FEATURE TEST & CERTIFICATION G


DS offers a wide product range together with the ability to design and manufacture


bespoke fixed gas detection systems. It is equipped to offer solutions in all market sectors and environments, providing ongoing support: from site surveys, design and training, through to commissioning and project handover.


SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE CORPORATE ETHOS As a socially responsible company GDS already had a strong health and safety culture and commitment to environmental awareness. The company’s journey began when it became the first gas detection manufacturer in the UK to achieve BS 5750. Having held ISO 9001 certification since 1993


with NQA; GDS Technologies’ health and safety consultant at the time suggested they should work towards OHSAS 18001, which was later migrated to ISO 45001 (the internationally recognised standard for Occupational Health and Safety). Being one of the first gas detection companies


to achieve ISO 9001 certification made GDS stand out amongst its competitors and the company’s managing director was keen to capitalise on existing health and safety and environmental activities to achieve certification to ISO 14001 too. Ensuring GDS once again stands out as one of the few elite companies in the sector to have achieved all three standards. Laura Fletcher, NQA commercial and


customer experience director, comments: “ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 are about professional credibility. By having all three standards, GDS is making a statement of intent that it is continuously striving to evolve as a company and be the very best.”


A CULTURE OF QUALITY, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY All three standards are incorporated into an integrated system, ensuring they work together to create a culture of quality, safety, and environmental sustainability. By linking and combining all three standards together, GDS has been able to implement and demonstrate changes which in turn have resulted in significant improvements to all three areas. For example, when GDS deployed enhanced


networked technology solutions, it was a project that started out as a quality initiative, delivering production efficiency and more robust procedures. However, the benefits perpetuated to environment and health and safety areas through a significant reduction in waste paper and printer toner, and a further reduction in physical handling of materials, preventing possible cross contaminations, which was found to be particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic. John Hicks, production manager at GDS,


adds: “Working within an integrated system makes it is easier to manage one all- encompassing management system than three separate ones. Additionally, having an integrated system creates unified goals and objectives that are aligned with each other rather than being conflicting.”


18 SPRING 2021 | INDUSTRIAL COMPLIANCE SCORING A HAT-TRICK


Market leaders in the manufacture of gas detection equipment GDS Technologies scores a hat-trick with NQA


COMMITMENT TO PROJECT MANAGEMENT Hicks used his previous experience of overseeing the ISO 9001 transition and implementing ISO 14001 from scratch to his advantage. Whilst it was challenging to add Health


and Safety to that portfolio and integrate it seamlessly into the existing management system, he found NQA’s webinars and Gap Analysis tools a great support, helping to give the project a clear direction. Once GDS had a clear


2019 2020


plan, the biggest impact was the changes to its waste management procedures; which were extended from manufacturing waste to all waste including, office, cleaning, and food. The company made some remarkable advances, from seven per cent of office waste being recycled in 2019, to 48 per cent in 2020. Hicks worked with the leadership team and the


health and safety officer to assist and guide the development of the project for achieving OHSAS 18001 and later the migration to ISO 45001.


WHY NQA WERE A GOOD FIT Having worked with NQA for over 25 years, GDS was in safe hands. With a clear philosophy to continually improve, GDS appreciates the level of experience and consistent approach that NQA auditors bring. “GDS Technologies has been extremely


committed to the ongoing development of its management system over the years, this has helped underpin strong company performance and enhance worker safety,” comments Terry Fisher, NQA’s occupational health and safety principal assessor.


Having held the certification for so long, GDS is


7% of office waste was recycled


48% of office waste was recycled


extremely familiar with the auditing process and found it relatively easy to prepare all the information required in advance. Although this time there were some concerns; as the audit would take place remotely (due to COVID) – a new experience for all involved. Like a lot of clients, GDS had their reservations as to how well the audit would ‘flow’ and ensuring technology would work consistently throughout the day. To ensure the audit ran successfully, the company tested its remote meeting facilities in the days before the audit to ensure


there would be no technical hitches on day one. During the audit, the experience of the NQA auditors was clear, and ensured


the whole process was smooth and not too dissimilar to regular audits.


LOOK TO A BRIGHT FUTURE GDS’ business focus for the future is to continue to strengthen the framework for all processes, further embedding the culture of a unified, integrated, and formalised way of working throughout the business. As new legislations and regulations are introduced, GDS is looking to expand on their certification portfolio to appropriately enhance their business. GDS Technologies’ IOSH and NEBOSH qualified


OHSE officer, Rena Paul comments: “People do people things. No matter how many controls we have in place to keep everyone safe, certified management systems ensure we have every possible control in place to minimise these risks.’’


GDS Technologies www.gds-technologies.co.uk NQA www.nqa.com


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