Some weeks ago I wrote an article on all AB (accreditation  bodies) and CB ( certification Bodies) should join up with institutes  to  ensure hard working companies do not get conned by using  ISO management standard consultants  claiming to be experts  and non- UKAS approved certifying companies.

I recently was asked by two companies to carry out independent 2nd party  audits.

The reason for these audits was that both companies had been rejected from the final bidding contract stages.   The reason given by the bidding assessors was, they did not meet the ISO bidding requirements.

One of the company’s  was a coating company and the another was a stockist company.

The coating company had just been certified to ISO9001 & ISO 14001 and the stockist warehouse company to ISO9001 & 18001.

Whenever I audit or carry out an evaluation on a company a part of my duty of care  is to complete my own  risk assessment and safe systems of work.  DO YOU DO THIS?

Like many auditors I use a checking aid  – My checking aid is a  4P & 2E risk evaluation check list.  One of the “P”s stands for plant “building, equipment  Utilises etc.”

Stockist Company

When I walked around the stockist, they  had a number of overhead cranes and forklifts in use.

I asked the owner  the following questions!!

Please can you provide me with your statutory  inspection  certificates, maintenance service records and operators licenses  for  your overhead cranes and forklifts?

The owner then went away and spoke to his operations manager, then came back and said –  I’m sorry but it appears we do not have these documents  in place.

Due to my own safety and that of others;  I advised  the owner of their  duty of care. I informed the owner that I could not proceed with the audit and also advise him not to use the equipment until the relevant equipment had been tested and his operators trained.

Coating Company

When I visited the coating company, they had two water towers located in the rear and the housekeeping of chemical containers looked out of control.

I asked the owner please can you provide me with your  L8 inspection assessment,  environmental permit and statutory  inspection  certificates for the water tower structures.

The owner replied I’m sorry but it appears we do not have these documents.  Again I advised the owner of his duty of care.

Both companies had used consultants who were not members of an institute, plus the two certifying companies who were not UKAS approved.

In both cases the company owners are now taking legal action against both consultants and the certifying companies. I’m not sure they will get anywhere.

At this moment. anyone can set themselves up has a ISO management standard consultant or a certifying company.

My advice to anyone who is looking for a consultant, please get contact with QCI, IIRSM, ISOH or the relevant approved institute for your sector.

Also, my advice to anyone who is looking to obtain certification is to use a UKAS approved company.

Have you been conned?

Bio:

Keith Ridgeway is an experienced risk & improvement management consultant with his company Ridgeway Services Specialists (RWAYSS).

His passions is root cause investigation & solve problems, developing integration risk based management systems and right first time processes. Mentor, support and train the next generation of risk based thinking and planning innovators. If you enjoyed this articles consider going the LinkedIn group Risk Based Thinking and Planning so together we can develop the next generation

He can be reached at:
keith@rwayss.com