Struggling with ISO When Clients Control the Site?

Ever felt challenged in maintaining an ISO 9001–14001–45001 integrated management system (IMS) when most work is on client sites where the client has control of most rules, facilities, and procedures?

The key is to describe what is under your control vs. what is under the client’s control, and to design a simple but robust system that shows compliance to ISO without duplicating (or contradicting) client requirements.

When the client sets the rules

We’ve seen too many sub-contractor/sub-consultancy businesses use a standard templated IMS framework that doesn’t match what they do and suit the ‘client site’ work situation.

A good IMS consultant will understand this and ensure you:

• Define your scope clearly - what you control vs. what the client controls.

• Keep your IMS lean and focus on training, risk management, incidents, and legal obligations that are yours and NOT your client’s.

• Create a ‘client interface’ procedure - describe how you adopt and comply with client site requirements.

• Create a ‘client interface’ procedure - describe how you adopt and comply with client site requirements.

Focus on what you can control

A well-structured subcontractor IMS will demonstrate what YOU CONTROL while still aligning with client requirements and what they control when you are working on their sites!

We keep saying to clients “Just focus on what you control - your people, your risks, your training, your compliance - and plug into the client’s rules for everything else.”