Policy Statement
Global Registrar of Systems (GRS) is committed to providing high quality services in a manner which will protect and improve the environment as a whole, and related to its activities, in particular.
We will work closely with all stakeholders to establish the procedures by which we can make a positive contribution towards innovative and cost-effective and sustainable environmental outcomes.
Responsible management of environmental issues is an essential part of achieving GRS business objectives. Accordingly, we are committed to conducting our activities in ways which will:
We, through our management and staff, will ensure our operations comply with this policy by:
Policy Statement
This Policy Statement guides the Health and Safety Management for Global Registrar of Systems (GRS). Our policy is to provide a zero-harm work environment for our employees and those affected by our work.
We are committed to provide safe and healthy working conditions, prevent work related injury and ill health and eliminate hazards and reduce OH&SMS risks.
We use ISO 45001:2018 management systems as a framework to establish OHSMS objectives, risks and opportunities.
We are committed to comply with all relevant legislations, regulations, codes of practices and safe operating procedures.
We ensure communication and active participation of our employees and contractors, promotion of our zero-harm culture, provision of adequate resources, implementation of OHS management systems and strive for our continuous improvement.
We comply with all relevant OHS legislations and other requirements to which GRS services are promised.
We identify all potential hazards and ensure all incidents and injuries accurately recorded, reported, and investigated.
We ensure that our employees and contractors will work safely, report incidents promptly, make safe decisions and actively engage in the promotion of safe work practices. Our leaders have their respective roles to ensure the provision of a safe working environment and are committed to providing ongoing safety awareness to GRS personnel.
Approved: General Manager Risk and Compliance
Update Date: 5/10/2018
Global Registrar of Systems (GRS) declares that it will comply with the requirements of impartiality within all its certification activities. The confidentiality, objectivity, and impartiality of the certification activities by and on behalf of GRS, shall not be affected by the activities of its certified clients.
In addition to the commencement of GRS management, an Impartiality Committee is appointed to ensure that the policies, practices, and operations are in accordance with ISO17021-1:2015 and the guidance is issued in relation to this standard.
To show effective Implementation of the policy, GRS guarantees the following:
Further, GRS identifies, analyses, and documents all possibilities for conflict of interests that emerge from certification processes including any conflicts that emerge from its relations. Presence of relations does not necessarily position GRS in a situation of conflict of interests. If some relations create impartiality threats, GRS documents and eliminates or decreases such threats. When potential impartiality threat arises, GRS eliminates it or decreases it. It is necessary to cover all possible sources of conflicts of interest that are identified regardless of their origin. This will promptly be presented to the GRS Board of Directors, and the process shall be controlled by the Impartiality Committee.
GRS requires from all employees, internal and external, to comply with impartiality rules as well as to reveal any situation known to them that may present them or GRS with a conflict of interests. GRS shall use this information as inputs in identifying threats to impartiality raised by the activities of such personnel or by the organisation that employs them. Such personnel, internal or external shall not be used unless they demonstrate that there is no conflict of interest. GRS shall not undertake any actions that threaten the impartiality and/or are potential conflicts of interest. When certain relations create unacceptable impartiality threats, then the certification shall not be conducted.
All employees are obliged to work in compliance with the requirements of ISO/IEC17021-1:2015 as well as of GRS contracts.
The top management is committed to a full compliance with this declaration.
Certification marks are the signs of credibility in management systems certification, and are valued by our clients. We best endeavour to protect the marks and ensure its appropriate use by our clients. Global Registrar of Systems (GRS) will control the use of certification marks and accreditation symbols by this policy implication.
OUR RULES TO ENSURE APPROPRIATE USE OF CERTIFICATION MARKS
REGISTERED COMPANY’S LOGO
ACCREDITATION LOGO
NOTE: Any misuse of GRS and JAS-ANZ logos without prior approval is liable for penal prosecution as per the legal provisions of trade mark and patent laws primarily of Australia and New Zealand government, and of other relevant legal principles of the country or region in which the registered company is operating.
GRS ABN: 98614354415
GRS ACN: 614354415
vero Policy number: Policy number: LPP104183949 Expires 21 February 2025;
Jurisdictional Limits: Worldwide excluding USA.
GRS comply with a range of other requirements (eg. ANZ Standards, codes of practices, directives from assessment authorities, IAF and ISO/IEC 17021 seris of standards)
To know more about the compliance with other requirements, please call us on: 1300 007 477 or e-mail us.
For any Appeal and Compliant please call us on 1300 007 477 or please complete the form below and e-mail us to certification@grscertification.com.
Please download this Feedback Form and send us the filled out form via email.
Why should our organisation be certified?
QSE (Quality, Safety and Environment) certification provides confidence in the organisation’s ability to meet its own QSE policy, including the commitment to comply with applicable legislation, and to continually improve its performance. It does not ensure that the organization is currently achieving optimal system performance.
Why should we be ISO 14001 certified?
The purpose of ISO 14001:2015 is to provide organizations with a
framework to protect the environment and respond to changing
environmental conditions in balance with socio-economic needs. ISO
14001:2015 helps an organization achieve the intended outcomes of its
environmental management system, which provide value for the
environment, the organization itself and interested parties. Consistent
with the organization’s environmental policy, the intended outcomes of
an environmental management system include:
– enhancement of environmental performance;
– fulfilment of compliance obligations;
– achievement of environmental objectives
Why should we be ISO 9001:2015 certified?
ISO 9001:2015 specifies requirements for a quality management system when an organization: needs to demonstrate its ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements; and aims to enhance customer satisfaction through the effective application of the system, including processes for improvement of the system and the assurance of conformity to customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.
Why should we be ISO 45001:2018 certified?
ISO 45001:2018 provides a framework for the enterprises to implement an effective Occupational Health & Safety Management System (OHSMS). A OHSMS enables company to identify hazards, assess risks and help business take preventative measures to avoid accidents or incidents. The certification process also help business achieve following aspects:
Can ISO 9001:2015 Certification ensures quality of product/services?
It is important to recognize that ISO 9001:2015 defines the requirements for an organisation’s quality management system, not for its products and services. Certification to ISO 9001 should provide confidence in the organisation’s ability to “consistently provide products that meet the customer requirements as well as the applicable statutory and regulatory requirements”. It does not necessarily ensure that the organisation will always achieve 100% product conformity, though this should of course be a permanent goal.
ISO 9001:2015 certification does not imply that the organisation is providing a superior product or service, or that the product or service itself is certified as meeting the requirements of an ISO (or any other) standard or specification.
Does Management Systems Certification (MSC) define performance criteria?
MSC defines the requirements for an organisation’s Quality, Safety and Environmental (QSE) management system, but does not define specific management system performance criteria.
Does ISO 14001:2015 mean full regulatory environmental audits?
The ISO 14001:2015 certification process does not include a full regulatory compliance audit and cannot ensure that violations of legal requirements will never occur, though full legal compliance should always be the organisation’s goal.
Does 14001:2015 guarantee the prevention of environmental incidents?
Certification to ISO 14001:2015 does not necessarily indicate that the organisation will be able to prevent environmental accidents from occurring.
How can I get information related to a certified client by GRS?
GRS does not publish any of its clients’ information for public view. Our clients’ certification information is accessible through the JAS-ANZ website.
For any other information, please call us on 1300 007 477 or send us an email to: grscertification@gmail.com
International standards such as ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018 series stipulate the minimum requirements for a documented Quality/Environment/Occupational Health and Safety Management systems of a company to be established, and a Certificate of Compliance to these standards has now become an international criterion of assessing a company’s credibility and capability to consistently meet quality standards towards meeting customer satisfaction.
The purpose of this description of GRS Quality Safety Environment (QSE) certification schemes is to provide relevant information regarding GRS services for conducting an impartial and competent assessment of a company’s management system, and maintenance of an accredited certification against ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018 standards.
The accredited certification scheme operated by GRS is a third-party system certification scheme with an objective of giving recognition to companies who have effectively implemented, and operates in a verifiable documented system. It covers the following scopes:
Enquiry and Application:
Upon receipt of an enquiry, the Application for Registration is required to be completed by the applicant company.
Proposal for services:
Based upon the information provided, an independent review will be done. After a successful review done a detailed offer is submitted for client’s consideration and acceptance. Upon acceptance of GRS services and fee proposal together with the applicable fees, the process of certification commences with scheduling of audits on mutually agreeable dates.
Initial certification audit shall be conducted in two stages: Stage-1 Audit and Stage-2 Audit.
Stage-1 Audit: Audit
The Stage-1 audit shall be conducted to achieve the following objectives:
Interval between Stage-1 and Stage-2 Audit:
In determining the interval between the Stage 1 and Stage 2, consideration will be given to the needs of the client to resolve areas of concern identified during the Stage 1. The Client Manager may also need to revise its arrangements for the Stage 2. If any significant changes occur, which would impact the management system, the Client Manager may consider the need to repeat all or parts of the Stage 1 audit. In such a case, the client will be notified in advance that the results of the Stage 1 audit may lead to postponement or cancellation of the Stage 2 audit.
Stage 2 Audit:
The purpose of the Stage 2 audit is to evaluate the implementation including effectiveness of the client’s management system. The Stage-2 audit must be conducted onsite that will include auditing of at least the following:
In the Stage-2 Audit, the audit team/auditor shall spend at least 75% of time for conducting the onsite audit. While preparing the audit program, GRS shall ensure that the audit team spends the majority of Stage-2 audit time in verifying the effective implementation of the management system in the locations where the organisations’ activities take place. The team also will include on-site audits of the temporary sites.
If there are any exclusions, that will be clearly identified in the audit report, and the validation of exclusions will be verified during the Stage-2 assessment.
Requirements for Audit Sites and Audit Duration Calculation for QMS, EMS, and OHS/OHSMS:
General and specific requirements for Audit Sites and Audit Duration Calculation for QMS, EMS, and OHS/OHSMS will be adequately following Audit Duration calculation procedure of GRS.
Multisite Requirements:
GRS shall provide certification of multiple site organisations based on sampling in accordance with IAF MD1:2018 and except that all high OHS/OHSMS complexity sites shall be included in the certification, surveillance and re-certification audit samples. Multisite duration shall be calculated following GRS Audit Duration Calculation procedure.
Surveillance Audit Process:
GRS Surveillance Audit shall be conducted within one calendar year form the date of initial certification. GRS shall ensure that the date of surveillance audit should not be more than 12 months from the date of certification decision.
Surveillance activities include on-site audits for assessing the certified client’s management systems’ fulfilment of specified requirements with respect to the standard against which the certification is granted.
Other surveillance activities may include enquiries on the aspects of certification, reviewing any client’s statement with respect to its operations (e.g. promotional material, website), requests to the client to provide documents and records (on paper or electronic media), and other means of monitoring the certified client’s performance.
Surveillance Audit shall include:
Re-certification Audit Process:
The purpose of the recertification audit is to confirm the continued conformity and effectiveness of the management system as a whole, and its continued relevance and applicability for the scope of certification. Recertification audit shall be planned and conducted to evaluate the continued fulfilment of all the requirements of the relevant management system standards or other normative documents.
GRS recertification audit must be conducted prior to the expiry of certification. Prior to the recertification audit, information related to systems, processes, or scope of operations shall be communicated between the client and GRS.
GRS recertification audit include the review of previous surveillance audit reports and consider the performance of the management system over the most recent certification cycle. Where there have been significant changes to the management system, the client, or the context in which the management system is operating, GRS may initiate a Stage 1 audit in the changed situations (e.g. changes to legislation).
Recertification audit include an on-site audit that addresses the following:
When recertification activities are successfully completed prior to the expiry date of the existing certification, the new certificate may be issued. In that case, the certification date will follow the certification cycle based on the current assessment.
In case, if GRS has not completed the recertification audit or is unable to verify the implementation of corrective actions for any major nonconformities prior to the expiry date of the certification, recertification will not be recommended, and the validity of the certification will not be extended. The client shall be informed, and the consequence shall be explained.
Following expiration of certification, GRS can restore certification within six months, provided that, the outstanding recertification activities are completed, otherwise at least a stage 2 audit shall be conducted.
The effective date will be noted on the certificate on or after the recertification decision, and the expiry date will be based on the previous certification cycle.
6 NCR MANAGING PROCESS:
If required, GRS assessor may initiate following types of findings during the assessment.
Non-Conformance Request (NCR)_ Major:
Nonconformity that affects the capability of the management system to achieve the intended results.
And /Or If there is a significant doubt that effective process control is in place, or that products or services will meet specified requirements.
And /Or A number of minor nonconformities associated with the same requirement or issue could demonstrate a systemic failure and thus constitute a major nonconformity.
Actions required:
In the case of a major NCR raised, the auditor has to review, accept and verify the corrections and corrective actions to ensure an effective close-out of the NCR. The close-out evidences need to be submitted to the auditor within the agreed time between the auditor and the client prior to commencement of the next stage of assessment as required.
All NCRs raised during the audit shall be closed out according to the actions outlined in the audit report, and by the due date as agreed by the auditor and the auditee. The date will be determined based on the risks and consequences involved in the NCR, but typically does not exceed 90 days from raising the NCR. All close out actions shall be recorded in the audit report.
In the case of an already certified client, failure to close out NCRs within the time limit means that suspension proceedings may be instituted by GRS. In the case of new clients, the audit process will not proceed to the following stage.
Effectiveness of corrections and corrective actions:
Upon receipt of correction and corrective action details for a major NCR, the auditor determines if these are acceptable. The client shall be informed of the result of the review and verification, and also be informed if an additional full audit, an additional limited audit, or documented evidence (to be confirmed during future audits) will be needed to verify effective correction and corrective actions.
Non-Conformance Request (NCR)_Minor:
Nonconformity that does not affect the capability of the management system to achieve the intended results. However, a number of minor nonconformities associated with the same requirement or issue could demonstrate a systemic failure and thus constitute a major nonconformity.
Actions required:
This category of findings requires the auditor to receive client’s proposed corrective action plans, and review and accept the client’s plan for correction and corrective action.
Corrective action plan needs to be submitted to the auditor within the agreed time between the auditor and client based on its risk and consequence involved prior to commencement of the next stage of assessment as required.
Opportunity For Improvement (OFI):
It is a statement of fact made by the assessor referring to a weakness or potential deficiency in a management system which, if not improved, may lead to a nonconformity in the future, and actions will be required as detailed above.
In the case for observation for clients, generic information may be provided about industrial best practices but no specific solution shall be provided as a part of an opportunity for improvement.
Action required:
Clients may develop and implement solutions in order to add value to operations and management systems. All observations need to be addressed effectively and shall be verified during the following assessment.
Further Actions:
GRS Auditors may initiate various types of NCR (as mentioned above) during audits. Any NCRs raised as a result of audits shall be recorded within the audit report.
Where a nonconformity poses an immediate threat to OHS/OHSMS, GRS shall require an appropriate and immediate response (e.g. suspension of the audit until the risk is removed or significantly reduced).
If a member of the audit team, in their professional judgement, discovers a breach of an Act of Parliament, or a contravention of a regulatory requirement, then such a breach or contravention will be recognised as nonconformity as soon as practicable and urgently communicated to the organisation, and shall be recorded in the audit report.
If significant risk issues (e.g. safety, environmental, food safety, product legality/quality, etc.) are detected through such discover, an immediate or instant correction shall be requested. If this is not agreed and cannot be resolved to the satisfaction of GRS within the agreed timeframe, immediate suspension shall be recommended.
During the assessment if GRS assessor (s) discover a non-compliance with relevant to regulatory requirements, then such non-compliances are immediately communicated to the organization being audited. The non-compliance shall be recorded in the audit report (477269035 Assessment Report).
INTERNAL NCR Managing Process:
Any person related to GRS business can initiate an internal NCR by using Non-Conformance Request Form (Annexure#477269040 will be available upon request). Once all details are completed by the originator, then NCR shall be forwarded to the General Manager Risk and Compliance (GMRC). GMRC will discuss, and assign the NCR to the responsible person with an agreed action date, and finally close out the NCR. If an NCR raised against GMRC department, it will then be managed and maintained by GMO.
The following guidelines could be considered to initiate internal NCRs but may not be limited to:
| Inputs | Guidance |
| Internal Audits | Any kind of findings required to report during internal audits. |
| Suggestions (Business Improvements) | If there is an aspect of the business management system that could be improved |
| Customer dissatisfaction | Analysis of customer feedback to detect and eliminate causes of non-conforming work, and improve the process. |
| Any other business related issues to be addressed. |
The following guidelines could be followed to manage and resolve internal NCR process:
| Steps | Action Required |
| Identify the NCR | Record NCR using Annexure # 477269040 – NCR Form |
| Evaluation | Evaluate the details to determine first the need for actions and then the level of actions required. |
| Root cause analysis (how/why did this happen?): | Investigate the root cause of the non-conformance relating to the activity, process, service, or system. |
| Correction (fix now): | Ensure that actions are taken to eliminate a detected nonconformity. |
| Corrective Action (to prevent recurrence): | Ensure that corrective actions are implemented to prevent recurrence. |
| Action Implementation | Ensure that actions are implemented in a timely manner and effective by any or all of the following: • Management review of changes • Personnel training • Documentation of implemented changes |
| Verify implementation and Review the effectiveness of corrective actions taken | Carry out an audit, inspection, review of documents etc. to determine the effectiveness of actions, and evaluate actions to ensure that nonconformities do not recur. |
| Close Out | Upon satisfaction of actions, close the NCR issue out. |
7 TRANSFER AUDITS
Applications for transfer of certification shall be treated in accordance with IAF MD2:2017, and limited to CABs accredited by JAS-ANZ for the certification of occupational health and safety management systems.
For Quality and Environment GRS will only take transfer application from companies certified by IAF signatory certification bodies.
Pre-Transfer Review
The review shall cover the following aspects as a minimum and the review and its findings shall be fully documented:
The pre-transfer review records shall be documented using Pre-Transfer Review Checklist (Annexure# 477269147).
Transfer of Certification:
8 SPECIAL AUDITS
A special visit may require to be made to the certified company’s premises in the following circumstances:
GRS shall document the outcome of its investigation.
The visit may be combined with the surveillance audit. The surveillance audit program shall include, at least the following:
9 EXPANDING THE SCOPE OF CERTIFICATION:
Certification scope can be expanded if GRS identifies any situations where the certified organisation has a need to expand the scope to meet the requirements of standards. This may be identified in following circumstances:
Clients will be notified by the auditor(s) about the potential expansion of scope and information to establish the requirements. Based upon the auditors’ comments and evidences provided by the client. GMRC will make the final decision about the scope expansion.
GRS will only expand the scope ensuring proper compliance with the requirements of the standard, and certificates will be valid with the expanded scope, and new certificates will be issued and communicated to the client.
Upon changes, the Certified Clients Register (Annexure# 477269048) will be updated accordingly, and GRS website will be updated with the latest information to make the amendment publicly accessible, and the client will be required to amend their advertising materials accordingly with the expanded scope.
10 SHORT NOTICE AUDIT:
It may be necessary for GRS to conduct audits of certified clients at short notice or unannounced to investigate complaints, or in response to changes, or as follow up on suspended clients. Short notice audits also can be conducted as a result of any adverse publicity or contravention of the conditions of certification or other information received. The special visits will be undertaken after due notice has been given and agreed between GRS and the certified company. Due care is to be taken for the following:
Independently from the involvement of the competent regulatory authority, a special audit may be necessary in the event that GRS becomes aware that there has been a serious incident related to occupational health and safety, for example, a serious accident, or a serious breach of regulation, in order to investigate if the management system has not been compromised and did function effectively. GRS shall document the outcome of its investigation using the audit report template (477269035 Assessment Report Template).
11 GRANTING CERTIFICATION:
Information for granting initial certification:
If GRS is not able to verify the implementation of corrections and corrective actions of any major nonconformity typically within six months after the last day of stage 2, GRS shall conduct another stage-2 prior to recommending certification.
Granting Certification:
Upon completion of audit activities, and subsequent independent verification of the audit recommendation, the GRS management may consider issuing the certificate of registration in favour of the client. GRS Technical Review and Granting Certification checklist (Annexure # 477269030) must be completed with satisfactory outcomes prior proceeding to the next step of certification decision.
The outcome will be notified to the client electronically. The review process may request to provide further information to finalise the certification decision.
Certification Documentation:
| Certificate Awarded To | |
| Address | |
| Standard (s) Applied | ISO 9001:2015 ISO 14001:2015 ISO 45001:2018 |
| Scope of Certification If different standards have different scope, please use the space below) | |
| Certificate Number Allocation (Must be obtained from Certificate Number Allocation Register) | |
| Standard- Certificate Number | XXXXXXX |
| Scope of Certification | XXXXXXX |
| Original Issue Date | XXXXXXX |
| Current Issue date | XXXXXXX |
| Expiry Date | XXXXXXXX |
12 MAINTAINING CERTIFICATION/RENEWING CERTIFICATION:
GRS shall make decisions on maintenance and renewal of certification based on the results of the Surveillance Audit (Annexure 477269126) /Re-certification Audit (Annexure#477269125) as well as on the results of the review of the clients’ systems over the period of certification and non-conformities; and complaints, if any, received from the beneficiaries of certification. Maintenance/Renewal of certification approval decision will be based on the outcome of the audit.
13 REFUSING CERTIFICATION:
GRS has the right to refuse certification at any stage of the certification process. The possible circumstances (any or all) are following:
Refusal process will be initiated by issuing a Letter/Notice of Refusal of Certification (Annexure # 477269061) explaining the reason of potential refusal decision and giving the client max 60 days’ notice prior issuing the final refusal letter; nevertheless. no Show-Cause notice is required if it is a payment issue (fees & payments terms and GRS management decisions applied indeed).
If the client still fails to take actions within the stipulated time, GRS will refuse to issue certificates, and communicate the final refusal decision explaining the detailed terms and conditions of refusal.
The customer may need to re-apply to GRS for Initial Certification using the Application for Registration (Annexure # 477269034). When all the reasons for the refusal have been removed and communicated to GRS. Any application received from a refused client will be processed as a new client.
14 SUSPENSION OF CERTIFICATION:
In any or all of the following circumstances, GRS may suspend the Certificate of Registration:
Not meeting the legal compliance as a part of accredited OH&SMS Certification:
Suspension Process:
Suspension process will be initiated by issuing a Suspension Notice/Letter of Suspension (Annexure # 477269061) explaining the terms and conditions giving the client an appropriate time to resolve the issue that have resulted in the suspension.
Under suspension, the client’s management system certification is temporarily invalid, and in the suspension period (in most cases, the suspension would not exceed six months), the client organisation is neither allowed to use GRS certificates in any of its business purposes nor can use any GRS or JAZANZ logos. The JASANZ Register and GRS Certified Clients Register will be updated accordingly.
The certification and authorisation for using GRS certificates and logos can only be restored once all reasons for suspension are removed, and documented evidence was provided, and satisfactorily verified within GRS. A special audit may be required, and relevant audit procedures will be applied, where needed.
Restoring of Certification:
15 WITHDRAWAL OF CERTIFICATION:
GRS may decide to withdraw the certification of a client under any or all of the following conditions:
GRS reserves the right to suspend or withdraw certification in some other certain circumstances. The following other circumstances, but not limited to, that may lead to withdrawal of certifications:
-Client’s failure to provide information on incidents such as a serious accident, or a serious breach of regulation necessitating the involvement of the competent regulatory authority shall provide grounds for the GRS to decide on the actions to be taken, including a suspension or withdrawal of the certification.
-If the client terminates the contract violating the general terms and conditions that were agreed between both parties.
-If any client goes under liquidation.
-Any other actions taken by the client that triggers loss of integrity, violates impartiality or leads any conflicts of interest.
Withdrawal Process:
If the client fails to resolve the issues that have resulted in the suspension within the stipulated time established by GRS, the certifications will be withdrawn without further notifications and will be stated in the Letter of Suspension/Withdrawal/Refusal of Certification (Annexure # 477269061).
Withdrawal means the certification is no longer valid, and upon withdrawal, all GRS certificates and logos will be permanently ceased. The client will be required to amend their advertising materials accordingly, and JASANZ Register and GRS Certified Clients Register will be updated. GRS website will be updated with the latest information to amend any relevant information publicly accessible.
The customer needs to re-apply to GRS for Initial Certification using the GRS Application for Registration when all the reasons for the withdrawal have been removed and communicated to GRS. Any application received from a withdrawn client will be processed as a new client.
16 REDUCING THE SCOPE OF CERTIFICATION:
Certification scope can be reduced if GRS identifies any situations where the certified organisation was unable to comply with the requirements of the scope. GRS shall reduce the scope of certification to exclude the parts not meeting the requirements, when the certified client has persistently or seriously failed to meet the certification requirements for those parts of the scope of certification. Any such reduction shall be in line with the requirements of the standard used for certification. This may be identified in following circumstances:
Clients will be notified by the auditor(s) about the potential reduction of scope and inadequacy of information to establish the requirements. Based upon the auditors’ comments and evidences provided by the client, GMRC will make the final decision about the scope reduction.
GRS will only reduce the unrelated part of the scope which does not comply with the requirement of the standard, and certificates will be valid with the reduced scope, and new certificates will be issued and communicated to the client.
Upon changes, the Certified Clients Register (Annexure# 477269048) and JASANZ Register will be updated accordingly, and GRS website will be updated with the latest information to make the amendment publicly accessible, and the client will be required to amend their advertising materials accordingly with the reduced scope.
17 REQUEST TO CHANGE OR MODIFICATION OF CERTIFICATION
Any request to change or modify the scope of certification shall be managed by Certification Manager and Client Manager. The client is required to complete the GRS Application Form (Annexure # 477269034) and submit to GRS. Certification Manager shall be responsible to review the application, and then may take the following necessary actions to accommodate changes.
GRS accredited certification scheme endeavours to provide a prompt, competent and impartial service to its clients. In case, an applicant, a certified company or any other interested party wishes to make a complaint in respect of GRS operations, GRS will deal with the complaint or appeal in accordance with GRS Appeals and Complaints procedure (Annexure # 477269010). A copy of the Appeals and Complaints Form available through GRS website.
The use of logos is governed by the GRS Logo Use Policy and specified conditions and instructions as available through GRS website, and provided with the certification pack to the client.
All assessments undertaken by GRS are conducted by auditors as qualified in accordance with the ISO-IEC_17021.1-2015 requirements. GRS ensures that the auditors’ expertise are matched with the nature of an applicant company’s activities under assessment. The company is advised in advance of the composition of the Audit Team and the schedule of audit for confirmation. The Team Leader is responsible for planning the audit in accordance with the requirements, assigning auditing functions to his/her team members and reporting, with authority to take final decisions in respect of the interpretation of the applicable requirements of the standard as well as make recommendation regarding grant of certification based upon a review of the level of compliance of the systems in operation.
The applicant company is responsible for providing GRS auditors an access to its relevant facilities and records, appointing a responsible person to co-ordinate the arrangements for audit and to provide all resources required by the audit team for performing their duties.
The client also is required to notify GRS about any significant events without delay. This includes but is not limited to fatal incidents, serious injuries, occupational disease or legal action by a regulatory authority as well as any OHS related findings by third parties, where applicable, at the time of surveillance or recertification assessment of.
All audits are conducted in complete confidentiality of the company’s activities. GRS office staff and auditing personnel are obliged by a confidentiality agreement to safeguard the client’s classified information, confidentiality policy and signed agreement, that are enforceable to ensure confidentiality across GRS business.
GRS and any part of its operation does not offer or provide internal audits to its certified clients. GRS does not certify any management system on which it provided internal audits within two years following the end of internal audits.
GRS does not market its activities as linked with the activities of the organisation that provides management systems consultancy.
GRS shall take action to respond to any threats to its impartiality arising from the actions of other persons, bodies or organisations.
The impartiality aspect of GRS business will be managed and maintained by implementing Impartiality Policy, Managing Impartiality procedure and also through the ongoing Impartiality Committee.
At any time of the certification cycle the Accreditation Board’s auditor may accompany the GRS audit team for the evaluation of the GRS auditors. Also, the Accreditation Board auditors may visit personally without any representative from GRS, in both the cases the organisation is liable to allow them to audit their systems and verify the documents related to the management systems information.
To obtain a copy of our General Terms and Conditions, please send us an E-mail to certification@grscertification.com or please give us a call 1300 007 477.
