The introduction of the ISO 9000 quality assurance system is gathering momentum. So what is it all about? According to Lloyds, it is first of all about opening doors to markets that were previously closed. And second, about maintaining the quality designs and services. But there are many more sound reasons for ISO 9000.

Again quoting from Lloyds, customers have stated:

In their survey, Lloyds noted that other benefits included improved efficiency, productivity and market share, a reduction in client audits and improvements in marketing and public relations. When asked if the benefits of certification exceeded or fell short of expectations, 86% of participants said ISO 9000 had either met or exceeded their expectations. The benefits were particularly pronounced in the longer term. One diving organisation has stated that as a result it had become much easier to train personnel to replace others, because their job descriptions had for the first time been clearly identified and recorded. The well-established and well-run diving companies will find that there is relatively little they have to do in order to qualify and will benefit from a swift certification process. The less well-run companies will benefit enormously by the introduction of invaluable though simple, quality assurance procedures into their management.

As far as the UK offshore underwater industry is concerned, the ISO 9000 certification scheme is already well-established and achieving good effects. But it is only now beginning to climb up the beach and gain a foot-hold on land. The biggest barrier to its acceptance inland/onshore has been the relative ignorance and/or complacency of the client organisations to their legal responsibilities, not only under the diving regulations but particularly under the new Construction (Design and Management) Regulations, which came into effect on 31 March 1995. (The HSE produce a useful leaflet explaining the new CDM regulations, reference number 443.)

But this is changing as we speak. The HSE is at last, actively targeting the client organisation to bring them up to speed and spelling out their responsibilities. No doubt, the HSE will use its teeth and launch into prosecutions if their message is ignored. The direct result of this effort will be a rapidly increasing preference by client organisations for ISO 9000 certified diving companies. It is not so much "Will it happen?" but more "It's already started to happen".

So where do you go to find out more, is it right for you and how much will it cost? Why not ask the three most popular options used by the underwater industry? Remember to ask for special, low cost schemes for small businesses (if applicable). In alphabetical order:

Certification authority: BSI Quality Assurance

Contact: John Glackin, telephone 01908 220908

Comment: Run nation-wide briefing seminars and an active working group to promote and explain the concept; probably the most active in the inland/onshore underwater industry.

Certification authority: Det Norske Veritas

Contact: Baron Philip, Commercial Department, telephone 0171 716 6690

Comment: Disappointingly slow in responding to our enquiry but they do have a small business scheme with audit fee "as low as £1,100" with no application or certification fees.

Certification authority: Lloyds Register Quality Assurance Ltd

Contact: A free-phone help line for enquiries, telephone 0800 900 012

Comment: If you are still not sure what it all means, ask for their very helpful and easy understand brochure called "Setting Standards for Better Business".

There are many more certification authorities that can give you the ISO 9000 qualification, the total was 53 at the last count. The Board of Trade has established the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) whose responsibility it is to accredit various certification authorities, three of which have been mentioned above. If you would like to shop around a little more, and see who else can give you your ISO 9000 certificate, call the UKAS on telephone 0171 233 7111. But remember one important point, the value of your ISO 9000 certificate is greatest where the certifying authority which you selected, is best known and most relevant to your specific clients.

In reality, Underwater Contractor knows of only two inland/onshore diving organisations who have been awarded the ISO certificate to date (see below). There are certainly two or three more and there are about a dozen more in the pipeline. The snowball has already started down the hill. We will be letting you know which diving organisations join this important list as soon as we know ourselves. So please inform Underwater Contractor if you qualify to be included. We would also like to know even if your company is just in the process of being registered, especially if you have committed to an assessment date.

Organisations with inland/onshore diving services certified to ISO 9000 standard:

Ocean Technical Services Ltd

Plymouth Ocean Projects Ltd

Watch this space!