Finding the Right ISO Registrar

Gabriele Crognale

Introduction

Chemical plants are taking up a new group of voluntary standards provided by ISO 14001, which was introduced in September 1996 and describes auditing, product labeling, environmental performance and life-cycle assessment.

Part of the standards procedure is finding the right registrar to smooth the ISO accreditation process.

A glance at any of the newsletters or Web sites devoted to ISO 14000—like the Registrar Accreditation Board (http://www.rabnet.com)—yields a cornucopia of facts about accredited registrars, companies that have certified to ISO 14001 and organizations accredited to teach environmental management system auditor training courses.

Other Web sites list books on the subject, ranging from how to implement ISO 14001 to how to audit against it, as well as books explaining certification, listing its benefits, describing the process and offering tips in choosing a registrar.

Intermediate Steps

A number of intermediate steps help prepare for certification to ISO 14001 and should come before the formal certification process. While they don’t have to unfold in exact order, it helps to begin by assessing the facility, stating the goal and planning the approach.

A third-party gap analysis can help provide that information

In another instance, a company convened an ad-hoc group of employees to discuss what ISO 14001 entails and to develop an environmental management system (EMS) from the ground up. They began crafting new procedures to address ISO 14001 and convert standard operating procedures into EMS/ISO procedures. While that approach provides an alternative to a third party’s gap analysis, it takes considerable employee time and requires long-term dedication.

Organizations should also consider specialized training to familiarize employees with ISO terms and criteria. Additional audit training can help them prepare for audits by an outside registrar if the organization opts for third-party certification.

Companies seeking certification should know their environmental status and responsibilities, including shortfalls or gaps, before beginning the ISO 14001 journey. Another key is that employee buy-in is just as important as top management commitment, and organizations should strive to ensure that employees favor this endeavor.

Choosing a Registrar

The certification process can begin when ISO elements become routine to plant employees as they craft procedures from standard methods of operating, identify legal and other requirements, and learn what records to maintain.

How to get started? Twenty registrars are accredited to ISO 14001, and accreditation is pending for another 10. Specialty newsletters update readers monthly about companies that have certified to ISO 14001 and list their registrars. That could be one starting point.

Another way to find a registrar is by contacting a regional EPA office to determine if an ISO 14000-related workshop or seminar is planned for your area. Or contact a local environmental professional group to see if they’re planning any ISO 14001 discussion sessions. These sources may be able to direct you to registrars.

Companies could also contact prospective registrars directly and request information packets. Ask for their auditors’ resumes, and find out whether their auditors are full-time or contract employees. That could become a factor in the organization’s decision.

Look at edited samples of audit reports to gauge the depth of their expertise, or request the contact names and phone numbers of their audited companies. That can help refine questions and in-crease comfort.

Never rely solely on the testimony of past clients. Base the decision on judgment, and get answers to questions like, "How deep did the auditor look into procedures and potential regulatory issues to draw a conclusion whether a finding exists or not?" or "How well did the auditor understand the chemical process, and could that have influenced the decision on whether a (nonconformance) finding exists or not?"

Specific Considerations

In narrowing the field, consider the following questions. They’re a guide and are not the only criteria.

	How does the registrar choose auditors for participating in audits? Are they full-time employees or part-time, contracted employees?
	Are auditors provided additional training once they come on board?
	What criteria does the registrar use to certify or fail to certify a facility?
	How are disagreements handled with the client over interpretations of ISO 14001, Clause 4, elements?
	How does the registrar ensure client confidentiality?
	Have complaints been lodged against the registrar?
	Has the registrar lost accreditation?
	What information appears in the registrar’s surveillance audits at clients’ sites?
	Based on audit reports and client interviews, were the auditors adept in identifying potential "big ticket" liabilities during their audits, or did they just scratch the surface? This question determines whether the auditor brings any value-added services to the table.
	Would your company feel comfortable with the registrar if a surprise multimedia inspection were made the day after the facility certified to ISO 14001? If the answer is "yes," then go for it.

Additional Factors

To uncover any additional considerations, an environmental manager from a chemical company and one from a rubber company were interviewed.

The first interviewee, an EH&S manager of a chemical company, said every registrar should:

	Be familiar with Responsible Care®
	Have chemical industry experience in intermediates or final product.
	Exhibit competency and experience in certification to ISO 14001 and ISO 9000
	Remain cost-conscious and cost-effective
	Provide quantitative, rather than qualitative, recommendations, thus providing true added value in helping the client increase productivity and increase the bottom line.

The rubber company EH&S manager looks at three main points:

	For marketing reasons, choose a registrar known to the company’s customers
	Assess the competency and expertise the auditing firm has in the rubber industry
	Consider the comfort level and working relationship the company and its employees have with auditing firm.

. In choosing a registrar, both of the HS&E professionals focused on expertise and competency in their specific industries and the added value that an auditor can bring to save money.

The Right Registrar

Choosing the right ISO 14001 registrar need not become an ordeal. Companies select environmental consultants, contractors and testing labs, so why should this decision be more difficult?

ISO registration and auditing is a commodity business, and the choice is usually based on which firm makes the client feel most comfortable, provides the best service and added value, and appears likely to handle issues that may arise. The registrar must work for the company. Otherwise, it will be a bad fit, and nobody will win.