BUSINESS STANDARDS
is the quarterly magazine of BSI Group, highlighting the vital role that standards play in today's business environment. Regular features include interviews with leading business figures, as well as news on the latest developments in management systems and standards.
New appointment
28 Jan 2008
Topics: China
Mike Low, director of BSI British Standards, has been appointed to the China Standardization Expert Committee (CSEC) as the first foreign advisor to the committee. CSEC advises the Standardization Administration of China (SAC) on national standards strategy and policy; major reform and innovative measures for standardization; key projects in science and technology; and publication and implementation of standards. BSI has been working closely with SAC for several years in developing strategy and addressing key topics such as energy, sustainability, IT security and standards associated with major events such as the Olympic Games.
Business Standards © 2007. Editorial produced by Caspian Publishing in association with the British Standards Institution. Editorial opinions expressed on are not necessarily those of BSI Group or Caspian Publishing. Neither Caspian Publishing nor BSI Group accept responsibility for advertising or editorial content, nor for that appearing on linked third-party websites. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden without written permission from BSI Group or Caspian Publishing.
Every year, organizations around the world experience some disruptions to their operations. The reasons can be innocent, from staff illness to weather conditions, but they can also be more severe, from industrial accidents to criminal activity. Whatever the disruption, organizations are under pressure to maintain business as usual. For most, this is helped by the implementation of a business continuity management system (BCMS).
Lockheed Martin UK - INSYS has achieved certification toBS OHSAS 18001 Occupational health and safety management systems. Certification was achieved following an independent assessment by BSI, against a set of challenging requirements. During a year-long effort, workplace hazards were identified and addressed; and operating procedures were reviewed and updated, with employees receiving tailored training on health and safety disciplines.
ABTA (The Association of British Travel Agents, representing over 5,500 travel agencies and 900 tour operations in the UK) has joined forces with BSI Management Systems UK to produce a guide on implementing an effective complaints handling process - Dealing With Complaints: Complaint Handling.
As pressures mount for businesses to become more efficient, to do more with less and to keep an eye on the bottom line, managing resources effectively is proving more essential than ever. Resource prices have been particularly volatile over the past year and fuel and energy costs to businesses have seen more fluctuations than most.
Policing the Kitemark: Kent Trading Standards
Late in 2008, Kent Trading Standards (KTS) successfully prosecuted the UK retailer of a particular brand of unsafe carbon monoxide detectors, following a lengthy investigation. As part of its case, KTS was able to prosecute the company for misuse of the BSI Kitemark symbol, a first of its kind in the UK. The retailer was fined £65,000 with more than £5,000 in costs, representing the largest financial penalty ever secured by KTS.
Question: Are health and safety issues at risk of being lost in the current financial turmoil?
When business isn't going well - whether it's due to a recession or simply because a company is going through a slow patch - there is a temptation to cut costs by cutting corners. Instead of treating an issue like product and consumer safety as vital to a organization's growth and reputation, it can become just another expense or regulatory requirement.
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