SA 8000 Social Responsibility Standard Implementation Steps

SA 8000 social responsibility standard implementation steps

Implementing the SA 8000 social-responsibility standard follows a set sequence of steps.

Current-state assessment

The first step establishes the firm's position against legal requirements. Worker satisfaction with working conditions is assessed, and the staff environment is reviewed for safety and health.

Social-responsibility management plan

This step sets out the coordinating team and the supporting departments, identifies the topics and owners that will apply time and effort most effectively, and puts the plan on a timeline. The plan is reviewed on set intervals and updated when needed.

Training

The social-responsibility management network is first introduced to key personnel at the appropriate levels. Rather than covering every detail equally for everyone, training is matched to the responsibility and authority of each role. This keeps training costs, time, and attention focused, and avoids drowning staff in detail. Induction for new staff and ongoing awareness programmes are both established.

Setting up the social-responsibility management system

In practice, this usually means forming working teams sized to the firm. A social-responsibility policy is developed under the lead of those teams, shaped around the firm's structure. Procedures are put in place for child labour, occupational health and safety, forced labour, freedom of association and collective bargaining, discrimination, disciplinary practices, working hours, wages, and other topics. The firm also screens and monitors its subcontractors against social-responsibility criteria, and operates within this framework.

Internal audit

Once the social-responsibility management network is considered complete, internal audits verify that sub-systems are running in a coordinated way, that they are compatible with each other, and that they deliver the expected results. The nonconformities and improvement areas identified are worked through in a structured plan.

Management review

Senior management reviews the social-responsibility network against legal and other requirements; evaluates subcontractor selection, objectives, corrective and preventive actions and their performance, client issues and satisfaction, improvement activities, and resource needs; and secures the effectiveness and continuity of the system.