Manufacturing and Engineering Magazine Volume 425 - January 2016 | Page 60

CIVIL ENGINEERING STEEL CONSTRUCTION CERTIFICATION SCHEME DRIVING PERFORMANCE The SCCS was established in the early 1980s to provide a Quality Management Systems certification service for steelwork contracting organisations The Steel Construction Certification Scheme continues to drive performance in the steelwork industry. The scheme, which assesses and certifies the capabilities of steelwork contractors and associated companies against International Management System standards, has been established since 1986. Since its inception it has remained committed in its pursuit of driving standards and securing best practice across design, manufacture and erection processes and associated procedures and practices in the steelwork construction industry. Quality management systems operated by the certified contractors are formally assessed to ensure compliance with the requirements of ISO 9001:2008. Each certificate issued is valid for three years during which period SCCS conducts regular surveil- 4 58 lance audits to monitor continued compliance with the certified management system. Meanwhile, environmental management systems operated by the certified contractors are formally assessed to ensure compliance with the requirements of ISO 14001:2004, and occupational health and safety management systems operated by the certified contractors are formally assessed to ensure compliance with the requirements of BS OHSAS 18001:2007. Assessment and certification is governed by an independent certification board whose members are selected from each sector of the steel construction industry. The board provides the essential technical links to ensure that the correct interpretation of standards, new technologies and work practices are applied to assessment and certification. MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING MAGAZINE