Setting the Standard
A Forest Grower Steering Committee was convened to develop an agreed National Optimal Auditing Pathway (National OAP) for forest contracting businesses certified by ForestFit.
The National OAP will set out agreed assessment activities that meet forest grower due diligence requirements whilst eliminating duplication of activities required by FCBs under their ForestFit Certification.
Click the document or here to download work to date.
Scopes and Standards
ForestFit has also established five certification scopes that are related to the nature of operations of a forestry business:
- Harvest
- Haulage
- Civil
- Silviculture
- Minor forest products (eg firewood).
Certification scopes identify which operations of certified business have been assessed to the selected ForestFit Standards. This also ensures that applicants/certificate holders are assessed with criteria specific to the risk profile of the business as identified by their scope(s).
The ForestFit Standard is comprised of four certification standards that have been established by grouping together certification criteria that have a common theme, topic or focus area.
For many small and medium sized business, where appropriate, the system of policies, procedures and processes governing work health and safety and environment are streamlined into one. Participants choosing to certify to both Standard 3 Work Health and Safety and Standard 4 Environmental Practices would benefit from the streamlined process which combines the criteria to avoid duplication.
Alignment with international standards
The general requirements of the International Standards Organisation (ISO) 9001, 14001 and 45001 were utilised to ensure the ForestFit criteria were developed with a risk based approach for management systems and further contextualised for forest contracting businesses suitability.
ForestFit Certification standards and criteria were also developed to align with the principles of Responsible Wood and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards utilised within the Australian forest industry. ForestFit has a 'deemed to comply' relationship with Responsible Wood and is working with FSC to establish a similar relationship.
ForestFit Portal
The ForestFit web-based portal (Portal) provides participants with support and resources to manage every step of their certification process.
The information and resources have different access levels:
- Public - anyone can access the Certified Business Register, FAQ and Communication forms
- Portal User - requires email address for two step authentication to access detailed information regarding certification process including application and management (eg Standards criteria)
- ForestFit Registered User - Resources for businesses undertaking identified certification (eg Readiness Assessment).
STANDARD 1
General Requirements
The General Requirements Standards is the only mandatory standard and sets out the requirements that all ForestFit participants must adhere to.
The intent is to confirm that all participants have robust systems and processes to maintain compliance with legal requirements related to business registration, insurances, financial management and reporting, and employment law.
STANDARD 2
Business Sustainability
The Business Sustainability Standard sets out the requirements for operating a viable and sustainable business.
The intent is to confirm that participants have robust systems and processes in place to ensure quality service delivery and continuous improvement practices.
STANDARD 3
Work health and Safety
The WHS Standard sets out the work health and safety requirements for participants.
The intent is to confirm that participants have robust systems and processes to maintain compliance with work, health and safety legislation and support them continually improve their health and safety practices.
STANDARD 4 Environmental Practices
The Environmental Practices Standard sets out the environmental requirements for participants.
The intent is to confirm that participants have robust systems and processes to maintain compliance with client, customer or regulatory requirements and support them continually improve their environmental practices.
What people are saying...
Testimonial
“Our experience was very fruitful from an overall business perspective. It allowed us to work on areas we hadn't placed adequate resource or focus and create a more rounded Management System.”
Certification pilot participant
“The GAP analysis allowed our business to proceed with things with assurances around them and the support of the process. These things were more efficiently prioritised and processed ensuring swift action and application.”
Certification pilot participant
“ForestFit Certification is a holistic process for contractors to refer to and undertake. Consistency is something the industry is constantly looking for and Forest fit addresses these issues.”
Certification pilot participant
Resource Centre and Certified Register
The ForestFit Resource Centre has been established to provide guidance, factsheets and templates to support forest businesses in achieving certification. Where practicable guidance, templates documents and evidence have been developed to support documentation and evidence requirements of the standards. These have been categorised by standard.
The Certification Standards that applicants are certified against will be listed on their ForestFit certificate and the ForestFit Certified Business Register. The latest version of the certification standards and criteria can be found on the ForestFit portal.
