member leaves unexpectedly, especially where that person is also evaluating a first-time audit team leader, the certification body must be informed immediately so it can decide how the audit should proceed.

A. Ask the auditee if they could accept to extend the audit till the following day — Correct

Because the second auditor could return the next day, extending the audit is a practical solution, provided the certification body agrees. This helps ensure the planned audit activities, required audit time, audit team competence, and evaluation of the audit team leader can still be completed properly.

The other options are not the best responses:

B is too extreme. The audit does not need to be cancelled immediately if it can be completed by adjusting the plan with certification body approval.

C is not appropriate without certification body approval, because continuing alone may reduce planned audit coverage and affect audit team competence or required audit duration.

D is not sufficient because the auditee cannot decide whether the certification audit can continue with a changed audit team.

E is less suitable than F because you should first explain the full situation to the certification body. The certification body may then decide whether a replacement audit team leader is needed, whether the audit should be extended, or whether another action is required.

Therefore, the correct selected options are A and F .

The correct answers are B and D .

B is correct because, during remote or virtual auditing, the auditor must respect confidentiality, information security, privacy, and auditee permissions. Recording people, taking screenshots, or capturing documents should only be done with permission from the auditee. This aligns with audit principles such as confidentiality, professional care, and information security .

D is correct because auditors should use a combination of audit methods to obtain reliable audit evidence. Audit methods may include interviews, observation of activities, review of documents and records, sampling, remote communication tools, site tours, and review of environmental performance data. Using more than one method helps verify evidence and improves audit confidence.

The other options are incorrect:

A is incorrect because virtual audit evidence is not limited to human interaction. Evidence may also be collected through document review, records, photographs, video, data systems, monitoring reports, permits, procedures, and other non-interactive sources.

C is incorrect because audit sampling methods are determined by the auditor or audit team based on audit objectives, scope, criteria, risk, and available evidence. They do not need to be agreed by the auditee, although the auditee may need to provide access to relevant information.

E is incorrect because auditors are not automatically entitled to take copies of procedures or records off-site. Taking copies depends on confidentiality rules, certification body procedures, legal restrictions, and auditee permission.

F is incorrect because audit evidence from top management interviews still requires verification where possible. Interview evidence should normally be corroborated using records, observed practices, objectives, environmental performance data, compliance obligations, or other audit evidence. Top management status does not remove the need for verification.

Therefore, the two true statements are B and D .

According to ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 Clause 9.3.2.1 and ISO 14001:2015:

Stage 1 focuses on evaluating management system documentation (e.g., environmental aspects, objectives, emergency preparedness, audit schedule).

Financial statements (C) are not relevant to EMS certification.

Management review records (D) may not yet be available at Stage 1 if the EMS is not fully implemented.

The correct answers are C and D .

The audit team leader is responsible for leading and managing the audit process. This includes planning the audit and communicating with the auditee about audit arrangements and logistics , such as timing, site access, availability of personnel, audit schedule, and practical arrangements.

C. Communicating with the auditee regarding the logistics for the audit — Correct

The audit team leader normally acts as the main communication link between the audit team and the auditee during audit planning and execution. This includes confirming arrangements, audit timetable, opening and closing meetings, guides, access requirements, and other practical matters.

D. Planning the audit — Correct

The audit team leader is responsible for preparing the audit plan, coordinating audit team activities, assigning audit tasks, and ensuring the audit objectives, scope, and criteria are addressed.

The other options are incorrect:

A. Granting certification to the organisation being audited — Incorrect

Certification is granted by the certification body , not by the audit team leader. The audit team provides audit findings and conclusions, but it does not make the independent certification decision.

B. Evaluating the process established by the auditee to identify significant environmental aspects — Incorrect

This is an audit activity performed by the audit team as part of assessing ISO 14001 EMS conformity. It is not exclusive to the audit team leader.

E. Defining the duration of the audit — Incorrect

Audit duration is determined by the certification body or audit programme management using applicable certification rules, complexity, size, scope, risks, and environmental aspects. The audit team leader may work within the assigned duration but does not exclusively define it.

F. Sending the report to the accreditation body — Incorrect

The audit report is normally submitted to the certification body/client according to certification procedures. Accreditation bodies oversee certification bodies; they are not the routine recipient of every audit report from the audit team leader.

Therefore, the two exclusive audit team leader responsibilities are C and D .

According to ISO 14001:2015 Clause 1 (Scope) and Clause 6.1.2:

Clause 1:

“The purpose of this International Standard is to provide organizations with a framework to protect the environment and respond to changing environmental conditions in balance with socio-economic needs.”

Clause 6.1.2:

“The organization shall determine the environmental aspects of its activities, products and services that it can control and influence, considering a life cycle perspective.”

Demonstrating legal compliance (B) is part of the intended outcomes but not the primary purpose.

Tender eligibility (C), financial results (E), and system format (F) are not stated objectives of ISO 14001:2015.

The correct six questions are A, B, D, F, H and I .

Opening a third shift is a significant operational change, even if the products, materials and processes remain the same. The scale, timing and conditions of operation have changed. This can affect energy use, waste generation, noise impacts, emergency arrangements, operational controls, interested parties and the internal audit programme.

A. Revised the internal audit programme — Correct

The internal audit programme should consider changes affecting the organisation. A new night shift may need to be included in the audit programme because environmental controls may operate differently at night. ISO/TC 207’s reviewed interpretations confirm that the EMS audit programme considers environmental importance, organisational changes and previous audit results.

B. Reviewed the environmental objectives — Correct

Environmental objectives should remain relevant to significant aspects and environmental performance. If production has increased, objectives related to waste, energy, liquid waste or noise may need to be reviewed or updated.

D. Evaluated the extra amount of waste that will be generated — Correct

The Production Manager’s statement is incomplete. The same process can still create greater environmental impact if it operates for more hours. More production may mean more solid waste, liquid waste and energy consumption.

F. Reviewed the needs and expectations of interested parties — Correct

A night shift may affect interested parties differently, especially because loud noise is a significant environmental aspect. Neighbours, regulators, landlords, customers or local authorities may have expectations or requirements linked to night-time operations.

H. Reviewed the emergency response plans — Correct

Emergency arrangements may need revision because the site now operates during the night. Staffing levels, trained emergency responders, spill response, fire response, external communication and access to emergency services may differ during the 10 pm to 6 am shift. ISO/TC 207 interpretations also confirm that relevant information and training on emergency preparedness and response apply to persons working under the organisation’s control where appropriate.

I. Reviewed the documented operational procedures — Correct

Operational procedures and controls should be reviewed to confirm that environmental controls are effective on all three shifts. ISO/TC 207 interpretations confirm that ISO 14001 clause 8.1 remains focused on planning and controlling operations associated with significant environmental aspects, compliance obligations, risks and opportunities, and environmental objectives.

Why the other options are not selected:

C may be useful, but it is not one of the strongest ISO 14001 change-impact questions in this scenario.

E is not correct because ISO 14001 does not specifically require a formal documented plan every time the EMS changes.

G is too broad as written; affected responsibilities may need review, but reviewing “all roles” is not the best key question compared with the six selected.