Last updated 24 June 2020
FORS Audits
When will FORS Bronze site audit restart?
Following the easing of government restrictions on travel and work across parts of the UK, FORS resumed Bronze on-site audits, with stringent coronavirus safety measures in place to protect members and auditors. As of Monday 15 June, FORS members are able to request a Bronze on-site audit in the usual way, via their dashboard. Click here to read more about it and to review the FORS COVID-19 Bronze audit guidance.
What happens if I fail my Bronze on-site audit after 15 June 2020?
If your organisation fails the Bronze on-site audit, then the usual 30 day period will apply to have a follow-up Bronze audit. Depending on the non-conformances, it’s usually possible for the follow-up audit to be done remotely. If you fail to pass the Bronze follow-up within the 30 day follow-up period, then your organisation will be downgraded to dormant.
The operating centre that needs to be audited is not in England, can I have an audit?
The COVID-19 Bronze audit guidance is based on information issued by the UK government. Public health is devolved in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and additional guidance applies. Regional, national and international restrictions apply which may prevent FORS to undertake an audit – please request your Bronze on-site in the usual way and the auditing body will let you know if it is not possible. Downgrades are suspended until 30 November 2020 and therefore you will be maintained at your current accreditation level even if you can’t have a Bronze audit.
If a FORS auditor cancels the Bronze audit because they’ve got COVID-19 symptoms, what happens to my audit?
FORS will endeavour to find a replacement auditor. If this is not possible, the audit will need to be rescheduled (at no cost to you).
If I need to cancel my audit because of COVID-19 symptoms, or a COVID 19 positive test, will the cancellation charge apply?
The usual audit cancellation policy applies. Click here to view.
The FORS COVID-19 audit guidance states that the auditor will use hand sanitiser on entering the audit site and on leaving the audit site – is the auditor providing the hand sanitiser?
Yes the auditor will carry hand sanitiser. However, FORS requests that hand sanitiser is available in the meeting room where the audit will be conducted.
I haven't got a separate room for the audit but I work in a large room with only a few of us and we and can easily hold the audit at the other end of the room, is this acceptable?
No it’s not. The room would need to be available just for the auditor and auditee for the duration of the audit.
Can a FORS Bronze on-site audit go ahead at my home address?
It can only go ahead at your home address if the space where the audit is going to be conducted meets the following criteria:
- The room is in a separate building or separate part of your home such as an annex
- It can be accessed without entering the home, or any other lived-in buildings
- It is not a lived-in accommodation at other times
- It is large enough to maintain the required two metre social distancing between auditor and auditee
- All other requirements are maintained in accordance with the COVID-19 Bronze audit rules and requirements, for example the building must be well ventilated, hand sanitiser must be provided and you must have conducted a risk assessment
Can I still upload my Silver and/or Gold renewal documents?
Yes, you can still upload Silver and Gold evidencing and this will be assessed in the normal way.
My Bronze/Silver and/or Gold accreditation is due to expire. What will happen to my accreditation?
Although FORS has suspended all downgrades until 30 November 2020, please undertake your audit or submit your application as soon as you can. Please note that you will not gain time on your accreditation and your expiry date will remain the same regardless of when you have the audit.
My Bronze has expired and I want to renew my Silver/Gold, what do I do?
Bronze on-site audits are taking place with strict
COVID-19 rules and procedures in place and you must undertake a Bronze audit before submitting your Silver/Gold re-approval. However, if you cannot meet the COVID-19 rules and requirements (ie you cannot hold the audit meeting in a well-ventilated designated room that is not occupied by other people) and therefore you can’t have a Bronze audit, you can suggest another location that meets the rule for the audit so that it can go ahead. We will not downgrade your Silver/Gold and your accreditation status will be maintained at its current level until November at the latest.
I want to progress/renew my Silver/Gold accreditation, but I am not sure what training I can get my drivers to do.
You should be able to get your drivers to undertake the mandatory driver training. Following JAUPT relaxation around Driver CPC rules, LoCITY Driving, which is mandatory every five years at Gold, can now be undertaken remotely and is offered by a number of training providers – check here for a list of training providers that are licensed to deliver LoCITY Driving and authorised to deliver this training remotely. A temporary relaxation is in place around meeting the mandatory ‘S5 Professional development’ WRRR requirement for SUD and VS – click here for more information.
I cannot deliver any FORS toolbox talks in person to my drivers at the moment. Will it be accepted at audit if I email the toolbox talk/s to them to read and they return it/them to me signed once read?
Yes, during the current restrictions on movements and with social distancing measures in place, emailing toolbox talks to your drivers will be accepted at FORS audit. You must however be able to provide evidence of the following, having made sure that your drivers have had sufficient time to read and understand the toolbox:
- The toolbox talk being sent to the drivers (eg email showing recipients)
- The toolbox talk being read, understood and signed for (this can be in a form of a register with a signature, or a copy of the toolbox talk signed by the individual)
- Evidence of the signed toolbox talk being retained for the required time frame and made accessible when requested
FORS Training
When will FORS Professional manager training re-start?
FORS Professional manager training is taking place via webinars – this includes FORS Practitioner workshops, Fleet Management Essentials and Collision Management. For more information about the webinars and to register, click here.
I'd like more information about what the FORS Professional webinars are and how it all works.
You can click here to find out lots of information about how the webinars work, what equipment you will need, what platform we use, how to download it, and much more.
I am working my way towards FORS Practitioner qualification, what happens now there is no face-to-face training?
If anyone wants to undertake FORS Practitioner webinar training, then webinar attendance will count towards your FORS Practitioner qualification. As all audits have been suspended for the time being and your accreditation status maintained to its current level, there is no need to be concerned about not meeting any training requirements at the moment.
What training can I or my drivers undertake in the current situation?
- FORS Professional manager training – In order to allow members to undertake manager training despite the government restrictions on movement currently in place, all FORS Professional classroom-based training courses are now being held as live, online webinars. FORS Professional Practitioner workshops, FORS Professional Car and Van Fleet Management Essentials, FORS Professional HGV/PCV Fleet Management Essentials, and FORS Professional Collision Management have all been adapted to suit the online format. If you haven’t already booked a place, click here to view date options and register to attend one of the webinars
- FORS Professional driver eLearning – eLearning modules are available in the usual way. Click here to access these. The LoCITY eLearning modules for drivers and managers were recently updated, so take the opportunity to undertake these if you can
- FORS Professional driver classroom training
- Following JAUPT relaxations around Driver CPC rules, FORS Professional LoCITY Driving, Truck Smart, and Staying Legal can be undertaken remotely and are offered by a number of training providers – check here for a list of training providers who are licensed to deliver these courses and authorised to deliver this training remotely
- Safe Urban Driving and Van Smart – in order to assist operators, a temporary relaxation is in place around meeting ‘S5 Professional development’ WRRR requirement for SUD and VS – click here for more information. FORS is now offering funded remote SUD/VS (theory part only at the moment) and LoCITY Driving – click here to view the dates
I want to do some training but I have been furloughed. Can I do eLearning or online training such as webinars?
FORS is continuing to offer eLearning for all its members, as well as webinars for managers, and some training providers are offering Driver CPC courses online following JAUPT relaxations. The government is encouraging furloughed employees to undertake training. However, please check the .gov website for advice about training and furloughing, and discuss with your employer where appropriate.
