RISQS reveal top three audit failings

The Rail Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme (RISQS) has revealed the top three reasons suppliers are failing their annual accreditation audits.  

RISQS is an open, fair and transparent way for companies to be formally recognised as competent and safe providers of products and services to the GB rail market.  

The RISQS team complete more than 3,500 audits a year, identifying areas of non-compliance and potential risks within railway industry supply chain operations. The audits provide valuable insights for suppliers, buyers and standard setters at RSSB and Network Rail to improve safety, efficiency, and operational performance.  

RISQS is a smart, quick, easy web-based platform linking over 90 buyers with more than four thousand suppliers. Evidence from RISQS audits have revealed the three major issues that lead to suppliers failing audits: 

1. Failing to effectively monitor safety performance.  
2. Being unable to provide evidence of compliance with key pieces of legislation or safety standards.   
3. Not demonstrating they have carried carry out random alcohol and drugs test on 5% of their in-scope employees during a specified period.  

Suppliers failing an audit are given a short period of time (usually days) to demonstrate compliance. They are then re-audited within 12 weeks to ensure their processes are embedded in the business.  

Phil Smith – RISQS Scheme Manager, said: “Companies seeking to join RISQS are thoroughly audited to ensure they are competent and safe, before getting access to our web platform linking rail industry buyers and suppliers.

“Our evidence shows the top reasons for companies failing to join the scheme are inadequate monitoring of safety performance, compliance with legal and safety standards and a being unable to demonstrate enough of their employees are being randomly tested for drugs and alcohol.

“The rail industry rightly sets a high bar for companies seeking to provide staff or services within its supply chain, but with more and more buyers only using RISQS to pre-qualify suppliers in safety critical areas the benefits of safe and competent companies joining the scheme are clear.”

Network Rail has recently updated its Drugs and Alcohol standard increasing the number of in scope employees and sub-contractors to be randomly selected for a test each year from 5 per cent to 20 per cent. RISQS audits are currently verifying and validating that companies have processes and plans in place to test 20 per cent of employees, and the results will be verified at a subsequent audit.

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