The audit process for Kiwa's COVID-19 preventive measures quality mark in 5 steps
The COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak has major consequences worldwide for the way people work, recreate and organise their social lives. After the complete or partial lockdowns of spring 2020, organisations are picking up the thread again and looking for opportunities to continue operations within the guidelines. Kiwa's quality mark for COVID-19 preventive measures helps in this respect, by creating clarity and trust. Below we explain in 5 steps what the audit process of this certificate looks like.
1. Introduction
If your organisation wishes to qualify for the Kiwa COVID-19 preventive measure quality mark, please contact Kiwa. You can call us on +31 (0)88 998 49 00 or you can fill in the online quotation form.
An exploratory meeting is then scheduled. In this meeting we will explain what your organisation needs to meet in order to qualify for certification and you can tell us more about your organisation. In this way we clearly agree in advance what we are going to test, how we are going to do it and how much time it will take.
Because the Kiwa COVID-19 quality mark is based on the structure of international ISO standards, it can be perfectly combined with the audit of other management systems for quality (ISO 9001), environment (ISO 14001, ISO 50001) and health & safety (ISO 45001).
2. Self-assessment
Kiwa has developed a so-called framework standard: this sets out the requirements that every organisation must meet. Once an organisation has made an agreement with Kiwa, contact will take place to take stock of which specific organisation and sector-related guidelines apply additionally. On the basis of this additional information Kiwa will process this so that it can work with a tailor-made standard. You can read more about this in the article ‘Interested in obtaining the COVID-19 quality mark? These are the requirements!’.
After the introduction, you will have a clear picture of the elements on which your organisation is assessed. You can then test your organisation on these elements yourself to see whether you are ready for the assessment by Kiwa.
3. Assessment by Kiwa
Is your organisation ready for the assessment? Then a Kiwa auditor will perform the assessment. The core of the audits is hygiene, safety and communication. During the introduction, it was determined whether an organisation consists of several components, so that there is clarity about what the auditors specifically look at. The number of components partly determines the amount of time spent. The minimum time spent is one day.
Although checks will be made to ensure all requirements are defined, the majority of time will be spent assessing the shop floor. After all, this is where it can be assessed whether the requirements have been properly implemented and are being enforced. In this way, it can also be assessed whether it is clearly visible to the customer that it is safe to use the services offered.
4. Allocation
If your organisation meets all the requirements, you will receive a declaration of conformity. Your organisation will also be included in the register of Kiwa's COVID-19 preventive measures quality mark. This register lists all organisations that meet the requirements of the quality mark. In addition, you will receive a sticker with which you can visibly show that your organisation complies with the requirements for COVID-19 preventive measures that apply to the sector.
5. Reassessment
As a certificate holder, you have the right to use a quality mark. You are, of course, obliged to work according to the requirements of the quality mark even after it has been obtained. After the initial assessment a Kiwa auditor will visit your company every six months (announced and unannounced) to check whether your organisation still meets the requirements and whether you can retain the quality mark.
Interested in learning more about the benefits of certification? Read the article ‘The advantages of the Kiwa quality mark COVID-19 preventive measures’.