FORS is lifting its suspension of all Bronze site audits this week following government moves to ease Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.
FORS members in England will be able to book Bronze on-site audits from today (Monday 15 June).
However, all FORS operators requesting a Bronze on-site audit will be required to complete a Covid-19 risk assessment first as part of “stringent” coronavirus measures introduced by FORS to ensure the safety of its auditors and members.
FORS director, John Hix, added: “We know our members are keen to get back to business, but ensuring the safety of members and auditors as the organisation adjusts to these ‘new normal’ working practices is paramount.”
He added: “Members in England will need to confirm a variety of measures are in place to limit interaction between individuals during the auditing process, for example providing a single and only point of contact for the audit, as well as arranging for all evidence to be provided in the room where the audit is taking place.
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“Our rules and requirements are based on information issued by the UK government, but the FORS document is only applicable to England as there are still regional, national and international restrictions that apply which may continue to prevent FORS audits being undertaken in other parts of the UK.”
FORS extended expired member accreditations during lockdown and has not issued any Bronze, Silver or Gold downgrades where accreditation dates have been exceeded.
However it is now urging those members to book an audit as soon as possible. Hix said: “We understand these have been - and continue to be - very testing times for everyone in our industry.
“Road transport has been at the forefront of ensuring supply chains across the UK can continue to deliver, so it is vitally important that we support our operators who have taken great strides in improving standards through FORS and are keen to resume this process."
