ISO 9001 Is No Guarantee of Technical Competence

It is important to specify  the appropriate requirements on suppliers according to the type of work required. For example, you can  be confident in the technical competence of an asbestos surveying organisation if it holds UKAS accreditation to ISO/IEC 17020, the internationally recognised standard that sets out the requirements for organisations performing inspection. UKAS accredited certification of a supplier’s management system to ISO 9001 tells you that they have arrangements for managing the quality of their product or service,  but it doesn’t relate to their technical competence.*

Maylarch Hold UKAS ISO:17020 Accreditation

There are many companies that provide consultancy and surveying services, sometimes at what initially appears to be at low cost. However, before commissioning an organisation to undertake such work it is important to consider the risks:

● Are you confident that the organisation has the technical competence to undertake the work in question?

● Are you satisfied that the organisation has the resources to do the work?

● Are the surveyors working  to suitable codes of conduct to ensure  inspections are carried out impartially and with integrity?

● Are you confident that the organisation has an adequate quality system  in place?

● Are you satisfied that safeguards are in place,  e.g.  suitable liability insurance, in case difficulties arise?*

“HSE strongly recommends that an accredited surveyor is used to carry out complex type 1, 2 and 3 surveys”

“The reasons for using a UKAS-accredited company are manifold.  Firstly, it is a way of ensuring the quality of the work. Secondly, we are dealing with the management of asbestos in schools and offices, and so there are clearly reputational issues at stake as well.  Using a UKAS accredited organisation is not going to necessarily increase the price of procuring a particular service.  A UKAS accredited organisation will offer value for money.

The cost of getting it wrong and re-working is phenomenally expensive.  This would not be the best use of rate payers’ money.  It is much cheaper to get it right first time.”

Hampshire County Council

**All information has been provided as supplied courtesy of UKAS – http://www.ukas.com/media-centre/promotional-material-and-downl/brochures.asp