My client, a leader in innovative rail-friction management, was recently preparing for an integrated ISO 14001/OHSAS 18001 audit, and I was asked to provide on-site training to help prepare their employees. The company and its staff are well-versed in audits, having been registered under ISO 9001 for several years. In addition to the required environmental, health, and safety (EHS) awareness training, I was also asked to provide my thoughts on what to expect during the upcoming audit.

As a certification auditor, I have noticed that those in companies who have experienced smooth audits in the past tend to approach upcoming audits with a different mentality than those who may have had less-than-ideal experiences. I’m not just talking about whether or not a company achieves certification, but rather what it ends up with in terms of meaningful results that actually help improve its management system.

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