General Conditions
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1.Tasks of ACI
1-a) ACI undertakes to treat all the information Confidential, regarding the client’s company, to which it has been granted access, in accordance with the agreed confidentiality rules. Provision of documents for accreditation bodies within the framework of monitoring of the certification body.
1-b) ACI conducts certification and surveillance audits according to the requirements of the applicable standards. The requirements of the standards referred to, in the offer, and those of the regulators, on which ACI has been accredited.
1-c) ACI informs its certified clients, if there are any changes in the certification procedure which affect the clients, directly.
1-d) ACI informs its certified clients, regarding any changes in the certification procedure which affect holders of certificates, directly.
1-e) ACI keeps and publishes a list of the certified companies, also stating the scope of their certification.
1-f) Complaints of third parties regarding the management systems of ACI certified clients, are recorded in writing, checked and then dealt with.
1-g) ACI records in writing, the complaints and objections of the client with regard to its certification procedure, checks the facts of the case and investigates the complaints & objections as per the complaints & appeal procedure, published on ACI website. https://acerta-certification.com.au/
2.Tasks of the client
2-a) As per the accreditation rules for a certification Audit, the client shall provide all documents which are relevant to the management system in their current form (manual, procedures, process descriptions, other relevant documents, records regarding internal audits and management reviews which have been performed). The audit takes place at the client’s premises. In the case of all other procedures, the relevant documents must be provided in prior to the audit, so ACI may review them properly before conducting the audit at the client’s premises.
2-b) During the audit, the client allows the auditor team to review the records relevant to the scope of the audit, and allows the team access to the organization units of the company which are affected.
2-c) The client names a contact person from the company management, who is responsible for the execution of the audit.
2-d) The client is obliged to inform the certification body regarding all important changes, which may occur after the issuance of certificates or extensions or additions to certificates, immediately in writing. (for example, changes in the legal and organizational form of the company, the economic or ownership situation of the company, the organization and the management, the contact address and the locations, the scope of the certified management system as well as other important changes to the management system and the processes).
2-e) The client has the obligation to record all objections in relation to the management system and its effectiveness, along with corrective actions and their results, and to document these to the ACI auditor in the audit.
2-f) In order to avoid situations of any conflict of interest between the certification body and any member of the consultancy company, the client shall inform the certification body of any consultancy or advisory services, in the area of management systems., which were used before or after signing of the contract.
2-g) The client has the right to object on the auditors nominated by the certification body, giving the reason of objection.
2-h) If the procedure of combined certification of management systems is used, the client undertakes to fulfill all conditions relating to combined certification of management systems and to inform the certification body immediately, in case of non-fulfillment.
3. Arrangements regarding Occupational Health and Safety by the Client
3-a) Before conducting certification audits, the client shall provide information regarding risks, hazards and stress which could originate from the working environment in the client’s factory or at the client’s premises.
3-b) The client shall have sufficient arrangements in place for first aid, alarm and rescue, and shall name contacts and responsibilities in this regard.
3-c) The client shall ensure that employees/auditors of ACI only perform work when accompanied by an employee of the client.
3-d) The client shall supply any necessary personal protective equipment
4. Arrangements regarding Occupational Health and Safety by the Certification body
4-a) The auditors of the certification body may only undertake work, if the circumstances and the working environment are safe. The auditors are entitled to refuse to perform the work, in the presence of unacceptable hazards / risks / stresses.
5. Validity of Use of the Certificate and Certification Mark / Logo
5-a) The validity of the certificate begins with the date when the certificate is issued. The term of the certificate depends on the particular standard on which the audit is based, but may not exceed a maximum of 3 years. This assumes, that based on the date of the certification audit, regular surveillance audits are performed in the company according to the specific accreditation rules or certification standards (e.g. yearly, half-yearly) with a positive result.
5-b) A surveillance audit at short notice or un-announced may also become necessary in certain justified cases. It is the discretion of the certification body to decide on the necessity for an un-announced audit.
5-c) Approval for use of the certified mark/logo, only applies for the area of the client’s company which has been certified. Use of the mark for activities which lie outside the scope of the certificate, is not permitted.
5-d) The certified mark/logo may only be used in the form which is provided by ACI.
5-e) It is not permitted to make use of the test mark on laboratory test reports, calibrationcertificates or inspection reports or certificates for persons, as these documents are classifiedas products in this connection.
5-f) It is not permitted to make use of the certified mark/ logo on laboratory test reports, calibration certificates or inspection reports or certificates for persons, as these documents are not classified as products in this connection. The client is responsible to ensure the correct use of certified mark/logo, as mentioned in this clause.
6. Ending of use of Certified Mark/ Logo
6-a) The client understands and confirms that the right of the client to use the certified mark/logo and to claim ownership of the certificate, ends automatically with immediate effect, at the expiry date mentioned on the certificate, (unless the certificate is renewed by ACI), without the need for an express statement of termination by ACI.
