Impartiality and Conflict of Interest
This policy identifies impartiality involving the activities of ESS Holdings (Pty) Ltd and related parties, as well as identifying situations which may give rise to the appearance of a conflict of interest or impartiality. It also addresses such conflicts and situations in a manner that will fully protect the integrity and reputation of ESS Holdings, as well as related parties.
ESS Holdings understands the importance of impartiality and potential conflicts of interests in carrying out its management systems audit activities. All ESS Holdings business activities are monitored regularly for impartiality and potential conflict of interest relating to business management and governance activities thus providing confidence in all activities of ESS Holdings.
ESS Holdings management and all staff as well as affiliated third parties fully understand the importance of impartiality when undertaking any assessment and or advisory business activity.
ESS Holdings will therefore ensure that in all its dealings with clients or potential clients, all employees or other personnel are and will remain impartial and the assessment (audit / inspection/ training competency evaluation) and all assessment processes will always remain objective and impartial.
To ensure that impartiality is both maintained and can be demonstrated the following principles have been established:
1.The Impartiality Committee consisting of members of ESS Holdings management, Third Party representation, and /or representatives of governmental services, and / or NGO’s inclusive of customer organizations (as the case maybe).
2. At least three of the different parties shall be present during a meeting of the Impartiality Committee (when convened to address impartiality).
3. The assessmnt division does not and will not offer management system consultancy or any other form of consultancy to companies or individuals during assessment activities.
4. ESS Holdings does not own or have any interest (financial or otherwise) in any of our clients business.
5. Employees and contractors are expected to act ethically and impartially in the long-term interest of our company and society.
6. Persons and organizations external to the company have no undue influence on the outcomes of audits, inspections or examinations.
ESS Holdings will not pardon any activities that may endanger the trust in our independence and integrity of activities. Individuals employed by or otherwise contracted to ESS Holdings are required to document and record their current and past relationships with all companies.
Our management approach to assuring Impartiliaty is guided by the below:
Any situation past or present which may present a potential conflict of interest is required by ESS Holdings to be declared.
The policies and procedures of ESS Holdings are non-discriminatory and not used to inhibit access to its services by applicants.
All applicants who fall within the declared fields of operation are afforded access to our services.
Access to our services is not conditional upon the size of the customer or association with any group.
Financial considerations are not a condition for access, except for the customer’s ability to meet all contractual obligations.
ESS Holdings does not use personnel, internal or external, or buy products/ services from direct customers, until we can demonstrate that the risks of threats to impartiality are reduced to an acceptable level and will not interfere in any audit activity or audit decision.
We require personnel, internal and external, as well as any committees to reveal any situation known to them that may expose them or our company to a conflict of interest.
ESS Holdings assessors are not and will not be put under any pressure and will not be influenced in any way to come to a conclusion regarding the result of an assessment.
Conflict of Interest and objectivity is further covered through annual training sessions and contractually binding agreements, to ensure all assessment activities are conducted in an independent and impartial manner.
This policy shall be made available to all interested and affected parties upon request