Picture the scene. It’s 9:30 a.m. on a Tuesday. A call comes into your pharmaceutical production plant office:
—Good morning, I’m an inspector from the Government’s Environmental Department. We’re calling to schedule an inspection for tomorrow. May I speak with the Environmental Manager, please?
Your heart races. What’s still pending? Are the records up to date? What about the waste containers?
Sounds familiar? You’re not alone.
At Tecam, we’ve supported many Environment and Health & Safety Managers in this very situation. We know that, even when everything is done correctly, an inspection may cause anxiety if you’re not well prepared.
That’s why today we’re sharing, with real examples and key points, what an environmental inspector looks for when entering your production plant for an inspection… and how to be ready to welcome them with confidence.
- Air Emissions: What’s Seen (and What Isn’t)
The inspector enters the control room. Looks at the logs. Observes the stacks. But their interest goes beyond what’s visible.
They want to know if your emissions are under control and within the legal limits. It’s not enough to have a gas filtration and abatement system — you must prove that it works and that you’re properly monitoring it.
What are they specifically looking for?
- Atmospheric emissions reports according to the Environmental Monitoring Plan.
- Calibration certificates for analyzers and sensors.
- Historical data on malfunctions, maintenance, and corrective actions.
- Consideration of diffuse emissions (not everything goes out through the stack).
- Waste Management: The Inspector Follows the Trail
They reach the waste storage area. Look at the containers, labels, and organization. Here, they’re not just checking compliance — they’re reading your environmental culture.
Where do your hazardous wastes go? Are they properly classified? What happens from the moment they’re generated to when they’re collected?
What do they usually review?
- Clear, visible labeling with EWC code, date, and hazard classification.
- Safe, ventilated, regulation-compliant storage.
- Transfer documentation (delivery notes, tracking sheets, contracts).
- Updated records of deliveries to authorized handlers.
- Liquid Discharges: Zooming in on Your Drains
You may not see it. But they do. The inspector asks about discharges and follows you to the treatment plant.
They want to ensure your wastewater doesn’t pose a risk to the environment or the sewage system. And that can only be achieved through control and traceability.
What do they examine closely?
- Condition and operation of treatment systems (neutralization, osmosis, sedimentation, etc.).
- Presence of flow, pH, temperature, and other parameter meters.
- Frequency of analyses and compliance with discharge limits.
- Protocols for leaks or accidental spills.
- Authorizations and Permits: What’s Not Authorized Shouldn’t Happen
At this point, the inspector becomes legalistic. They pull out your Integrated Environmental Authorization (IEA) or regional equivalent and begin to compare:
“Is this activity included? Is this energy consumption reported? Is this emission listed in the monitoring plan?”
Your IEA isn’t just a file in a drawer — it’s your contract with the authorities.
What do they want to verify?
- That all activities are authorized and correctly described.
- That all imposed conditions (frequencies, limits, requirements) are being met.
- That no technical or production changes have been made without notification.
- Environmental Culture: What Isn’t Written Down Is Also Inspected
The inspector notices more than you think. They sense whether staff know what to do, whether the space is orderly, whether environmental responsibility is in the air.
Here we’re not just talking about documents, but attitudes.
What might stand out (positively or negatively)?
- Staff who don’t know how to act in case of a spill.
- Procedures posted on the wall that no one has read.
- Outdated or non-existent environmental training.
On the other hand, a worker who knows the protocol, a clean and well-signposted plant, or an environmental manager with a solid grasp of key indicators — these all inspire immediate confidence.
So, What Now? Preparing Ahead Is the Best Strategy
Preparation doesn’t begin when the inspector rings the doorbell. It begins much earlier.
A pharmaceutical plant with a solid environmental approach doesn’t improvise. It trains its staff, knows its critical points, regularly reviews its procedures, and keeps documentation updated and accessible.
Best practices include:
- Drills or internal audits to detect issues before the authorities do.
- Clear protocols known by all operational teams, not just the environmental manager.
- A proactive culture that sees inspections not as a threat, but as an opportunity for improvement.
It’s no longer enough to comply with regulations — you must be able to prove it with clear, organized, and available evidence.
A well-prepared plant not only reduces legal and financial risks — it gains in reputation, internal trust, and responsiveness.
The difference between a smooth inspection and one with penalties often lies in what’s done when no one is watching.
In Summary: What an Inspector Is Looking for (and What You Should Be Sure Of)
- That your emissions are controlled, recorded, and within legal limits.
- That your waste is classified, labeled, and handed over properly.
- That your liquid discharges are treated and monitored as required by law.
- That your activities are authorized and conditions in your IEA are met.
- That your team knows the procedures and acts with environmental responsibility.
None of this is improvised in a morning. It’s built day by day.
And a plant that builds this — inspection after inspection — proves it.
If you need more information on our services and technologies, please contact us today.
Picture by Freepik