ISO SURVILLIANCE AUDITS

Botswana Railways underwent an external audit carried out by National Quality Assurance (NQA), the certifying body from 24th to 28th of February 2025 as part of the certification audit cycle. The certification audit cycle is a structured process that organizations undergo to achieve and maintain certification for compliance with specific ISO standards or regulations. This cycle typically consists of three key phases: the initial certification audit, surveillance audits, and recertification audits.Why are surveillance audits done?

• Purpose: Surveillance audits ensure that Botswana Railways continues to meet the standards for which it was accredited. This includes assessing whether they maintain effective quality management systems, safety measures, environmental controls, and other relevant processes depending on the ISO standards they are accredited for.
• Process: The surveillance audits typically involve a thorough review of the company’s documentation, processes, and performance over the audit period. Auditors may also conduct site inspections and interviews with key personnel to verify compliance.
• Frequency: These audits are generally conducted on a regular basis, often annually, to ensure ongoing compliance. However, the frequency can vary based on the specific ISO standard and the organization's risk level or performance.
• Outcome: After the audit, Botswana Railways would either receive confirmation that they continue to meet the required standards, or they may be given corrective actions if any non-compliance or areas for improvement are identified.

The surveillance audits were conducted after Botswana Railways was initially certified in 2024 for three standards below;· ISO: 9001:2015 - Quality Management system which helps organizations of all sizes and sectors to improve their performance to meet customer expectations and demonstrate their commitment to quality    · ISO:45001:2018 - Occupational Health , issued to protect employees and visitors from work-related accidents . The standard was developed to mitigate any factors that can cause employees and businesses irreperable harm .                                           .· ISO: 14001:2015 -Environmental Management which is the internationally recognized standard for environmental management systems (EMS). It provides a framework for organizations to design and implement an EMS, and continually improve their environmental performance.During the three-day surveillance audit, the auditor was convinced that BR demonstrated the continual improvement. The auditor recommended that BR could continue with its certification since their SHEQ management system is effective, but a lot needs to be done during the second-year surveillance audits such as ensuring that the IBMS system is operational so that all the information is kept safe on the system at all time.