Effective, fast, trouble free certification-
9001, 14001, 45001 Standards
SS Safety provide professional, qualified advice and assistance allowing for effective, fast, trouble free certification.
We will work with you every step of the way, explaining what is needed and why, developing internal knowledge and awareness of the clauses and required actions. We are here to support your business through all stages and maintenance of the system(s) post certification as required.
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SS Safety create an ISO management framework for your business promoting legal compliance and ISO conformance. Understanding your business and integrating the right solution provides a system that becomes part of day to day business,
If you are new to ISO standards or the certification process you may wish to look over the "about ISO standards" directly below this section which gives some detail of the advantages gained by incorporating an ISO management system.
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Alternatively you can use the "certification process button" to read a guide on the step by step certification process.
Benefits of ISO standard certification
9001:2015
ISO 9001 is an internationally recognized standard for Quality Management Systems (QMS). It provides a framework for businesses to ensure they meet customer and regulatory requirements, enhance customer satisfaction, and continuously improve processes. key benefits of implementing ISO 9001:
1. Improved Quality and Consistency
ISO 9001 helps organizations standardize their processes, ensuring consistency and quality in products and services. This leads to fewer defects, higher performance and improved customer satisfaction.
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2. Increased Customer Satisfaction
By focusing on meeting customer requirements and improving processes, companies can consistently deliver high-quality products and services, leading to greater customer satisfaction and loyalty.
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3. Enhanced Efficiency and Cost Savings
ISO 9001 encourages continuous improvement, which helps organizations streamline their operations, reduce waste, and minimize inefficiencies, ultimately leading to cost savings.
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4. Better Risk Management
ISO 9001 emphasizes risk-based thinking, allowing businesses to identify potential risks and implement proactive measures.
14001:2015
ISO 14001 is an internationally recognized standard for Environmental Management Systems (EMS). It provides organizations with a framework to improve their environmental performance, reduce waste, and ensure compliance with environmental regulations. key benefits of implementing ISO 14001:
1. Improved Environmental Performance:
ISO 14001 helps organizations systematically manage and reduce their environmental impact, promoting energy efficiency, waste reduction, and responsible resource management.
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2. Legal and Regulatory Compliance:
By following ISO 14001 standards, organizations can ensure they comply with relevant environmental laws and regulations, helping to avoid fines and legal issues.
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3. Cost Savings:
​Through better resource management and waste reduction, organizations can lower operational costs.
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4. Enhanced Reputation and Credibility:
​Achieving ISO 14001 certification can enhance an organization’s reputation among customers, stakeholders, and regulators, showing that the company is committed to sustainability.​​​
45001:2018
ISO 45001 is an international standard for Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) management systems. Implementing ISO 45001 offers a variety of benefits for organizations, employees, and other stakeholders. Key benefits of ISO 45001:
1. Improved Health and Safety
​ISO 45001 helps organizations identify, assess, and control health and safety risks, leading to a safer and healthier work environment. This reduces the risk of accidents, injuries, and illnesses among employees and risk to third parties interacting with process.
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​2. Legal and Regulatory Compliance​
ISO 45001 helps ensure that an organization complies with local and international health and safety regulations. This can reduce the risk of fines, penalties, and legal actions related to safety breaches.
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3.Improved Company Reputation
Being ISO 45001 certified demonstrates an organization’s commitment to the health and safety of its workforce. This can enhance the organization’s reputation among customers, employees, and other stakeholders, leading to improved trust and loyalty.
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4. Increased Employee Engagement and Morale
​When employees see that their health and safety are a priority, it boosts morale, fosters a positive work culture, and encourages active participation in health and safety initiatives.
ISO Certification Process
Understand the business
The first step to ISO management system certification and providing the right service is to understand what you want.
The right standards
SS Safety provide ISO management system design, consultancy and internal audit for UKAS and non-UKAS certification. Choosing the right accreditation body in addition to which ISO standards is vital for achieving your business goals.
Document and process development
What documents do you have and do they reflect the process you want and what meets ISO standards? Essential to your strategy for quick effective management system development or for those with certification, maintenance and improvement.
Coaching and awareness
Years of experience in ISO management system consultation. Representing and learning from a diverse range of clients and industries. Our knowledge is to share.
Internal Audit
Performance evaluation takes many forms, SS Safety will support this process through scheduled internal audits designed to cover every clause within the ISO standards and certification you hold / wish to hold.
Stage 1 Third Party External Audit
This is for companies developing their ISO management systems for UKAS accredited first certification. This is not a necessary step for non-UKAS but may be beneficial dependant on the company.
Stage 2 Certification Audit
Stage 2 audit determines if your management system is effectively implemented, maintained and meets the requirement of the ISO management system. SS safety will make sure that it does!​
Certification And Beyond
Congratulations!! Your business is ISO certified to one or several standards. Enjoy the benefits but remember that the standards are about continual improvement. The is always more to be done.
Process in detail
Understand The Business
ISO certification starts with a conversation. Good consultancy requires your initial input. You may have experience in ISO management system certification or this may be the first step. Either way, SS Safety will be at hand to ensure that the structure is stress free and simple. We pride ourselves in customer relations, there will always be a hands on requirement from you or members of your company with suitable authority however we will guide you through the process, help with creation of required documentation and ensure that you have a full understanding of each step and why it is needed.
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It is important to understand that the ISO standards provide a foundation and framework to build on but the management system being created is bespoke to your business. It cannot be any other way, these internationally recognised standards fit every company no matter what the size or industry.
The Right Standards
Some of the benefits of ISO 9001:2015, 14001:2015 and 45001:2018 have been detailed in the section Benefits of ISO certification above. We would be happy to discuss this with you further and answer any questions you may have during our opening conversation or by e-mail.
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What is UKAS?
UKAS is the UK's governing body for ISO accreditation, UKAS audit companies who issue certification to ensure the ISO management system standards are met.
This does not mean that a company who is not UKAS accredited does not meet the same standards, it just means that more care is required to ensure the company provides the right service for you and your business needs.
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As a rule however UKAS accredited companies hold the following benefits:
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High credibility – More trusted by clients, stakeholders, and regulators.
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International recognition – Accepted in global markets.
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Traceability & assurance – Certification has been issued under strict, impartial oversight.
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UKAS is often required in tenders (especially government or large contracts).
Document And Process Development
First Steps To Certification.
You may not have certification but we will identify what you do have in place, provide a gap analysis and a strategy for ISO management system certification. SS Safety have successfully represented companies in this process since 2017. We will provide the templates, the structure and the guidance.
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We will break down each clause of the standard, detail exactly what is needed and work with you through design, development, audit and certification.
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Management System Maintenance
If you already hold certification to ISO standards we will conduct a document review and present a strategy to promote continual improvement including scheduled internal audits and management review. Our team are CQI & IRCA members who will ensure effective positive change to whichever ISO standards you hold.
Coaching And Awareness
Not only do our consultants understand ISO 9001:2015, 14001:2015 and 45001:2018 standards but have a depth of industry knowledge having working with successful developing and established businesses in industries including utilities, manufacturing, construction and waste recycling.
Our aim is that when awarded ISO certification you will have an increased awareness to the full process. Understanding the process, the methods and clause requirements allows ownership and company development of your own systems whilst saving money. We will always be there to support, advise and help develop your management system as much as you request but flexibility and ownership will be yours.
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Internal Audit
Internal audit is a necessary requirement of ISO standard certification. When managed and conducted correctly internal audits identify areas where your management system requires improvement throughout your ISO management systems. SS Safety take a process approach to internal audit rather than a clause by clause approach. This improves value and understanding of the audit and its purpose within your business.
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Non-conformance is often, if not always a failure to meet your own internal process, procedure or policy standards. Identifying these non-conformances allows a company to investigate and assess why the non-conformance occurred. Like accident investigation root cause analysis is vital. Find the source of a problem, correct it and prevent it happening again.
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The process of internal audit provides information on the current position of the company, final ISO certification cannot be attained until internal audits have been conducted on the full scope of the ISO management system.
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For companies wishing to attain UKAS accredited certification internal audit will provide an overview of the management system development, providing confidence that you are ready for stage 1 external audit.
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Stage 1 (third party external audit)
UKAS, the UK ISO accreditation body require a stage 1 audit before the stage 2 certification audit.
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The purpose of a UKAS ISO Stage 1 audit is to evaluate an organization's readiness for the full Stage 2 certification audit for an ISO management system standard (like ISO 9001, ISO 14001 or 45001),
Stage 1 audit typically involves:
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Review of Documentation:
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The auditor checks whether your management system documentation meets the standard’s requirements (e.g., quality manual, procedures, policies, records).
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This includes verifying that key elements like the scope, processes, and interactions are clearly defined.
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Evaluate Site-Specific Conditions:
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Understand your organization’s location, operations, and context to plan the Stage 2 audit effectively.
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Assess Readiness for Stage 2:
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The auditor checks if your system is implemented well enough to move to Stage 2.
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This includes evaluating internal audits and management reviews to see if they’re being done properly.
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Identify Gaps or Nonconformities Early:
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Helps spot major issues or non-conformities before the main audit, giving you a chance to fix them first.
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Planning for Stage 2:
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Agree on the audit plan and scope for the Stage 2 audit.
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On completion a date will be set for stage 2 dependant on the findings and any work still to be done on your ISO management system.
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Stage 2 (certification audit)
SS Safety will represent you through all external audit stages, it is often the case that it is a simple lack of understanding between the third party auditor and the company that leads to a non-conformance. Understanding your ISO management system and understanding the requirements of the the ISO standard and ISO auditor ensure achievement of the certification you deserve.
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Some examples of stage 2 audit criteria include:
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Review of processes and procedures: The auditor checks how well your processes align with the standard and your documented system.
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Interviews with staff: To verify that employees understand and follow the system.
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Evidence of implementation: The auditor wants to see real examples — not just policies, but records, logs, outputs, etc.
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Effectiveness checks: They assess if the system is doing what it’s supposed to do and driving improvement.
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The audit duration and the structure of the audit team will depend on the size and complexity of the business. This could be one auditor or a team of auditors for several days. On completion of the audit a final meeting will be held with relevant senior managers within the business to discuss how well the audit has gone and if certification has been recommended, there may be non-conformities or opportunities for improvement identified. These may need to be rectified before certification or before the next surveillance audit.
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The audit team cannot give certification, they will put a recommendation with a supporting report to their certification body (company) and after assessment a decision will be made. It is usual that the recommendation is upheld but cannot be guaranteed.
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ISO Standard Certification And Beyond
Maintenance of the ISO management system is required. ISO certification is not just one audit.
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The certification lasts for three years however the external auditing body will conduct yearly surveillance audits to ensure ongoing compliance. Surveillance audits will focus on:
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If you are following the processes and any improvements documented.
- If any non-conformities from previous audits have been addressed
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If the system remains suitable looking at the scope and company change.
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Internal audit, non-conformance and management review.
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Note - Failing to maintain your management system or nonconformities can lead to:
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Suspension
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Withdrawal of the certificate
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SS Safety will always be there to support the maintenance of your systems and ensure smooth, simple surveillance audit conformity and successful recertification.
