Medical device group awarded SA8000 industry standard

Rocialle, a UK-based supplier of medical devices, has been certified to SA8000, the highest international standard for labour practices, by SGS United Kingdom Ltd.

Rocialle, which is part of the Berendsen plc group of companies and a supplier of operating theatre procedure packs, medical instruments, devices and medical consumables, has also achieved level 2 in the NHS’s own Labour Standards Assurance Scheme (LSAS), but, the group claims, will gain a ‘competitive edge’ from the new certification.

“Not only does it prove that at our facilities we have the highest standards for labour practices, it helps us ensure our suppliers around the world meet the relevant criteria as well,” said Liam Keene, Quality Manager at Rocialle. “It opens up the circle of quality.”

SA8000 certification addresses issues including forced and child labour, occupational health and safety, freedom of association and collective bargaining, discrimination, disciplinary practices, working hours, compensation and management systems.

“We have worked with SGS for many years and have always found that they understand our business and are always very clear about what is required,” said Mr Keene.

“Achieving Social Accountability certification such as SA8000 pushes us up the league table when we are tendering for work. In the past, the emphasis was on certification for quality management systems and then on environmental practices. Now auditing labour practices – both internally and at our suppliers – is becoming a requirement in more and more tender documents.”