Abstract
Integrated Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) audits and legal environmental audits are important tools to assess and monitor the HSE performance of business or operating units. This article discusses how the Brazilian oil industry, represented by Petrobras, has been conducting audits in the last 15 years. Several types of audit are presented such as integrated HSE management system audits, legal compliance environmental audits, based on the Guideline DZ-056/1995 of the current Environment Institute of the State of Rio de Janeiro (INEA) and Resolution 306/2002 of the Brazilian National Environmental Council (CONAMA). The article discusses also the assessments of the HSE Management Assessment Process (PAG-HSE) and the HSE Due Diligence Audits, upon the acquisitions and mergers of new businesses. A comparison is made between management system audits and legal environmental audits in Brazil. A table is also presented with the evolution of compulsory legislation on environmental audit in several Brazilian states. Finally, examples are shown of elements to be audited in integrated HSE and legal compliance environmental audits used in the Brazilian oil industry. It is concluded that HSE audits and legal compliance environmental audits are excellent tools to help companies in preventing, reducing and controlling their Health, Safety and Environment impacts.
