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The PromoterOf standardisation & quality assurance in botswana

volume 73 - October 2017

For the first time in Africa, ISO organized a regional workshop on financial sustainability for National Standards Bodies (NSBs) hosted by BOBS

ISO 9001 helps businesses and organizations to be more

e�cient and improve customer satisfaction

Workmanship on construction site plays a pivotal role in ensuring structural stability

Executive Delegates during the ISO Regional workshop hosted by BOBS

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Dear Reader

It is yet another exciting edition of the Promoter of standardization and quality assurance activities. In this edition you will read about the momentous occasion of BOBS hosting the ISO regional workshop on financial sustainability of National Standards Bodies (NSBs) for the first time in Africa, Botswana. You will also find an interesting article that will reveal the myths associated with cologne and perfume; ladies & gentlemen please pay attention.

The 73rd edition of the Promoter also offer series of articles dedicated to one of the most implemented standard in the world; ISO 9001. The articles cover topics ranging from why it is important to implement a quality management system according to ISO 9001; to a list of the mandatory documents and records required in ISO 9001; and how to select a certifying organization.

Lastly, this edition of the Promoter is dedicated to the 20 years of servicing the Industry on standardization and quality related issues.

For more information on BOBS services & activities, please visit our website at www.bobstandards.bw, Facebook page @ Botswana Bureau of Standards & Twitter @Bobsmarketing.

Enjoy the read.

From the Editor

Kagisano Makonyela

Table Of Contents03. Mabijo

04. BOBS Successfully host the ISO Regional Workshop

04 Main Difference Between Cologne and Perfume

06. Motor vehicle Glazing Standards

07. Tyre pressure

08. World plug and sockets types

10. ISO Insert

12. Mandatory Documents and Records

13. Workmanship on Construction sites

15. What is a national Certification Body

16. Certification’s note of Recognition

17. The importance Of HACCP in the food industry

19. World quality day versus world standard day

Like our page on facebook@ Botswana Bureau of Standards

or you can follow us on Twitter@Bobsmarketing

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BOBS’ SUCCESSFULLY HOST THE ISO REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY OF NATIONAL STANDARDS BODIES (NSBs)

For the first time in Africa, ISO organized a regional workshop on financial sustainability for National Standards Bodies (NSBs) and BOBS was the host. The workshop was held in Gaborone, Botswana from the 8th – 10th May 2017 and was facilitated by the two ISO experts Mr Alan Bryden – past ISO Secretary General and Mrs Elisabeth Adetola- former Deputy Executive Director, GSA Ghana. In attendance were the ISO members from the English-speaking countries in Africa. The workshop was organized in the framework of the ISO Action Plan for Developing Countries 2016-2020, on the long-term financial sustainability of National Standards bodies. It came after analysis showed that many NSBs in developing countries faced the challenge of securing long-term and stable funding for their organization with statistics showing that 50% of them receive more than half of funds from the government of which half is entirely dependent on the government without other means of support. The regional workshop was a first in a series that ISO will be organizing to facilitate its members to discuss, exchange ideas, identify strategies and response plans to address and manage risks to the long-term financial sustainability of the NSBs. The workshop was officially launched by the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Honorable Vincent Seretse.

Main Differences Between Cologne and Perfume

Though many people assume that the difference between Cologne and Perfume is that cologne is used by men and perfume is used by women, this is not so. The difference between Cologne and Perfume lies not on the gender differences but properties like the composition, intensity and fragrant choices. The main difference between cologne and perfume is simply a matter of the amount or concentration of essential oils in the fragrance. The highest concentration is in pure perfume (or parfum). The different scents in the

perfume and cologne are a mix of natural and synthetic substances that is used to give the perfume its smell

What is Perfume

The term “perfume” originates from France and was widely popular in the early 16th century, after the crusaders returned from the Middle East claiming to have acquired the secret of developing fragrance from Europe. Perfumes

By: U. Chilume

By: K. Makonyela

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are prepared by using mixing aromatic compounds with ethanol or a mix of ethanol and water. The longevity or the intensity of a perfume depends on the concentration of the aroma compounds and the essential oils used in the perfume. As the concentration of aromatic oil increases, the more intense the perfume becomes and the longer the smell stays. Pure perfume contains about 15–40% concentration of oils. This contains the highest concentration of oils in a scented product. When alcohol in a perfume evaporates leaving behind the fragrance oils on the skin, it is the product with the highest concentration of oils that gives the longer lasting fragrance. Since Perfumes have a high concentration of aroma compound, they are potent and intense.

A perfume is typically made of several scents. In perfumery, these are called notes. There are three notes in a perfume called head note, middle note and the base note. Head note or top note is the scent that is immediately perceived after the application of a scent. The middle note is the scent that is perceived just before the dissipation of the head note. The base note appears prior to the dissipation of the middle note. Middle note and the base note create the main theme of the perfume.

Perfumes and cologne differ from each other mostly in strength. While perfumes are expected to stay on the body longer, around 6-8 hours, due to the high concentration of essential oils, colognes generally stay for a shorter period of time, around 2 hours. The high concentration of essential oil

also contributes to the price difference between the two; making perfumes more expensive compared to colognes. Due to being more intense, it is said that perfumes last longer as they are not expected to be used in greater quantities.

What is Cologne

Cologne or Eau de Cologne is a fragrance or a type of perfume that is originating from Cologne, Germany. Though the term cologne is mostly associated with the scented products worn by men, this does not differentiates cologne from perfume. Similar to perfumes, colognes are prepared using a blend of essential oils (5-8% in concentration for colognes), extracts (depending on type of scent), alcohol and water The difference between cologne and perfume lies on their composition and other properties.

As mentioned above, perfume contains the highest percentage of aromatic compounds and cologne contains the lowest. Because of this low concentration, cologne is not as intense or potent as perfume. It only lasts a few hours, therefore, it should not be used liberally. In addition, cologne is less expensive compared to perfume.

A fragrance concentration refers to the strength that a fragrance has. Perfumes with a higher fragrance concentration contain more perfume oils and less alcohol. Fragrance concentrations (or dilution classes) are broken into categories as indicated below:

extrait de parfum or

pure perfume

• Concentration 15% to 40% (typical ~ 20%) • Can last for 6-8Hrs • Low in alcohol concentration • Good for sensitive skin (Less likely to dry out the skin) • Higher price

eau de parfum (EDP)

• Concentration 15% - 30% (typical ~ 15%) • Can last for 4-5Hrs • High in alcohol concentration • Good for sensitive skin • Usually used as a nightwear • Very common type

eau de toilette (EDT)

• Concentration 10% - 20% (typical ~ 10%) • Can last for 2-3Hrs • High in alcohol concentration • Cheaper than EDP • Usually used as a Daywear

eau de cologne (EDC)/ cologne

• Concentration 3% - 8% (typical~5) • Can last for upto 2Hrs • High in alcohol concentration • Cheaper EDC • Comes in bigger bottles and more of fragrance needs to be applied

eau fraiche/ splashes/

mists/ veils

• Lowest concentration of 1% - 3% • Can last for upto 2Hrs • Low in alcohol concentration • Remainder is mostly water • Similar to EDC

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Botswana Standards for motor vehicle glazing

Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS), though its technical committee MED5 Motor Vehicles, has developed the following motor vehicle glazing standards:

1)  BOS 158, High penetration-resistant laminated safety glass for vehicles — Specification

This standard specifies requirements for high penetration-resistant laminated safety glass including bullet-resistant glazing materials for use in vehicles. This standard is applicable to glass that is used for windscreens on motor vehicles. This type of safety glass holds together when shattered, due to the presence of a plastic interlayer (typically polyvinyl butyral (PVB)) between the two glass panes. The interlayer keeps the layers of glass bonded even when broken, and its high strength prevents the glass from breaking up into large sharp pieces.

2)  BOS 159, Laminated safety glass for vehicles — Specification

This standard specifies requirements for laminated safety glass (excluding windscreens) for use in vehicles. The production process of this glass is similar to the high penetration-resistant laminated safety glass, with the exception that this glass is of a lesser strength due to the thinner PVB interlayer. The glass is normally fitted to windows and partitions of caravans and light trailers.

3)  BOS 160, Toughened safety glass for vehicles — Specification

This standard specifies requirements for toughened safety glass for use in vehicles. Toughened safety glass is commonly used on the side and rear windows of motor vehicles. The glass is produced by controlled thermal or chemical treatments to increase its strength compared with normal glass. The process puts the outer surfaces into compression and the inner surfaces into tension. Such stresses cause the glass, when broken, to crumble into small granular chunks instead of splintering into jagged shards as plate glass creates. The granular chunks are less likely to cause injury.

4)  BOS 302, Plastics safety glazing materials for motor vehicles — Specification

This standard covers requirements for plastics safety glazing materials for use on different categories of motor vehicles. This type of glass is used on windows and partitions for buses, minibuses, caravans and trailers,

Implementation of motor vehicle glazing Standards

Due to their impact on safety, BOS 158, BOS 159 and BOS 160, were approved as compulsory Botswana standards. They are enforced by the Compulsory Standards Unit of BOBS, by ensuring that all windscreens entering the Botswana market comply with the requirements of these standards or other equivalent standards.

BOS 302 was approved as a voluntary Botswana standard and implementation is via the manufacturers of plastics safety glazing materials seeking certification of their products.

MOTOR VEHICLE GLAZING STANDARDS

Motor glass, such as windscreens, windows & partitions, protect the vehicle’s occupants from wind, water and flying debris such as dust, insects, and rocks, and also provides for the aerodynamics of the vehicle. A windscreen is glass screen that is fitted to the front of a motor vehicle allowing the driver and passengers to have visibility of the road and the other motorists. Modern windscreens are generally made of laminated safety glass, a type of treated glass, which consists of two (typically) curved sheets of glass with a plastic layer laminated between them for safety, and are bonded into the window frame. Since motor vehicles are by their nature prone to accidents and other incidents related to safety, it is important that any installed glazing is of a good quality as specified by standards so as to guarantee the safety of occupants.

By: J. Ernest

Figure 1 – Typical motor vehicle windscreen

Figure 2 – Showing a typical shattered toughened safetyglass for a vehicle passengerdoor

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TYRE PRESSURE

The advantages of having correct tyre pressure are so evident that newer vehicles now have what is called a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS). The manufacturers of vehicles specify the suitable pressure for tyres, and it is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that the tyre pressure is checked and corrected on a regular basis.

More air is usually lost during warm weather, so more regular checks are needed when temperatures rise. Under inflated tyres will have uneven contact with the road and will exhibit excessive wear on the inside and outside edges of the tread if they are left underinflated for some time.

The recommended tyre pressure for the vehicle is usually found in handbook or printed either in the sill of the driver’s door or on the inside of the fuel tank flap. Alternatively check the recommended pressure on the tyre. Always check the tyre pressure with a tyre pressure gauge when your tyres are cold.

Over inflated tyres will have a smaller contact patch – the part of the tyre that makes contact with the road can lead to a loss of traction and poorer braking distances. Over inflated tyres will also wear heavily and unevenly across the central part of the tyre leading to shorter tyre lifespans than if the tyre was correctly inflated

Benefits of Correct Inflation

1. Fuel Economy: Having properly inflated tyres gives a vehicle better fuel mileage, allowing you to go fur-ther with less fill-ups.

2. Less Wear on tyre: It’s also true that good tyre pressure means tyres won’t wear out more rapidly than they were to wear out, keeping tyre pressure accurate will decrease the issue of “bad wear patterns,” where some parts of the tyre can worn out more than others

3. Improve Braking Capacity, Cornering & Vehicle Handling: Properly inflated tyres improve the steering, stopping and traction of your vehicle. Recent studies suggest under inflated tyres can increase stopping distance by close to 8 meters, which could in many cases be the difference between missing and hitting something on the road.

Figure 1: Under inflated tyre

Figure 2: Over inflated tyre

Figure 3: Correct tyre pressure

By: K. Lekaunyane

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Type Location Current Rating

Earthing/ Grounding

Common uses

Type A US, Japan 15 A Not grounded

Type B US, Japan 15 A Grounded

Type C (Euro plug) US, Japan, Botswana 2.5 A Not grounded Cellphone chargers

Type D India, Botswana 5 A Grounded Fridge

Type F (Schuko plug) Germany 16 A Grounded Electric hand tools

Type G UK, Botswana 13 A Grounded radios

Type J Switzerland 10 A Grounded

Type L Italy 10 A & 16 A Grounded

Type M South Africa, Botswana

16 A Grounded Heaters, kettle, electric irons

Type N Brazil 10 A & 20 A Grounded

Table 1: Plug and sockets types

BOTSWANA STANDARDS FOR PLUG & SOCKETS

13 A plugs, socket-outlets, adaptors and connection units

16 A plug and socket outlet systems for household and similar purposes for use in Botswana

BOS 41:2001, Part 1: Rewirable and non-rewirable 13 A fused plugs -specification

BOS 495-0:2012, Part 0: General and safety requirements

BOS 41-2:2001, Part 2:Switched and unswitched socket-outlets-Specifications

BOS 495-1:2012, Part 1: Conventional system, 16 A 250 Va.c.

BOS 41-3:2001, Part 3: Adaptors - Specifications BOS 495-2:2012, Part 2: IEC system, 16A 250 V a.c.

BOS 41-4:2009, Part 4: Connection units - specifications

BOS 495-4:2012, Part 4: Dedicated system, 16A 250 V a.c.

Table 2: Botswana series of plugs and socket national standards

Botswana has two (2) series of standards, BOS 41 (three rectan-gular blades) and BOS 495 (three round pins), for plug types G and M respectively. The BOS 41 se-ries of standards was developed and published in 2001, based on the British standard (BS 1363), this was due to the fact that as a former British colony the wiring installed in the country’s infra-structure was based on the Brit-ish standards.

Subsequently in 2012, the Electrical Installations & Accessories Technical Committee (EED2 TC), developed another series of standards (BOS 495), based on the South African National Standards. The Committee took the decision based on the fact that a lot of appliances are imported from South Africa, and as such it was apparent that we need national standard for products in our market.

WORLD PLUG AND SOCKET TYPES

As per the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) records, there are currently fourteen (14) main types of electrical socket-outlets and plugs used around the world. They have been assigned letters (names) arbitrarily, by the US Department of Commerce International Trade Administration (ITA), spanning from A through to N. The categories are based on the market (countries) they have been developed for, their current rating (usage), plug dimensions, and the presence of ground.

By: O. Ramatlakapela

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Table 1: Plug and sockets types

Figure 1: Types of plug/sockets

The following reasons, are one of the many on why countries have their own plug and sockets:

•  Cross-border compatibility not at the forefront of needs

Initially electricity in household was mostly used for lighting purposes, and the few devices that needed electric power to operate, were connected directly to the house’s wiring. But with emergence of electro-domestic appliance, countries had to manufacturer plugs to allow for portable connection. Due to many people not travelling, and devices used generally not portable, plugs manufactured were not compatible with the ones for other countries.

Figure 2: Incompatibility of plug and sockets

Figure 3: IEC System (global) plug

•  Standardization came too late 

The discussions to standardize plugs commenced around 1950, after being disrupted and halted due to World War II. By the time countries had already invested a lot in their wirings, unfortunately, focusing on their national markets, which resulted in having many different incompatible plugs and sockets.

ANY HOPE FOR GLOBAL USAGE OF UNIVERSAL PLUG AND SOCK-ET?

In a bid towards usage of universal plug, the IEC published its first edition of the International Standard (IEC 60906) for universal plug in 1986; so far South Africa and Brazil are the only developed countries that have adopted it. It is worth noting that Botswana is one of the few developing countries to have developed the standard (BOS 495-2:2012) based on the South African National Standard.

Many countries are reluctant to use the global plug as they have already invested a lot in their national plugs and sockets. Changing to the global plug is a costly process, and for many countries is also like giving up their language.

In spite of the resistance to adopt and implement the IEC International Standard for plugs, the IEC plug is regarded as the safest plug in the world, with only Switzerland’s type J coming closer to that level of safety.

According to the IEC it looks most likely that the future lies with solutions such as the USB plug, multi-plug that can accommodate many different plugs, or new technologies such as wireless charging mechanisms or LVDC (Low voltage Direct Current).

WAY FORWARD (BOTSWANA)

It is high time relevant stakeholders in Botswana meet to review wiring regulations, and clearly specify the preferred or recommended plug/socket system for Botswana.

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How to use it

ISO 9001 is a standard that sets out the requirements for a quality management system. It helps businesses and organizations to be more efficient and improve customer satisfaction.

What benefits will it bring to my business or organization?

Implementing a quality management system will help you:

• Assess the overall context of your organization to define who is affected by your work and what they expect from you. This will enable you to clearly state your objectives and identify new business opportunities.

• Put your customers first, making sure you consistently meet their needs and exceed their expectations. This can lead to repeat custom, new clients and increased business for your organization.

• Work in a more efficient way as all your processes will be aligned and understood by everyone in the business or organization. This increases productivity and efficiency, bringing internal costs down.

• Meet the necessary statutory and regulatory requirements.

• Expand into new markets, as some sectors and clients require ISO 9001 before doing business.

• Identify and address the risks associated with your organization.

What is quality management all about?

ISO 9001 builds on seven quality management principles. Following these principles will ensure your organization or business is set up to consistently create value for its customers. With these seven pillars firmly in place, implementing a quality management system will be much easier.

ISO INSERT

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The seven quality management principles are:

1. Customer focus. Meeting – and exceeding – customer needs is the primary focus of quality management and will contribute to the long-term success of your enterprise. It is important to not only attract but also retain the confidence of your customers, so adapting to their future needs is key.

2. Leadership. Having a unified direction or mission that comes from strong leadership is essential to ensure that everyone in the organization understands what you are trying to achieve.

3. Engagement of people. Creating value for your customers will be easier if you have competent, empowered and engaged people at all levels of your business or organization.

4. Process approach. Understanding activities as processes that link together and function as a system helps achieve more consistent and predictable results. People, teams and processes do not exist in a vacuum and ensuring everyone is familiar with the organization’s activities and how they fit together will ultimately improve efficiency.

5. Improvement. Successful organizations have an ongoing focus on improvement. Reacting to changes in the internal and external environment is necessary if you want to continue to deliver value for your customers. This is of paramount importance today when conditions evolve so quickly.

6. Evidence-based decision making. Making decisions is never easy and naturally involves a degree of uncertainty, but ensuring your decisions are based on the analysis and evaluation of data is more likely to produce the desired result.

7. Relationship management. Today’s businesses and organizations do not work in a vacuum. Identifying the important relationships you have with interested parties such as your suppliers – and setting out a plan to manage them – will drive sustained success.

How do I get started?

There are many ways an organization can implement a quality management system, but here are a few tips to get you started.

Tip 1 – Define your objectives. Why do you want to implement the standard?

Tip 2 – Make sure senior management is on board. It is crucial that everyone – from the top down – is supportive of the initiative and its objectives.

Tip 3 – Identify your organization’s key processes for meeting your objectives as well as your customers’ needs. Within each of these processes, make sure you understand your customers’ requirements and can guarantee that these are met – each and every time. This will form the basis of your quality management system.

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• Scope of the QMS (clause 4.3)• Quality policy (clause 5.2)• Quality objectives (clause 6.2)• Criteria for evaluation and selection of suppliers (clause 8.4.1)

This abstract denotes a list of documents you need to produce if you want to be compliant with ISO 9001:2015. (Please note that some of the documents will not be mandatory if the company does not perform relevant processes.):

Mandatory documents and records required by ISO 9001:2015 By: G. Mabiletsa

Below are the mandatory records (note that records marked with * are only mandatory in cases when the relevant clause is not excluded):• Monitoring and measuring equipment calibration records* (clause 7.1.5.1)

• Records of training, skills, experience and qualifications (clause 7.2)

• Product/service requirements review records (clause 8.2.3.2)

• Record about design and development outputs review* (clause 8.3.2)

• Records about design and development inputs* (clause 8.3.3)

• Records of design and development controls* (clause 8.3.4)

• Records of design and development outputs *(clause 8.3.5)

• Design and development changes records* (clause 8.3.6)

• Characteristics of product to be produced and service to be provided (clause 8.5.1)

• Records about customer property (clause 8.5.3)

• Production/service provision change control records (clause 8.5.6)

• Record of conformity of product/service with acceptance criteria (clause 8.6)

• Record of nonconforming outputs (clause 8.7.2)

• Monitoring and measurement results (clause 9.1.1)

• Internal audit program (clause 9.2)

• Results of internal audits (clause 9.2)

• Results of the management review (clause 9.3)

• Results of corrective actions (clause 10.1)

• Procedure for determining context of the organization and interested parties (clauses 4.1 and 4.2)

• Procedure for addressing risks and opportunities (clause 6.1)

• Procedure for competence, training and awareness (clauses 7.1.2, 7.2 and 7.3)

• Procedure for equipment maintenance and measuring equipment (clause 7.1.5)

• Procedure for document and record control (clause 7.5)

• Sales procedure (clause 8.2)

• Procedure for design and development (clause 8.3)

• Procedure for production and service provision (clause 8.5)

• Warehousing procedure (clause 8.5.4)

• Procedure for management of nonconformities and corrective actions (clauses 8.7 and 10.2)

• Procedure for monitoring customer satisfaction (clause 9.1.2)

• Procedure for internal audit (clause 9.2)

• Procedure for management review (clause 9.3)

There are numerous non-mandatory documents that can be used for ISO 9001 implemen-tation, though the below listed documents are found to be commonly used:

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Apart from quality of materials, workmanship on construction site plays a pivotal role in ensuring structural stability and fitness for purpose of the built environment. Concrete is one of the major com-ponents of a built environment. Ma-terials that go into making concrete include aggregates (fine and course), cement and water. It is important to ensure that general rules associ-ated with proper manufacturing of the concrete are observed in order to realize optimal concrete perfor-mance for any specific application.

WORKMANSHIP ON CONSTRUCTION SITES – SITE-WORK WITH INSITU AND PRECAST CONCRETE

Checking

Before discharging concrete particularly in the case of premix concrete, delivery documents, certificates and condition of materials and components, (including marks and labels where applicable) should be checked against specifications. If not satisfied, the manufacturer should be consulted. For materials used for site mixed concrete, reference should be made to relevant standard. Materials and components should be checked before installation or use. Materials that have been damaged or that have become defective during storage on site should not be installed or used.

In cold and hot weather, the temperature of the concrete should be checked and should be not less than 5 °C and not more than 30 °C unless otherwise specified.

Records

Records should be maintained for the time of completion of discharge of the concrete (for premixed concrete), the location within the construction site where the concrete has been placed and extra water added to the concrete, if any. No water other than the amount required to produce the specified workability should be added to the mixer before discharge, unless otherwise stated.

If the concrete is to be reinforced, the reinforcement steel grades and bending dimensions should be as specified in the design.

Handling and site storage

Wet or damp cement should be handled with care to avoid prolonged direct contact with skin. When cement is mixed with water or even become damp, alkalis are released which can be harmful to the skin. The effect depends on the duration of contact or any skin abrasion on the part of the body involved. As such, suitable protective clothing should be worn when handling cement. If eyes are affected, they should be washed immediately and medical advice sought without delay. It is important to observe all aspects of safety on site with concrete construction. The site health and safety procedures as well as the concrete manufacturer’s instructions should be followed.

Rough handling, shock loading and dropping from height of reinforcement materials should be avoided. Reinforcement should be kept clean by covering with sheeting, if necessary. Reinforcement should be stored off the ground on supports close enough together to prevent permanent deformation. Rust should not be permitted to occur to such an extent that the effective cross-sectional area of the reinforcement is reduced to below the permissible negative tolerance. If necessary, the steel should be loosely covered to exclude rain while allowing good circulation of air all-round the steel. Different sizes of reinforcement should be stored separate from each other and should be clearly labelled.

Note that dirt or grease prevents a proper bond with the concrete. Any badly misshapen bars should not be

By: H. Nyanda

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reshaped on site without the permission and supervision of the specifying authority.

All accessories such as tying wire, joint sealants, water bars, spacers, release agents, etc. should be stored in an environment that will not cause them to deteriorate, become damaged or become soiled or contaminated. The manufacturer’s sitework instructions should be followed.

Distribution of materials

When materials and components are distributed to the work position, ensure that neither construction nor scaffolding is overloaded and that protective measures are maintained to prevent deterioration.

Setting out building

Buildings should be set out relative to securely marked or pegged reference lines and datum levels using serviceable equipment appropriate to the circumstances.

Temperature records

A temperature measuring thermometer should be installed in a position on site which is constantly shaded from the sun and not affected by the warmth from buildings or sheds. The following records should be maintained:

a) daily maximum and minimum temperatures; and

b) daily temperature at the start and finish of normal site work hours.

These records should be available for verification on site.

Accuracy

The instructions given by the concrete manufacturer or in the design should be followed so that the accuracy of concrete does not impair the safety or durability of the structure, subsequent operations or the appearance and function of the structure.

General inspection

When carrying out general inspection, the following tasks should be done:

a) Confirm the availability of materials (including ready-mix concrete), labour, plant and equipment, power, water supply, standby equipment and spares;

b) Confirm that setting out has been checked;

c) Confirm that earlier permanent work has been inspected;

d) If appropriate, obtain weather forecast information;

e) Check adequacy of access to points of discharge and access platforms;

f) Confirm readiness of the batching plant;

g) Confirm compliance with safety regulations; and

h) Confirm arrangements for transporting, placing, compacting, finishing, curing and testing.

When concreting against earth surfaces, it is important to check the stability of earth slopes, safety of earth faces when the construction plant is in operation and arrange-ments for removal of water

When concreting against other surfaces, the following should be checked:

a) False work for conformity with the design, stability and bracing, rigidity and precamber;

b) formwork for

1) conformity of dimensions to within allowable tolerances,

2) strength and rigidity,

3) number of ties and their correct use,

4) provision of the surface to comply with the specifications including the application of a release agent,

5) tightness and sealing of joints,

6) final clean-up before concreting;

c) arrangement for removal of formwork or falsework.

Joints, inserts and openings

For joints, inserts and openings, the following should be checked:

a) Construction of joints, dowels, water bars and sliding layers;

b) Inserts and box-outs for accuracy and security;

c) Fixing of stop ends;

d) Arrangements for forming kickers; and

e) Preparation of hardened surfaces.

For reinforcement, check that size, type, marking, location and cover are correct, anchorages and laps are correct, reinforcement is rigidly secured, surface conditions are correct, and use of spacers including type and size is cor-rect. The aim of the pre-concreting checks is to ensure that the concreting proceeds without delay or defects.

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WHAT IS A NATIONAL CERTIFICATION BODYA National Certification Body (NCB) is an organization that has been legally granted permission to operate the Certification Body’s (CB’s) Scheme within their country. The CB Scheme aims to facilitate trade by harmonizing national’s standards with international standards and to enhance cooperation among accepted NCBs.

Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS), has a function called Certification Services Unit and is today the only body offering certification services of the Quality Management System standard and many Product standards in accordance with the established BOBS Management Systems Certification Scheme and the BOBS Standards Mark Certification Scheme respectively. These Schemes are established in line with the ISO/IEC 17021-1 and the ISO/IEC 17065 International Standard. Mark Certification Scheme respectively. These Schemes are established in line with the ISO/IEC 17021-1 and the ISO/IEC 17065 International Standard.

Below are the precursors of marks issued by BOBS for use by entities certified against the quality management systems standard and product standards as applicable;

Management Systems certification refers to the issuance of a written assurance (the certificate) by an independent external body that it has audited a management system and verified that the management system conforms to the requirements specified in the management systems standard. Product certification is the process of certifying that a certain product has passed performance and quality assurance tests or conforms to requirements stipulated in the relevant standards.

NB: A company or an organization may only use these quality marks once they are CERTIFIED by Botswana Bureau of Standards. These marks are copyrighted and the property of BOBS at all times.

Facts about certification

Certification can be a useful tool to add credibility, by demonstrating that certified products or services

Standards Mark

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Certified Organisation

Management Systems Certification Logo

meet the expectations of customers/consumers. For some industries, certification is considered to be mandatory thereby carrying a legal or contractual status.

Difference between certification and accredi-tation?

Certification – the provision by an independent body of a written assurance (a certificate) that the product, service or system in question CONFORM or COMPLIES with specific requirements. Certification is commonly known as third party conformity attestation.

Accreditation – in the context of standardization, is the formal recognition by an independent body, generally known as an accreditation body/authority that a certification body or testing facility operates and renders its services in a COMPETENT manner and according to set international standards.

How to choose a certification body?

A company or an organization wishing to engage the services of a Certification Body (CB) should consider the following:

• Evaluate the CB amongst several other CBs.

• Contact the certified clients of the CB for reference purposes, where practicable.

• Check if the certification body uses the relevant CASCO standards.

• May also check if the CB is accredited, noting that accreditation is not compulsory but provides independent confirmation of competence thereby improving confidence.

By: K. Ketshabile

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CERTIFICATION’ NOTE OF RECOGNITION

Who qualifies for a note of recogni-tion?

A note of recognition is a letter given to a company that imports certified products and distributes into another country. The letter is issued following recognition of certification licence issued by a Certifying Body through its Management, (i.e.QMS) and Product (, i.e. Standards Mark Certification). The process of certification is considered to be the same around the world; hence when a certified product is imported into another country it is considered based on the principles of TBT (Technical barrier to trade) and does not necessarily have to go through the same certification process. In this light, the Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS) has a service termed a ‘note of recognition’ which is crafted for the local distributors to ensure that products that are imported and distributed locally are verified of their quality. The note of recognition can be requested at BOBS either through visit, telephone, fax and or email.

Requirements for a note of recogni-tion to be issued

Following a client request for a note of recognition to be issued, the applicant for the note of recognition shall provide the following to the bureau;

• A copy of certification licence

• The issuer of the certification licence should be from a accredited Certification Body

• The certification licence validity period should not expire in less than twelve (12) months from the date of application for the note of recognition

Upon submission of the copy of the certification licence, BOBS will then contact the issuer of the certification to establish the authenticity and the certification status of the licence.

Processing of a note of recognition

Once the certification licence has been confirmed to be valid and authentic, a note of recognition will be prepared and issued to the client. The note will be valid for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of issuance and can be renewed thereafter if the applicant so desires. The service is provided by BOBS for an administration fee of P600.00 per standard.

Further those issued with a note of recognition cannot on the basis of this, claim they have been certified by BOBS. They are not entitled to the use of the BOBS Certification logo and Standards Mark as to attain such licence follows a different process of audits and inspections by BOBS.

Note: There is however another type of Note of recognition issued by BOBS through the Department of Regulatory Compliance for the implementation of Standards Import Inspection Regulation(SIIR) through the Product Conformity Programme(PCP).This type of Note of recognition is issued in recognition of verification documents such as test report, certificate of compliance from either of inspection agencies (IA) recognised by BOBS in respect of a consignment of a regulated product meant for distribution in Botswana market. The validity period of this type note of recognition depends on the frequency of importation of the regulated products within a period not exceeding a month. Every shipment of consignment into Botswana must be ac-companied by note of recognition certificate.

By: V. Matseka

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HACCP is designed for use in all segments of the food industry from growing, harvesting, processing, manufacturing, distributing, and merchandising to preparing food for consumption. Prerequisite programs (PRPs) such as current Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) are an essential foundation for the development and implementation of successful HACCP plans. Food safety systems based on the HACCP principles have been successfully applied in food processing plants, retail food stores, and food service operations. HACCP has been universally accepted by government agencies, trade associations and the food industry around the world.

HACCP is important because it prioritizes and controls potential hazards in food production. By controlling major food risks, such as microbiological, chemical and physical contaminants, the industry can better assure consumers that its products are as safe as good science and technology allows.

For successful implementation of a HACCP plan, management must be strongly committed to the HACCP concept. A firm commitment to HACCP by top management provides employees with a sense of its importance in the production of safe food.

Developing a HACCP Plan

The format of HACCP plans varies throughout the world. In many cases the plans will be product and process specific. However, some plans may use a unit operations approach. Generic HACCP plans can serve as useful guides in the development of process and product HACCP plans. However, it is essential that the unique conditions within each facility be considered during the development of all components of the HACCP plan.

To develop a HACCP plan, five (5) preliminary tasks need to be accomplished before the application of the HACCP principles to a specific product and process. The five preliminary tasks are given in Figure 1 below.

These guidelines will facilitate the development and implementation of an effective HACCP plan. While the specific application of HACCP to manufacturing facilities is emphasized here, these guidelines should be applied as appropriate to each segment of the food industry under consideration.

Upon completion of these five preliminary tasks, the seven principles of HACCP are then applied.

HACCP is a systematic approach to the identification, evaluation, and control of food safety hazards based on the following principles;

THE IMPORTANCE OFHACCP IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY

The Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point HACCP is a management system in which food safety is ad-dressed through the analysis and control of biological, chemical, and physical hazards from raw material pro-duction, procurement and handling, to manufacturing, distribution and consumption of the finished product.

By: N. Mlobeli

ASSEMBLE HACCP TEAM

Describe the food and itsDistribution

Describe the intended use andConsumers of the food

Develop Flow Diagram WhichDescribes the Process

Verify the Flow Chart

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Principle 1: Conduct a hazard analysis.

Principle 2: Determine the critical control points (CCPs).

Principle 3: Establish critical limits.

Principle 4: Establish monitoring procedures.

Principle 5: Establish corrective actions.

Principle 6: Establish verification procedures.

Principle 7: Establish record-keeping and documentation procedures

The next step is to establish a plan that describes the individuals responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining the HACCP system. The team is then responsible for developing the plan and coordinating its implementation. An important aspect in developing these teams is to assure that they have appropriate training. Upon completion of the HACCP plan, operator procedures, forms and procedures for monitoring and corrective action are developed. Implementation of the HACCP system involves the continual application of the monitoring, record-keeping, corrective action procedures and other activities as described in the HACCP plan.

Maintaining an effective HACCP system depends largely on regularly scheduled verification activities. The HACCP plan should be updated and revised as needed.

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Every year ushers two important days in the world standard and quality calendars. First is the World Standards Day which is celebrated on the 14th October of each year followed by the World Quality Day commemorated on the second Thursday of November of each year.

Standard is defined as “a document, established by consensus and approved by a recognized body, that provides for common and repeated use, rules, guidelines for activities or their results, aimed at the achievement of the optimum degree of order in a given context” (ISO definition).

Quality is defined as “the degree to which a product or service is free of defects, conforms to established standards of performance or value, and meets customer satisfaction requirements” (Oxford Dictionary).

The World Standards Day is commemorated every year on the 14th October to raise awareness to stakeholders about the importance of standardization in the world economy and to also recognize the collaborative efforts of experts who voluntarily and tirelessly dedicate their efforts to the development of standards. The World Standards Day was first celebrated on 14th October 1970 by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) which was years later joined in the annual celebration by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

In contrast, the World Quality Day was first promulgated by the United Nations in 1990 with the aim of creating global awareness about quality. The day is commemorated on the second Thursday of November of each year with the intention to raise quality awareness in the business community around the world. The day also enables organizations to take cognizance of quality in their day to day running of businesses and to demonstrate commitment to quality excellence which is the cornerstone for organizational growth and prosperity.

Each year the responsible bodies set out the theme for World Standards Day and World Quality Day respectively underpinned by the most prevailing aspect of standardization or quality for that particular year. These days are celebrated throughout the world in different forms such as seminars, workshops, competitions or visits to relevant places.

Any country that emphasizes and preaches quality consciousness to its people cultivates a culture of embracement of the best things in life rather than passive acceptance of mediocrity as a way of life.

WORLD QUALITY DAY VERSUS WORLD STANDARDS DAYBy: G. Motshidisi

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