Policies

CertFast, LLC. Policies

Policy on Appeals

Periodically, certified clients and/or relevant interested parties may not agree with nonconformities identified by auditors, or decisions made by CertFast related to granting, refusing, suspending, or withdrawing certification. Certified clients and/or relevant interested parties have the right to formally appeal nonconformities or certification decisions. CertFast maintains a process for receiving, recording, tracking, validating, investigating, and making decisions on appeals.

Formal appeals must be received in writing within fourteen (14) calendar days from the incident. CertFast will acknowledge receipt of the appeal and conduct appropriate investigations as necessary to determine the validity of the appeal and any needed actions. The appellant will be notified of any progress and results related to the appeal. CertFast will give the appellant formal notice of the end of the appeals-handling process, and CertFast will ensure that any decisions related to the appeal are made and approved by individuals not previously involved in the appeal. As needed, CertFast can defer to, or obtain input and guidance from their independent, impartiality committee. CertFast attempts to address and close any valid complaints within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of the appeal.
All documented appeals are subject to requirements of confidentiality, as they relate to the appellant and to the subject of the appeal. Actions related to an appeal will never result in discriminatory actions against the appellant.

Contact CertFast for any questions or concerns at info@certfast.com.

Policy on Complaints

CertFast maintains a process for receiving, evaluating, and making decisions on complaints. The process includes methods for recording, tracking, validating, investigating, and deciding what actions should be taken in response to the issue.

If any client has a concern with CertFast’s process, procedures, or conduct, including any representatives of CertFast in the conduct of their activities, they may file a complaint at any time. The complaint must be received in writing. CertFast will acknowledge receipt of the complaint and conduct appropriate investigations as necessary to determine the validity of the complaint and any needed actions. When appropriate, the complainant will be notified of any progress, results, and/or decisions related to the complaint. All valid complaints are documented, including identified actions. CertFast attempts to address and close any valid complaints within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of the complaint.

Should CertFast ever receive a complaint against a certified client, the investigation will include a consideration of the effectiveness of the client’s management system. A valid complaint about a certified client will be referred to the certified client in question at an appropriate time. Relevant parties will be notified of any progress, results, and/or decisions, as appropriate. CertFast shall, together with the certified client and the complainant, determine if the subject of the complaint and its resolution needs to be made public. CertFast attempts to address and close any valid complaints within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of the complaint.

All documented complaints are subject to requirements of confidentiality, as they relate to the complainant and the subject of the complaint. Actions related to a complaint will never result in discriminatory actions against the complainant.

Contact CertFast for any questions or concerns at info@certfast.com.

 
Certificate information

CertFast maintains and makes publicly accessible a directory of valid certifications. Please contact us to inquire about specific certifications including validity, suspension, or withdrawal.

Policy on Certification Marketing and Use of Marks/Logos

Once you receive your certification, you may want to share your achievement with the public, which is understandable, and greatly encouraged! When you receive your certificate from CertFast, you will also receive some marks/logos that you can use to promote and market your certification. Keep in mind, however, that there are certain requirements related to how you can use, market, and advertise your certification, including the use of our marks/logos. Please reference our Certification Marketing Requirements procedure to ensure you are marketing/advertising your certification correctly.

Impartiality

CertFast is committed to impartiality in all certification activities. We take any potential conflict of interest with the utmost seriousness and ensure the guidelines set forth in ISO/IEC 17021-1, (Conformity Assessment – Requirements for Bodies Providing Audit and Certification of Management Systems) are upheld in every part of the organization. We do not make any statements that certification will be easier, faster, or less expensive depending on relationships with consultancies who are engaged in the implementation or maintenance of the client’s management system. We make certification decisions based on objective evidence. All employees or those working on behalf of CertFast are required to comply with these guidelines as well.

SUSPENDING, WITHDRAWING OR REDUCING THE SCOPE OF CERTIFICATION

CertFast LLC has a policy and procedure for suspension, withdrawal, or reduction of the scope of certification, and has specified the subsequent actions to be taken.

CertFast LLC suspends certification in cases when, for example:

1. The client’s certified management system has persistently or seriously failed to meet the certification requirements, including requirements for the effectiveness of the management system.
2. The certified client does not allow surveillance or recertification audits to be conducted at the required frequency or has failed to pay the due fees.
3. The certified client has voluntarily requested a suspension.

Under suspension, the client’s management system certification is temporarily invalid. CertFast LLC has enforceable arrangements with its clients to ensure that in case of suspension the client refrains from further promotion of its certification. CertFast LLC will make the suspended status of the certification publicly accessible and shall take any other measures deemed necessary. In most cases the suspension will not normally exceed 6 months. The client will be notified in writing of the decision.

CertFast LLC restores the suspended certification if the issue that has resulted in the suspension has been resolved. Failure to resolve the issues that have resulted in the suspension in the time established by CertFast LLC results in withdrawal (deregistration) or reduction of the scope of certification.

A certification decision maker/competent person will review clients under suspension and where withdrawal or reduction in the scope of certification is being considered.

CertFast LLC reduces the client’s scope of certification to exclude the parts not meeting the requirements, when the client has persistently or seriously failed to meet the requirements of the standard used for certification. At the client’s request or following recommendations by the auditor, the scope of certification may be reduced to reflect the change of circumstances or activities. Any such reduction shall be in line with the requirements of the standard used for certification.