Audit Terms & Conditions

The following sections outline the responsibilities those requesting an Envirostep audit, and the Auditor providing audit services.

User Obligations

When requesting an audit, the user will:

• Have completed all questions in the Envirostep questionnaire prior to requesting an audit.
• Have answered all questions honestly (to the best of their understanding).
• Have satisfied all audit prequalification criteria.
• Provide the Scheduler with necessary information to accurately determine audit fees and disbursements.

On the day of the audit, the user will:

• Allow the Auditor to visit your site at the scheduled time (the auditor may be accompanied by an assessor or trainee).
• Ensure that somebody will be available on site to host and guide the Auditor for the duration of the audit.
• Ensure that documents and other evidence likely to be requested by the Auditor are readily available.
• Answer the Auditor's questions honestly (to the best of their understanding).
• Take all practicable steps to ensure the health and safety of the Auditor while they are on your site.
• Provide access to facilities and documents when requested by the Auditor.

Following the audit, the user will:

• Pay any unforseen fees or disbursements that are reasonably incurred as a consequence of the audit (payment due within 30 days of the audit date).
• Maintain the Envirostep assessment questionnaire so it accurately represents site environmental performance.
• Inform Telarc if changes at the site mean that audit prequalification criteria are no longer satisfied.

Users should note that failure to meet the above requirements may result in the audit being terminated, or withdrawal of any certificate issued (with no refund available).

Auditor Obligations

The Envirostep Auditor will:

• Attempt to complete the audit within the time allocated by the Scheduler (assuming ready access is available to necessary facilities and documents)
• Advise the site representative where they do not agree with site responses in the self-assessment questionnaire.
• Give the site the opportunity to clarify or change responses in the self-assessment questionnaire.
• Confirm the validated score for the site on completion of the audit (at which point the site questionnaire is locked and a new version automatically be opened for users).
• Recommend the site for certification where they have met all required criteria.
• Advise the site of the Envirostep dispute resolution process in the event that the user and the site dispute the auditor's decision.
• Advise the site of any additional fees or disbursements associated with the audit.

Telarc Obligations

Telarc SAI Limited will:

• Ensure that the Auditor assigned to your site is suitably skilled and experienced to provide you with the audit service requested.
• Ensure that information gathered during the audit remains confidential.
• Publish a list of sites holding valid Envirostep certificates on the Telarc website (including the score achieved).

Dispute Resolution

In the event that the user and the Auditor fail to reach agreement on the validated score:

• The Auditor will notify the Envirostep Administrator that a dispute has been registered.
• The Envirostep Administrator will contact both the Auditor and the site to establish their respective positions.
• The Envirostep Administrator will decide the audit outcome, and this decision will be binding on both the site and the Auditor.

Use of the Envirostep Logo

• Users may not use the Envirostep logo for commercial purposes unless the site holds a valid Envirostep certificate.
• The envirostep logo can be used on corrspondence and promotional material referring to the certified site.
• The Envirostep certificate is a site-specific credential, and cannot be used for product endorsement.

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