Hambantota International Port (HIP) was the recipient of ISO Integrated Management System standards for its quality, environmental consciousness and health and safety. The ISO Integrated Management system will enhance performance driving everyone from bottom to top levels for better quality, environmental consciousness and health and safety standards and practice. HIP is the first Sri Lankan Port to receive this certification
The accreditations received were ISO 9001:2015 for Quality, ISO 14001:2015 for Environmental protection and ISO 45001:2018 for Occupational Health and Safety, all of which are a pioneering achievement for the region in terms of the port/terminal industry. In line with the IMS certification process, the port successfully faced the stage-2 external audit from the 5th to 16th July 2021, conducted by Bureau Veritas Lanka (Private) Limited.
The accreditation process was launched in January 2021, under guidance and approval from the Executive Committee of HIP, who considered HIP ready. An ISO Quality circle was formed consisting of representatives from all departments. Nexus Business Solutions, the local consultant, provided the introduction, guided and assisted the port team, via training and process management throughout the process of certification.
A QHSE (Quality, Health & Safety and Environment) policy was the first step of the process followed by an Integrated Management System (IMS) Manual that describes all quality aspects of the standardization process. Continuous monitoring and development is carried out from then on and the ISO quality circle conducts planned internal audits and document revisions. External audits are conducted by Bureau Veritas on an annual basis to ensure that the company is constantly evolving and developing in accordance with ISO standards.
Image-1