Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) Part 2: Practice of Internal Auditing — Question 63

Which of the following would be the most effective method to prevent installation of new equipment that does not meet environmental permit requirements, or to prevent modification of current processes in such a way that they no longer meet permit requirements?

Answer options

• A. Require that the environmental compliance department perform regular inspections of the manufacturing facility to identify new equipment or process modifications in progress.
• B. Rely on annual inspections by various regulatory agencies to identify equipment or processes that require a permit.
• C. Require that the staff of the environmental compliance department attend monthly safety meetings in different parts of the facility so that they can hear directly from the workers about any changes.
• D. Include the environmental compliance department in the review of proposed process changes and equipment purchases affecting permit requirements.

Correct answer: D

Explanation

The correct answer is D because involving the environmental compliance department in the review process ensures that any changes or purchases are evaluated for compliance before they occur. Options A and C, while helpful, do not proactively prevent non-compliance. Option B relies on external inspections, which may not catch issues before they occur.