Management of Impartiality by the NIW-ANB

The NIW ANB is the Authorised Nominated Body, by the International Institute of Welding (IIW) and has a document structure, policies and procedures to manage impartiality and to ensure that her qualification activities are undertaken impartially, including the approval of Approved Training Bodies (ATBs).

The NIW-ANB states hereby that it understands the importance of impartiality in carrying out qualification activities. We are committed to manage the impartiality, conflict of interest, security and the confidentiality and we are ensuring the objectivity of our qualification activities, to maintain the trust and confidence of our clients (eg. Stakeholders, ATBs, Candidates etc.)

The NIW-ANB shall act impartially in relation to its ATBs, applicants, candidates, qualified and certified persons. Policies and procedures for qualification and/or certification of persons and for approval of ATBs, shall be fair among all applicant/existing ATBs, candidates, qualified persons and personnel.

 Approval of ATBs,

The NIW-ANB shall not restrict approval of ATBs, qualification of persons on the basis of additional limiting conditions, such as membership of the competing association or group. The NIW-ANB shall not use procedures to unfairly impede, limit or inhibit access by applicant ATB and candidates to qualifications.

The NIW-ANB shall be responsible for the impartiality of its qualification activities, including the approval of ATBs, and shall not allow commercial, financial or other pressures to compromise impartiality.

The NIW-ANB shall identify threats to its impartiality on an ongoing basis. This shall include those threats that arise from its activities (Auditing, examination, etc.), from the activities of related bodies (eg. ATBs), from external/internal relationships, (eg. Management, assessors, examiners etc) .

Related body:

Definition A related body is one which is linked to the ANB by common ownership, in whole or part, and has common members of the board of directors, contractual arrangements, common names, common staff, informal understanding or other means, such that the related body has a vested interest in any qualification decision or has a potential ability to influence the process.

The NIW-ANB shall analyse, document and eliminate or minimise the potential conflict of interests arising from its qualification and/or certification activities, including the approval of ATBs. All potential sources of conflict of interest that are identified, whether they arise from within the ANB, such as assigning responsibilities to personnel, or from the activities of other persons, bodies, or organisations, shall be covered.

Qualification activities are structured and managed so as to safeguard impartiality. This shall include balanced involvement of interested parties

 

NIW - ANB appeals-handling process

The NIW-ANB has a documented process to receive, evaluate and make decisions on appeals. The appeals-handling process include at least the following elements and methods such as:

  • the process of receiving, validating and investigating the appeal, and for deciding what actions are to be taken in response to it, taking into account the results of previous similar appeals (If there be)
  • tracking and recording appeals, including actions undertaken to resolve them
  • ensuring that, if applicable, appropriate corrections and corrective actions are taken.

The policies and procedures are to ensure that all appeals are dealt with in a constructive, impartial and timely manner.

The NIW-ANB shall be responsible for all decisions at all levels of the appeals-handling process. The NIW-ANB Chief Executive shall ensure that the decision-making personnel engaged in the appeals handling process are different from those who were involved in the decision being appealed.

Submission, investigation and decision on appeals shall not result in any discriminatory actions against the appellant.

The NIW-ANB secretariat shall acknowledge receipt of the appeal and shall provide (if case) the appellant with progress reports and the outcome.

The NIW-ANB shall give formal notice to the appellant at the end of the appeals-handling process.

Should a candidate/ATB wish to appeal against the results of an examination or decision, he/she shall apply to the NIW-ANB within four weeks of receiving his/her results. All such appeals shall be heard and will be conducted by an “Appeals Panel” consisting of at least three persons: one of whom may be the Chairman of the Examination Board, and the other at least one other shall not have participated in the examination. The appeal analysis will be realised within two weeks of the appeal Panel establishment.

The result of the appeal shall be communicated within two weeks of the appeal hearing, to the appellant.