May 2020

With the announcement this week that more businesses will be allowed to open soon I wanted to take this opportunity to update you on how the QED team will continue to support clients in the new COVID-19 aware environment.

I am really pleased that we have been able to remotely support clients during the past couple of months.  The majority of our clients use the HubProActive (HPA) cloud based Management System and this has enabled us to undertake remote internal audits and take clients through external certification audits using a combination of the HubProActive portal and Zoom.  Forgive me for blowing a trumpet or two as I tell you HPA has received lots of positive feedback at external audit and certainly helps the process run smoothly.  Always good to get positive feedback (and blow a trumpet or two!).

Our intention is to continue to follow a ‘virtual first’ approach for internal audits, management reviews and general management system support wherever possible. For some audits there may still be a need to undertake certain activities on site. We are implementing the QED COVID-19 risk assessment and management plan and the recommended safety measures will be followed by our team to ensure risk factors are minimised and HSE guidelines are followed. Where it is not possible to undertake a site visit safely e.g. with adequate social distancing measures, we will postpone that part of the audit until it is safe to do so.  We will always liaise with you first. Certification bodies are also allowing remote audits where good systems such as HPA exist.  There will be a need for interviews on Zoom (or similar) to be undertaken and possibly a guided walkaround of site using a mobile or tablet. 

More than ever in challenging times, ISO certification is a differentiator and we are totally committed to helping you maintain your certification.

Please do make contact with your QED consultant to talk through where you are on this journey and let’s plan how to maintain your ISO programme.

Email at info@qedms.co.uk

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