Once your application has been processed, we will contact you to arrange a systems validation audit to assess the company’s WHSMS against the FSC’s Audit Criteria.
The arrangements for the systems validation audit will be negotiated with the company and it may be undertaken virtually or at a company’s premises. The audit is a desktop gap analysis of the company’s WHSMS against the FSC Audit Criteria.
Following the systems validation audit, you will be provided with a detailed report describing where the criteria has been met and detailing any gaps that have been identified. The report is usually provided 5 to 10 business days after the audit.
The systems validation audit will result in one of the following outcomes:
- The head contractor builder’s documented WHSMS is assessed as suitable to progress to an on-site accreditation audit, or
- Gaps in the WHSMS are identified such that the head contractor builder does not demonstrate adequate compliance with the FSC Audit Criteria to warrant an on-site accreditation audit.
In the case of outcome 1 above and noting that 100% compliance with all systems validation audit criteria is not required to proceed to an on-site audit, a rolling systems validation audit may be implemented with the view to reducing the number of potential corrective action reports arising from the on-site audit and increasing the likelihood of the applicant achieving accreditation.
In the case of outcome 2 above, a rolling systems validation audit will be implemented to assist the head contractor builder to identify and remedy system gaps so they can proceed to the next step in the accreditation process as quickly as possible.
The FSO who conducted the audit will be available to the applicant to:
- debrief the builder about the WHSMS gaps that have been reported on in greater detail
- answer questions the builder may have about the gap findings
- provide general de-identified examples on what accredited builders have in place to meet FSC’s Audit Criteria
- direct the builder to available resources (for example industry and regulatory publications, tools)
- review updates made to the WHSMS and processes and confirm whether the updates now meet the FSC Audit Criteria.
The ongoing support will be arranged between the OFSC, FSO and the head contractor builder. FSOs can provide up to 40 hours of support to applicants as outlined above. The 40 hours is the time spent by the FSO to prepare, support the applicant and undertake follow-up administration. It does not include time spent at audits. This support is not a consulting service and FSOs are unable to advise on, or draft, WHSMS revisions. This 40 hours of FSO support is free of charge.