ISO/IEC TS 17021-2 was published on August, 15th 2012. IAF has confirmed that the ISO/IEC TS
17021-2 document is endorsed as a normative document to be applied in conjunction with ISO/IEC
17021, and the deadline for implementation is two years after publication.
This ISO/IEC document does NOT affect BVC clients certified to EMS (ISO14001)
This memo details the implementation requirements for this Technical Specification, including
expectations from global accreditation bodies – UKAS and ANAB. Additional requirements from local accreditation bodies must be addressed at local level.
Current approach for EMS auditors:
Technical areas are built around 39 IAF scope categories (Product Environmental Codes) with
relevant guidance notes for each PEC (technical area) aligned with the seven aspect-specific
competency requirements within ISO 17021-2:
• emissions to air
• releases to land
• releases to water
• energy
• waste
• uses of raw materials & natural resources
• physical attributes.
Auditors demonstrate their competence through the on-line test, which consists of questions
related to the relevant technical area. The final demonstration of knowledge is verified by an
interview of the auditor by a person deemed competent to conduct the interview (competency
reviewer). The record of approval of technical areas is within the Live Cycle and then approved
PEC (technical areas) are registered on SIEBEL (global auditor database for countries not having
SIEBEL) that is used for scheduling.
What will change in the process?
The above approach for auditors is accepted to meet the enhanced competency requirements in
17021-2.
With this new specification in place, the use of guidance notes now becomes mandatory. These
are available on Bureau Veritas intranet (Connections- Beware not accessible to subcontractors)
and are also distributed to Technical Managers for further cascading to the auditors.
Mandatory means:
Must be available to all EMS auditors. Must be used and auditors must demonstrate the use of
documents when preparing and conduction the audits.
Current approach for other personnel:
The EMS other personnel (positions include sales, application/contract reviewers, technical,
administrative and competency reviewers) use online test and interview, similar to the current
approach for auditors. Schedulers are not part of this exercise as to assign the audit team they
use the codes that have been previously granted by technical reviewer.
What will change in the process?
The current system identifies the general task required knowledge of these personnel but has not
yet identified the EMS relevant competencies as defined in ISO 17021-2 Section 7.
To bridge the gap, BMS was amended to specify competency requirements for other personnel
involved in 14001. Specific e-learning was designed and must be completed prior August, 15th to
cover the staff involved in 14001 certification.
NEXT STEPS IN THE PROCESS AND INSTRUCTIONS
1) Distribution of PEC guidance notes before launching of training modules
2) Preparation of e-learning course (translations, connection details, completion dates…)
3) Interpretations of test results & closure of the training
17021-2 document is endorsed as a normative document to be applied in conjunction with ISO/IEC
17021, and the deadline for implementation is two years after publication.
This ISO/IEC document does NOT affect BVC clients certified to EMS (ISO14001)
This memo details the implementation requirements for this Technical Specification, including
expectations from global accreditation bodies – UKAS and ANAB. Additional requirements from local accreditation bodies must be addressed at local level.
Current approach for EMS auditors:
Technical areas are built around 39 IAF scope categories (Product Environmental Codes) with
relevant guidance notes for each PEC (technical area) aligned with the seven aspect-specific
competency requirements within ISO 17021-2:
• emissions to air
• releases to land
• releases to water
• energy
• waste
• uses of raw materials & natural resources
• physical attributes.
Auditors demonstrate their competence through the on-line test, which consists of questions
related to the relevant technical area. The final demonstration of knowledge is verified by an
interview of the auditor by a person deemed competent to conduct the interview (competency
reviewer). The record of approval of technical areas is within the Live Cycle and then approved
PEC (technical areas) are registered on SIEBEL (global auditor database for countries not having
SIEBEL) that is used for scheduling.
What will change in the process?
The above approach for auditors is accepted to meet the enhanced competency requirements in
17021-2.
With this new specification in place, the use of guidance notes now becomes mandatory. These
are available on Bureau Veritas intranet (Connections- Beware not accessible to subcontractors)
and are also distributed to Technical Managers for further cascading to the auditors.
Mandatory means:
Must be available to all EMS auditors. Must be used and auditors must demonstrate the use of
documents when preparing and conduction the audits.
Current approach for other personnel:
The EMS other personnel (positions include sales, application/contract reviewers, technical,
administrative and competency reviewers) use online test and interview, similar to the current
approach for auditors. Schedulers are not part of this exercise as to assign the audit team they
use the codes that have been previously granted by technical reviewer.
What will change in the process?
The current system identifies the general task required knowledge of these personnel but has not
yet identified the EMS relevant competencies as defined in ISO 17021-2 Section 7.
To bridge the gap, BMS was amended to specify competency requirements for other personnel
involved in 14001. Specific e-learning was designed and must be completed prior August, 15th to
cover the staff involved in 14001 certification.
NEXT STEPS IN THE PROCESS AND INSTRUCTIONS
1) Distribution of PEC guidance notes before launching of training modules
2) Preparation of e-learning course (translations, connection details, completion dates…)
3) Interpretations of test results & closure of the training
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