What does the onsite audit consist of?

 An initial onsite audit is conducted as a two-stage process: 

Stage 1: Remote preparation

This first stage is done remotely and includes:

• Document Check: Reviewing your self-assessment and noting any missing evidence or documents.

• Readiness Check: Confirming your company is prepared for the main onsite audit.

Stage 2: Onsite visit

This must happen within three months of finishing Stage 1:

• Opening Meeting: the auditor starts with a meeting on the first day.

• Onsite Review: the auditor conducts interviews, reviews documents, and walks through your facility or facilities. (The assurance provider will send you the detailed schedule in advance.)

• Closing Meeting: the auditor concludes with a summary meeting on the final day.

For onsite recertification audits, while this follows the same basic steps (Opening, Review, Walk-through, Closing), it is completed as a single onsite audit. The two-stage process is not required, but your updated self-assessment will still be reviewed as part of this process.

Q: How long is an audit?

A: The duration of an audit will vary depending on the audit type (initial, surveillance, Year 3 or recertification), and a company’s certification track

Generally an audit should be completed:

• No more than 10 business days from the opening meeting for Company without Workers to Medium certification tracks.

• No more than 15 business days from the opening meeting for Large to XX Large certification tracks.