ISO 14001 Step by Step - A Practical Guide

CHAPTER 6: DOCUMENTATION AND DOCUMENT CONTROL (CLAUSE 7.5)

There has traditionally been a distinction between what we call a ‘document’ and what we call a ‘record’. Although ISO 14001 no longer really recognises this distinction (both are “documented information”), they are still useful terms to appreciate.

Documents provide information, data or instructions and could be on any medium, such as print or electronic. Some examples of documents are:

• Policies, objectives, targets, programmes or plans;

• Manuals and procedures;

• Work instructions or standard operating procedures;

• Photographs, videos or drawings providing instructions;

• Legal requirements; and

• Formats and checklists (when blank).

Records are a subcategory of documents. They ...