Impartiality Policy
Scope
The top management of Pavement Testing Services Limited (referred to as PTS herein) understands the
importance of impartiality when performing Management System certification and assessment activities.
PTS manages potential conflict of interests and ensures the objectivity of its Management System
certification activities. PTS has developed and implemented policies, procedures and processes in
compliance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17021-1 / ISO/IEC 17065 / CPR (EU) No 305/2011.
Policy
PTS through this policy, identifies, analyses and documents all possibilities for conflict of interests that may
arise from certification / assessment processes including any conflicts that arise from its relationships on an
ongoing basis.
Relationships do not necessarily present PTS with a conflict of interests. However should any relationship
create a threat to impartiality, PTS shall document and eliminate or minimise any such threats and
document any residual risk. Any residual risk identified shall be reviewed periodically to determine if it is
within acceptable levels of risk. This information is presented to the Managing Director and the
Management Team members.
It is necessary to cover all potential sources of possible conflict of interests. Sources that are identified
regardless of their origin. PTS shall use this information as an input in identifying threats to impartiality
raised by the activities of such personnel or by the organisation that employ them. Such personnel, internal
or external shall not be used unless they demonstrate that there is no conflict of interest. PTS will not
undertake any action that threatens the impartiality and/or are potential conflict of interest. PTS employees,
internal and external, shall comply with this procedure as well as reveal any situation known to them that
may present themselves or PTS with a conflict of interests. PTS shall utilise an Impartiality Committee /
TAB Committee who shall ensure impartiality is maintained throughout PTS Certification / assessment
activities ref W8 Committee for Safeguarding Impartiality.
PTS Certification / TAB is deemed as a separate entity from PTS Testing Services for its Laboratory
testing accreditation to ISO 17025 and therefore PTS shall not be influenced by its decision for its
certification activities and PTS shall not certify any other section / activity of its own company or
organisations that PTS is a part of or a member. PTS shall not offer or provide management system
technical advice/consultancy or any other technical advice/consultancy in respect of ISO/IEC 17021-1 /
ISO/IEC 17065 / CPR (EU) No 305/2011
To ensure there is no conflict of interests all internal and external personnel, who have provided technical
advice, (including internal audits) within two years to the organisation seeking certification, are not
permitted to take part in audit or other certification activities records shall be maintained in the personnel
files or approved sub contractor file.
PTS shall not provide internal audits for its certified clients. PTS shall not certify a management system for
which it has provided internal audits within two years following the end of the internal audits.
PTS shall conduct a periodic risk assessment to ensure no threat to impartiality exists through self interest
which may arise from a person or body acting in their own interest (financial or other), self review which
may arise from a person or body reviewing their own auditing work or on a client to which they have offered
previous consultancy activities, familiarity or trust which may arise from a person or body being too familiar
with or trusting of another person instead of seeking audit evidence or by intimidation which may arise from
a person or body having a perception of being coerced openly or secretively.
PTS shall not certify a management system on which a client has received management system technical
advice/consultancy or internal audits, where relationships between the Consultancy Company and PTS
could pose an unacceptable threat to impartiality of PTS.
PTS shall not outsource audits to a management system consultancy organisation as this poses an
unacceptable threat to the impartiality PTS. This does not apply to individuals contracted as auditors or
technical experts.
PTS does not receive any financial support different from the invested in it and the fees of its services.
PTS does not pay any commissions to consultants therefore there can be no pressure exercised on PTS by
consultants.
PTS or any part of the same legal entity and any entity under the organizational control of PTS shall not be
marketed or offered as linked with an organisation that provides management consultancy.
PTS shall take corrective actions against inappropriate claims of any consultancy organisation stating or
implying that the certification will be simpler, easier, faster or less expensive if specific certification body is
used due to the fact it is conflict of interests. Also PTS shall not state or imply that certification would be
simpler, easier, faster or cheaper if a specified consultancy organization were used.
PTS shall take action to respond to any threats to its impartiality arising from the actions of other persons,
bodies or organisations.
PTS shall act impartially and shall not allow commercial, financial or other pressures to compromise
impartiality.
PTS shall not become directly involved in the design, manufacture, supply, installation, use or maintenance
of the items inspected or similar competitive items.
PTS will not allow any pressure from other certification bodies, clients and /or consultancy organisations to
influence the certification process in the organization. If other certification body declines to provide service
for client and the client requests the same service from PTS then PTS will investigate the reasons for
declining before performing any other certification activities for the respective client. In all cases PTS shall
not allow any pressure from partners and others. If there is such pressure then PTS will apply requirements
of ISO/IEC 17021-1 / ISO/IEC 17065 / CPR (EU) No 305/2011 and internal procedures in order to stop
such practice.
PTS Shall not certify another certification body for its quality management system.
