Statement of commitment
The leadership of Hexa Certifications Limited understands that impartiality is essential to carrying out management system certification. We are committed to managing conflicts of interest and ensuring the objectivity of every audit and certification decision we make.
How we identify and manage threats
We maintain a documented analysis of risks to impartiality, reviewed at least annually and whenever our activities or relationships change. The main threats we consider are:
- Self-interest, such as financial dependence on a single client.
- Self-review, such as auditing a system our people helped to design.
- Familiarity, where long relationships could reduce scepticism.
- Intimidation, where pressure from a client could influence an outcome.
What we do not do
- We do not provide management system consultancy to clients we certify.
- We do not offer internal audits for certified clients.
- We do not market our services as linked to any consultancy organisation.
- We do not certify another certification body's management system.
- We do not assign auditors to clients they have advised or worked for in the previous two years.
Separation of audit and decision
Certification decisions are taken by competent people who were not involved in the audit. Audit reports, evidence of corrective action and recommendations are reviewed before any decision to grant, maintain, renew, extend, reduce, suspend or withdraw certification.
Independent oversight
An impartiality committee, made up of people representing interests affected by certification, reviews our risk analysis and how it is applied. The committee can challenge decisions and report concerns.
Training and pre-assessment
Our training courses are public and generic, not designed for a single client. Pre-assessments report findings against the standard without recommending solutions. Both are managed so they do not compromise certification activities.
Raising a concern
Anyone can raise a concern about our impartiality by contacting us. Concerns are investigated independently and can also be submitted through our complaints and appeals process.