ENVIRONMENTAL INTERNAL AUDIT

REPORT
APRIL 2018

Department Audited
Waste Management & Ground Services – Residential Services

Issued By
Health, Safety and Environmental Department
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
ENVIRONMENTAL INTERNAL AUDIT REPORT

Service Waste Management & Ground Services

Scope of Audit KAUST EMS/ISO 14001:2015
Audit Team Shahzad Ghauri
Audit Date 12 April 2018

SIGN OFF
Majed El Mir Manager (A), Waste
Management & Ground
Services
Name Title Signature Date

Mohamed Omar Manager, Environmental

Protection
Name Title Signature Date

DISTRIBUTION

Director, Community Support Khalid Al Saadi

Vice President, Community Life Antonio Valenzuela
Director, HSE Robert Kilford

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SUMMARY
An internal environmental audit was undertaken of Waste Management & Ground Services to evaluate the
extent to which Environment Stewardship Program and KAUST’s 14001 international certification
requirements have been implemented and maintained. The scope of the assessment focused on:

• Implementation of Environmental Risk Register commitments

• Compliance with environmental operational control procedures
• Environmental training compliance
• Close out of environmental incidents/actions

Reporting is by exception, only areas of non-conformance are contained in this report. Examples of non-
conformance findings are given based on sampled areas. Corrections should not be limited to sampled
areas, but should be extended throughout service line.

The assessment revealed environmental compliance has been maintained since the last internal
audit. This is attributed to active involvement and awareness of environmental compliance
requirements by all team members, and sound management visibility and monitoring of the
Environmental Risk Register.

AUDIT TRAIL
Year Major Minor Observation
2017-2018 0 3 1
2016-2017 0 3 0
2015-2016 1 7 0
2014-2015 6 5 4

UNDERSTANDING THE FINDINGS OF THIS REPORT

Assessment Finding Codes used in this report:
Observation (Obs) - Comment on an aspect of performance/compliance/systems that conforms to internal requirements
but may be improved. Action required unless indicated as optional.
Minor - A non-compliance that could potentially impact on the sites ability to maintain its compliance/performance or to
ensure controlled processes are in place. Action required.
Major - A non-compliance finding that has impacted on the ability of the site to maintain its compliance/performance or to
ensure controlled processes are in place. Urgent action required.
Commendation (Cmd) - Acknowledgement of very good practice.

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 AUDTING FINDINGS
CODE ASSESSMENT FINDING BY HSE ROOT CAUSE CORRECTIVE ACTION DUE DATE

Environmental Risk Register Commitments (ie. implementation, communication, and regular review)

No finding NA NA NA NA

Operational Control (i.e. management of waste, wastewater, spill prevention, air quality, and chemical)
No finding
(spill) NA NA NA NA

No finding
(waste) NA NA NA NA

Waste Management
1. The chemical inventory does not
correctly describe all chemicals.
Examples include Total Quartz oil,
and body fiber fillers which are not
correctly described. The inventory
must be able to distinguish different
product manufacturers or
Minor formulations etc.
Horticulture
(chemical)
2. The Integrated Pest Management
Plan (IPM, Effective Date: March 31
2016) has a number of important
requirements which are not being
implemented fully. Select examples
include:
a) Section 13 Building User Notification
subsection 13.5.6 ‘Signs must
Human Error(Lack of Knowledge)
1-All Available chemical stock inventory will be re-
evaluated and will Include Proper Manufacturer
name and chemical formulation.(Whichever will be
Applicable).
To Avoid the reoccurrence:
2-Proper checklist/ Instruction will be prepared for
staff handling the chemical.
3-Instructions will include purchasing only the
chemicals having Proper Tagging and description
to avoid any misuse.
2-Awareness/training will be provided to All related
employees/stakeholders.

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 CODE ASSESSMENT FINDING BY HSE ROOT CAUSE CORRECTIVE ACTION DUE DATE
remain in place until the space is
safe for occupants to resume their
normal activities. Currently signage
is removed after spraying private or
public areas.
b) Section 11 Performance
Measurements ‘The performance of
the IPM Plan shall be compiled from
IPM records and analyzed quarterly
and annually’. Presently basic
analysis is undertaken however
there is no feedback into the
pesticide application regime. A
prime example of this is fogging.
Fogging is undertaken twice a week
for the last few years in what is
essentially an ‘autopilot’ mode. No
evidence could be provided to
suggest a change (eg. reduction) to
weekly spraying has been reviewed.
Spraying is increased when required
based on complaints/monitoring.
Anecdotally, and also observed by
ecological consultants at KAUST
recently, the number of flying insects
appears very low at KAUST. This
supports the need to review
pesticide application given this is
how a dynamic IPM should operate.
c) Napthalene is used as a snake
deterrent, however this is no longer
recognized by World Health
Organization as a pesticide. Least
toxic alternatives should be
considered.

No finding
NA NA NA NA
(air quality)
1. As per KAUST Wastewater
Minor Management Procedure, temporary

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 CODE ASSESSMENT FINDING BY HSE ROOT CAUSE CORRECTIVE ACTION DUE DATE
approval was granted for marine
(wastewater)
discharge however this continued
for several months without HSE
approval. Discharge was
subsequently assessed and a formal
management protocol was required
to be submitted. This has not been
received by HSE.

Training (i.e. staff, contractors and subcontractors)

Waste Management Human Error(Negligence to update the 1-Training Register will be developed for 2018 and
1. The environmental training registers register) Record will be updated for All stakeholders.
for Averda staff and contractors for
2018 are not yet developed. Training
Minor To Prevent the Reoccurrence:
has been undertaken but the tracking
and recording mechanism is not yet
in place for the current year. 2-All future trainings will be updated ASAP After
the training conducted for staff.

Incident and Action Close Out

Waste Management
1. Multiple hydraulic hose failures
have occurred over the past year,
often within the space of weeks.
Root cause analysis and corrective
actions require more detailed
assessment. Averda has identified
potential actions to reduce chances
Obs
of repeat hose failure. No audit NA NA NA
action required.
Horticulture
2. The KAM TSE incident
(201711134226, 9 November 2017)
has been transferred by Residential
Maintenance to Horticulture team
on 18 February 2018. As
Horticulture team already

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CODE ASSESSMENT FINDING BY HSE ROOT CAUSE CORRECTIVE ACTION DUE DATE
discussed with HSE, a formal PPM
system entry is required to prevent
a repeat discharge of TSE to the
sea. No audit action required.

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