Rank: Forum user 
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Hi All
The company I work for has 18001, 14001 and 9001 accreditation through an IAC registered company.
We have been asked by one of our clients to "upgrade" to a UKAS accreditation.
Does anyone have any recommendations on who to use? I'm looking for a good balance in support and keen price.
Many thanks in advance.
Paul
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I always understood that UKAS accreditation could only be obtained directly from.......... UKAS? www.ukas.com
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Rank: Super forum user
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In one sense Ron is right. Having had some experience of UKAS accreditation when involved with the accreditation committee of the Royal Society of Public Health, it is UKAS who audit what you have and whether you comply with their standards. We did not, but you could perhaps find someone who will advise you on what you need to do, although UKAS were helpful on this.
Chris
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Rank: Forum user
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Hi All,
Is there really a need for accreditation, I'm sure if the people delivering the courses are fully qualified and with relevant experience then that is more than suffice or have I got it wrong ?
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Rank: Forum user
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ISO/OHSAS standards can be 'certified' against by any number of organisations, but the ones with the most credablility/recognition are those accredited by UKAS (as they audit the auditors).
If you visit the UKAS website it'll give you a list of providers - the only proviso I'd add is that as you're in Construction it may be worth ensuring they're a member of SSIP also as other third party bodies (e.g. CHAS) only accept certification from other members of SSIP.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Had to search this one since didn't recognise the initials IAC - International Accreditation Council based - I believe in Middle East. (Note to all - don't assume that everybody recognises acronyms) Seems there is some debate here in UK about who should be allowed to accredite aganist standards. UKAS is the de facto UK body and thus it does not seem unreasonable for a customer to stipulate that your standards should be subject to UKAS overview/accreditation. Have a look at this link http://www.endsreport.co...ument-over-accreditationPhil
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I am not sure I understand what is bei ng said here.
If you have accreditation to 18001 or whatever, you have accreditation. Period. The whole ethos of these schemes is that they have STANDARDS.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Paul
There seems to be some confusion here between being accredited by UKAS and being certified to a standard. If you have been certified to a standard like OHSAS 18001 etc you are certified and there is no “better” standard to be obtained from UKAS. The UKAS accreditation is what companies that apply the standard aim for, so unless you are intending to certify other companies to a particular standard there is no need for you to be accredited by UKAS or anybody else.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I think the issue is whether the independent auditing body that provides your accreditation is itself assessed as competent to do that. A UKAS accreditation provides added assurance, over and above their own claims of competence.
For example, one issue with OHSAS18001 accreditation is whether the auditors have professional OSH competences as well as their required auditing competences. The IOSH position has been, for some time, that they need both (though only within the audit team if there is more than one auditor). As all the deliverables from all such MS audits are now targeted at recommending reasonable improvements, rather than just compliance with the relevant Standard (a welcome change from the original ISO MS Standards), it's vital that OSH-MS auditors have assured competences in the discipline - so they can recommend realistic good practices that will further ensure OSH risks are As Low as Reasonably Practicable (ALARP).
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Rank: Super forum user
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Paul, it is not clear from your post whether you have been required to "upgrade" to a UKAS accredited certification body for auditing and then certifying your organisation to all 3 "standards", i.e. OHSAS 18001, ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 or is it with reference to a training provider? Generally, you are unlikely to be offered ISO 9001 & ISO 14001 certification by a non-UKAS accredited certification body, because that is the requirement of ISO Standard. However, currently, OHSAS 18001 IS NOT an ISO Standard, therefore there is NO mandatory requirement for any certification bodies to be accredited by UKAS for issuing OHSAS 18001 certificates. This is likely to change when ISO published and ISO standard for Occupational Health & safety Management, in a few years time. The larger certification bodies are accredited by UKAS for OHSAS 18001, but this has been a slow process. It is my understanding that one of the biggest barriers for UKAS accreditation is the requirement for "Competent Lead Auditors" and that is no simple matter as the UKAS accreditation also identifies the sectors that a certification body can issue based on its UKAS accreditation! The current list of Health and Safety Management Systems Accredited Bodies by UKAS is at:- http://www.ukas.com/abou...-schedules-H&SMS.asphttp://www.ukas.com/abou...ation/accredited-bodies/The above list has the UKAS certificate with details of the scope of accreditation The number of UKAS accredited certification bodies for Health and Safety Management Systems is about one third (34) compared to those that are UKAS accredited for Quality Management Systems (92) ( refer to:-
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Rank: Super forum user
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I also clarify that the accreditation of Certification Bodies need not be resticted to UKAS, but it can be any other nationally recognised accrediation body
UKAS and its other national counterparts are recognised internationally through European and world multilateral recognition agreements. This recognition enables government to use accredited bodies to meet obligations under world trading agreements e.g. compliance with EU Directives and the WTO TBT (World Trade Organisation Technical Barriers to Trade) Agreement. They also represents their respective countries in the International Accreditation Forum (IAF).
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Rank: Super forum user
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To add to Ian's posting, we've had at least one 18001 audit where the lack of health and safety qualifications of the audit team, meant that our deliverables on a project jumped through the hoops as the deliverables existed, but where the quality of the content was absolute rubbish.
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Rank: Super forum user
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The Ends report article highlights the problems associated with Certification bodies accredited by organisations that have do not have jurisdiction, either through national legislation or through recognised international organisations. It is very easy nowadays to set up a website that may provide a semblance of recognition and other accolades, but only those who are informed will know, otherwsie we are subject to mis-selling!
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Rank: Forum user
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I think that there is an easy answer...
There are various 9,14 and 1800 certification bodies who are not UKAS accredited.
As that means they are basically unregulated -- and normally rubbish but do give recognisable badges then some clients eg MOD will only recognise that you have achieved the ISO standard if the certification is given by a UKAS accredited certification body..
I heop that helps
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