Rules and Procedures

Rules & Procedures

This page covers the rules, responsibilities and the procedures to be followed by all parties participating in the SCA steelwork certification scheme.

You can view the Rules of the Steelwork Compliance Scheme here:


Governance

The SCA, run by an independent governing committee comprised of eminent persons involved with and knowledgeable about steelwork compliance, will at all times reflect the client and community need for a level playing field. Its purpose is to support national interest and all fabricators are eligible for certification, regardless of country or affiliation.

Impartiality

The processes implemented will provide due attention to impartiality, competence, responsibility, openness, confidentiality and responsiveness to complaints.

SCA is responsible for the impartiality of its certification activities and is required not to allow commercial, financial or other pressures to compromise impartiality.

All personnel representing SCA (either direct employees or external) who could influence the certification activities are required to act impartially. Further, SCA personnel cannot be used for auditing purposes or make decisions on the audit outcomes if they have had any consultancy involvement (or any other relationship that may bring in to question their ability to act impartially) with the company seeking certification, in the last two years.

To assist with ensuring the SCA acts impartially, the Governing Committee at all regular meetings, undertakes a review of performance including impartiality and has in place an Impartiality Panel specifically tasked with ongoing review of SCA activities and decisions to ensure impartiality.

Impartiality initiatives are also supported by the SCA Complaints and Appeals process and by all SCA personnel being required to provide a declaration in terms of any possible Conflict of Interest.

All fabricators are eligible for certification, regardless of country or affiliation.

SCA Certification Mark

Fabricators (Licensees) issued with a Certificate of Conformity are authorised to use the SCA Certification Mark as demonstration of conformity of the relevant management systems and the associated working practices to AS/NZS 5131 and respective Australian standards and the declared scope of registration.

Use of the Certification Mark is to be in accordance with the SCA Rules (SCA-MAN-002).

The Certification Mark includes an expiry date by which time the next Surveillance Audit or Re-Certification Audit needs to have been successfully undertaken and a new Certification Mark issued.