ISO Quality Services Limited – July Newsletter

22 Jul, 2014

Welcome to the July edition of our newsletter where we in the middle of a heatwave, Novak Djokovic won Wimbledon 2014 in the men’s singles final and William Hague resigned as foreign secretary.

What’s in this issue?

Congratulations to our Newly Certificated Clients

RP Translate Limited

RP Translate Limited are based In Bristol and began in 1993 and matured into a limited company in 1997.

They have recently achieved their ISO 27001:2013 Information Security management standard.

RP Translate specialises in global translation solutions for the Market Research Industry.  

Their aim, quite simply, is to be the world’s premier language service provider for the Market Research sector.  Their relationship with you, their clients, is what will get them there.

For more information on help they can help your business, contact the team on 0117 379 0400, email or visit their website

“Ruth Partington, Director (far left), Keah Murphy, Management Representative (middle), John Temple, Director (right) of RP Translate Limited being presented with their ISO 27001:2013 Information Security Management System Certificate.

Planit Products (Toastabags) Limited

Planit Products Limited Trading As Toastabags are based in Malvern, Worcestershire and were founded in 2006.

They have recently achieved their ISO 9001:2008 Quality management system.

They are a manufacturer of innovative cookware and house ware products.  They are the home of the original Toastabags.  

Planit Products ever evolving and growing portfolio of products means that they always have something new and exciting to offer; with many of them patented and trademarked the range of items are truly individually innovative.

For more information on the company, or to purchase any of their products for the workplace,  kitchen, home and garden – contact 01684 574797, email  or visit their website

Lindens Technical and Environmental Limited T/A  Lindens Confidential

Lindens confidential are based in Luton were founded in 2014.  

They have achieved their ISO 9001:2008 Quality management standard.

Lindens Confidential is a company offering a premium destruction service for all confidential or sensitive documents and goods, covering Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire and North London.  Lindens Confidential offer a professional and reliable confidential waste destruction service to give you peace of mind that your business or organisation is complying with the key principles of the Data Protection Act.

The services they provide include:

•     Confidential waste secure destruction
•     On site (mobile) or off site shredding
•     Flexible scheduled or one off collections
•     Specialist single use sealed sacks for maximum security
•     Archive clearouts

For more information on how Lindens Confidential can help your business, contact Andrew on 0800 999 4887, email or visit their website.

 

Pictured from left to right, Rick Allard, Senior Assessor, ISO Quality Services Limited and Andrew Pegg, Owner, Lindens Technical and Environmental Limited T/A  Lindens Confidential

NHS patient information in data breach by Diagnostic Health

As many as 10,000 NHS patients may have been affected by a series of data protection breaches by a private firm.

A leaked report from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) revealed patient data was stored unencrypted by Birmingham company Diagnostic Health.

The company, which carries out ultrasound scans for the NHS, said it had voluntarily suspended services.

Diagnostic Health added it had now completed an action plan that had been agreed with the ICO.

The data protection breaches date back to June 2013.

The Care Quality Commission watchdog was alerted to the breaches last year by a whistle-blower and passed them on to the Stafford and Surrounds CCG, which commissioned services from the firm.

The CCG’s Chief Executive said: “We conducted our own investigation. There were concerns of a serious nature so we informed the information commissioner.”

Diagnostic Health first won a contract from the now defunct South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust.

It was soon providing scans from GP surgeries to clients in Staffordshire, The Wirral, Kent and Medway, Berkshire and West Yorkshire. In March 2014 it was approved to supply services to Wandsworth.

Stolen computer

While the ICO refused to show the BBC its report, a leaked copy showed Diagnostic Health was aware it was breaching data protection guidelines by 26 June 2013, but continued adding to the database until 22 July.

The ICO audit, prepared in the summer, revealed a company laptop stolen from a member of staff’s home had not been originally reported to the information commissioner.

It also showed staff at the company shared the same password to access files on a web-based storage account.

GP referrals, meanwhile, were being emailed directly to staff inboxes, while there was no audit trail of who accessed the system and when.

At the time of the ICO report, Diagnostic Health was also unable to delete personal data from an ex consultant’s laptop and had no control as to how it was being used.

The data controller at University Hospital Birmingham, said that that they were shocked by the findings and that there was a secure electronic system, called N3, that should be used to send all patient data.

“I think that it is extremely sad and I would be shocked that patient records were on the Google drive. That is not how NHS patient records should be handled.”

As recently as December, the CQC reported that Diagnostic Health’s record systems were still not compliant.

Two out of 10 staff records did not contain a CRB check. There was also no record of some staff being registered with their professional body.

Action plan

The BBC made its first request to see the Information Commissioner’s report into Diagnostic Health using the Freedom of Information Act in November.

The Information Commissioner refused to provide it on the basis that there was an on-going investigation and that it would prejudice its “regulatory functions”.

In March, it refused again, saying its investigation had been completed and there was to be no further action.

While NHS organisations have to allow an investigation, the ICO said audits of private firms were on a “consensual” basis and the publication of any report or summary required the firm’s consent.

Stafford and Surrounds CCG confirmed that it believed Diagnostic Health was now compliant, but the company had not yet begun providing scans in Staffordshire.

Source

Could your heating system be more efficient?

There is a new quick win in the battle for energy saving and carbon reduction targets – Hydromx®

Hydromx® is a new Energy Saving Solution for use in Heating and/or Cooling systems to make them more efficient.  Hydromx uses Nano Thermo Technology to transfer heat 37% better than water!  Implementation is achieved simply by replacing the water in the heating or cooling system, for example in your radiators. It is that easy and that quick. The system immediately becomes more efficient reducing carbon emissions, cutting gas consumption and slashing costs.

For anyone looking to meet the continuous improvement challenge of the  ISO14001 Environmental Management, or in fact any business looking to save money and help towards combating climate change, Hydromx is a quick win. There are no infrastructure changes, minimal/no disruption to your business and immediate results. Hydromx is the ONLY heat transfer fluid with a return on investment, not just a cost.

A Gloucestershire company has already benefited from using Hydromx.

Forest Green Rovers, in Nailsworth, is the most sustainable football club in the UK having achieved the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) gold standard for environmental performance in 2013. Forest Green Rovers FC saved 30% heating their stadium last year, thanks to Hydromx. That’s a reduction of 18.3 tonnes of CO₂, or as Trevor Saunders, FGR FC Operations Director puts it, “in football terms equivalent to the carbon absorbed by over 4 football pitches of trees”.

    

For more information on Hydromx® and the cost / environmental changes it could make to YOUR business,  please contact  Claire or Pete at PBA Energy Solutions via email or on 0823 543 5421.

New dates released

Here at ISO Quality Services Ltd we understand the importance of training and are pleased to offer the following courses in support of your ISO Management Systems:

Quality Manager Training

Tuesday 9^th September 2014 – Full Day Course

Quality Manager training will cover the following topics, as well as allowing for question & answer sessions on the day:

• Principles and elements of ISO 9001
• Role of the Quality Manager
• How to integrate ISO into the daily activities of the business
• Effective objective setting
• How to run a Management Review Meeting effectively
• Guide to internal auditing
• Focus on bench marking and its importance to quality management
• Continuous improvement

Per Delegate £295.00 plus VAT

Environmental Manager Training

*Date Change* – Now Wednesday 22nd October 2014 – Full Day Course

Environmental Manager training will cover the following key topics, as well as allowing for question & answer sessions on the day:

• What is ISO 14001:2004?
• Principles of Environmental Management
• The role of an Environmental Manager
• Using the management system as a strategic tool to identify areas where cost savings can be captured
• How to monitor the effectiveness of the management system within the company
• How to integrate ISO into your daily business activities and strategic planning of the Organisation
• Continuous improvement
• A guide to internal auditing

Per Delegate £295.00 plus VAT*

Health & Safety Risk Assessment Training

Thursday 26^th November 2014 – 9.00 – 15.00

We are pleased to offer a training course for you and your staff on Health and Safety Risk Assessments, which will assist in dispelling myths and explain in very easy terms, how to approach them.

Our highly experienced trainer will cover the following topics:

• Concepts of risk and hazard.
• Concepts of a safe work environment.
• Hazard identification and differentiation between hazard and risk.
• Principles of risk control/s – workplace precautions.
• Safety law and risk assessment legislation.
• Risk assessment, risk analysis and risk management.
• Risk Assessment and the relationship with BS OHSAS 18001:2007.
• Best Practice
• Question and answer sessions throughout.

Per Delegate £225 plus VAT*

Internal Auditor Training

Tuesday 18^th and Wednesday 19^th November 2014

Internal Auditing training is a 2 day course covering the following topics, as well as allowing for question & answer sessions on the day:

• Principles of ISO
• The role of the Management Representative
• Brief overview on the management system to be audited
• What is the purpose of an audit?
• How should an audit be approached?
• Maximise the benefits of monitoring that the procedures are regularly being controlled
• Find and rectify negative trends, maximise positive trends
• A practical auditing exercise is undertaken by the delegate on the business, which will be marked

Per Delegate £395.00 plus VAT*

All prices are inclusive of course material and refreshments and we offer a multi booking discount should you wish to book more than one place on a course. Please ask for details. 

Sounds interesting? Do you want to know more? 

For further details of each course and others that we offer, please visit our website at www.isoqsltd.com/training

To book your place please call 01905 670303 or email our Training Co-ordinator debbie@isoqsltd.com

Did you know..?

Twitter Rules Trustworthy Websites

Social networks scored high in a new report on website privacy and security, whilst news companies scored the lowest.

Twitter has nabbed the No. 1 spot for the second year in a row as the most trustworthy consumer website (according to a new report from the Online Trust Alliance).  Other companies that joined Twitter in the top ten, included Netflix, Walmart, Zulily, and Sony Electronics.

The OTA reviewed 800 retailer, banking, news, government, and social networking websites across three categories.  They were domain and brand protection, privacy, and security.  Of the 800 websites, only 30% made the honor roll. About half (53%) failed in at least one of the three categories, the report said.

While half of the top 50 social networking and sharing sites made OTA’s honor roll list – the highest percentage among the sectors – its number had surprisingly decreased by two percentage points each year since 2012. However, the report attributed the dips to more stringent scoring requirements.

“The Social 50 outpaced all other sectors. Their high scores are in part a reflection of system architectures that are much more homogeneous and integrated,” the report said.

Social networks and sharing sites scored higher than the other sectors in adoption of email authentication, at nearly 100%, and honoring of Do Not Track browser settings, which it led with 8% adoption. Social networks lagged in other privacy practices, however, including privacy solutions for third-party data collection (16%), and logged the highest rate for data breach and loss incidents (18%).

Other sites that made the Social Top 50 honor roll include AOL, Blogger, Dropbox, Foursquare, Instagram, MySpace, Pinterest, WordPress, Yahoo, and YouTube. Facebook, LinkedIn, Tumblr, and Zynga made the honor roll for their third consecutive year. To be able to qualify for the honor roll, sites must have received a composite score of 80% or more and at least 55% in each of the main categories, the report said.

The News 50 sector, which debuted on the list this year, scored poorly in most categories, the report found, and named only two sites to its honor roll: Google News and the New York Times. “Their low scores are attributed to several issues, including third-party data collection, indefinite data retention policies, and failure to encrypt their registration or login screens with SSL, leaving personal data exposed and ripe for abuse,” the report said.

Source

We wore it Red for the British Heart Foundation!

Here at ISO Quality Services Limited we like to do our bit for Charity and on Monday 9^th June 2014 we got out our red clothes for the British Heart Foundation.

One of our local clients Steve Johnson from Stepway Building Services Ltd is cycling from London (London Clapham Common) to Brighton (Madeira Drive).  A gruelling 54 miles in aid of the Charity!  We decided to support him and the charity by doing our bit to raise money.

The British Heart Foundation is the UK’s number one heart charity. Founded in 1961 the foundation has been going for over 50 years and has already done so much for heart diseases such as Coronary Heart disease which is the UK’s biggest killer. Thousands of research projects are taking place all over the UK to fight heart disease, not just for a cure but preventative action, symptoms, treatment and lifesaving skills!

Pictured: The team at ISO Quality Services Ltd after digging deep in their wardrobes!

We’d like it if you could…

…join us on Linkedin!

If you haven’t joined already – what are you waiting for?

ISO news, training updates and offers, meet the ISO QSL team and connect with other like-minded individuals

Visit us at:  ISO QSL LinkedIn Company page

Networking events and seminars we are attending in July – August 2014

Greater Birmingham Business Expo

Date of Event: 15 / 08/ 2014

Cost: FREE -Members and Non-Members welcomed

Time: 12.00 – 16:30

Venue: Macdonald Burlington Hotel, 126 New Street, Birmingham, B2 4JQ

Website

Event Description

The largest networking event of the year with the opportunity to make new connections and catch up with existing contacts. This event provides the opportunity to raise your business profile and showcase your products and services. 
 
Delegates attending will be from a wide range of business sectors from across the Greater Birmingham region. You will receive a delegate list at registration and will have free access to a ‘meet me board’ in order to make your networking targeted and effective. 

Are you a client of ours? 

Would you recommend our services to your clients / suppliers

…why not refer a friend?

Receive a free case of wine or a £50 Marks & Spencer’s Voucher…..the choice is yours!

(To qualify for this you must refer a successful lead).

To offer your referrals please contact – lynne@isoqsltd.com or call 01905 670 303