What ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 Mean When You Hire a Contractor

Certificates and logos are easy to display and hard to interpret. For a client choosing a contractor, it helps to know what each standard covers and what it does not.

ISO 9001: quality management

ISO 9001 is about how a company manages quality. It requires documented processes, defined responsibilities, checking of work, handling of complaints and a system for correcting problems and improving. For a client, it means the contractor works to a consistent system rather than depending on individuals.

ISO 14001: environmental management

ISO 14001 covers how a company identifies and controls its environmental impact. On construction and maintenance sites this typically relates to waste handling, material use, chemical storage and disposal. It matters to clients who have sustainability commitments or work under building rules about waste and cleanliness.

ISO 45001: occupational health and safety

ISO 45001 concerns the safety of workers and others affected by the work. It involves hazard identification, risk assessment, safe working procedures, training and incident reporting. For building owners and occupants, it relates directly to who is protected while work happens in their property.

What certification does and does not mean

Certification shows that a management system exists and has been audited by an independent body. It does not guarantee that every job will be perfect. What it does indicate is that processes, records and accountability are in place when something goes wrong.

What to ask a contractor

•     Can I see the certificates, including the scope they cover and the expiry date?

•     Which certification body issued them?

•     How do these systems show up on site, for example in inspections, risk assessments and waste handling?

•     Do they apply to the trades and services I am hiring for?

How this applies at Spanex

Spanex holds ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018. Certificates are available on request before you sign anything, so you can check the scope for yourself.

Want to see our certification and project documentation before you decide? Request our company profile and certificates. You can also read more about Spanex.