ATTICS International Contingency Procedure (Including Withdrawal of Approved Status for the Centre)

These policies are developed exclusively for ATTICS International. Any copying, sharing, or reuse without written consent is not permitted.

Purpose

The purpose of this Contingency Procedure is to ensure that ATTICS International maintains continuity, integrity, and compliance of its services and certification activities in the event of unforeseen circumstances or serious non-compliance.

This procedure defines actions to be taken when an Approved Centre, partner organization, or internal operational unit fails to meet required standards or when continuation of services is at risk. It also outlines the process for suspension or withdrawal of Approved Status where necessary.

Scope

This procedure applies to:

It covers all services including:

Definitions

Approved Centre:

Any organization or facility formally authorized by ATTICS International to deliver training, examinations, assessments, testing, inspections, or related services.

Contingency Event:

Any situation that disrupts normal operations or threatens compliance, impartiality, service continuity, or stakeholder confidence.

Withdrawal of Approved Status:

Formal revocation of authorization granted to a centre to operate under ATTICS International.

Policy Statement

ATTICS International is committed to:

Contingency Events

Contingency procedures may be initiated in cases including, but not limited to:

Contingency Actions

Depending on the nature and severity of the event, ATTICS International may implement one or more of the following actions:

Business Impact Analysis (BIA)

ATTICS International conducts annual Business Impact Analysis to identify critical services, determine Recovery Time Objectives (RTO) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPO), and prioritize resource allocation during contingency events.

Suspension of Approved Status

If an approved centre fails to meet requirements but corrective action is still feasible, ATTICS International may:

Withdrawal of Approved Status

ATTICS International may withdraw approved status when:

Withdrawal Process

Alternative Service Delivery Mechanisms

Where approved status withdrawal affects ongoing services, ATTICS International implements alternative delivery mechanisms including remote auditing, online proctored examinations, partner laboratory referrals, or temporary service suspensions with client consent.

Protection of Learners and Clients

Where withdrawal occurs, ATTICS International shall:

Communication

All stakeholders including:

shall be informed as appropriate, ensuring transparency and trust.

Crisis Communication Protocol

A standardized crisis communication template is maintained for notifying affected stakeholders during contingency events, including key messages, contact points, and status update frequency commitments.

Records and Documentation

All contingency actions, decisions, and communications shall be:

Appeals

Any centre subject to suspension or withdrawal may submit a formal appeal under ATTICS International’s Complaints and Appeals Policy. Appeals shall be handled impartially and independently.

Continual Improvement

Lessons learned from contingency events shall be reviewed to:

Testing and Exercises

ATTICS International conducts annual table-top exercises simulating various contingency scenarios, with participation from relevant departments and documented lessons learned integrated into procedure updates.

Compliance with International Standards

This procedure supports conformity with:

Related Documents

This policy should be read in conjunction with:

Distribution

This policy is distributed to all employees via the company intranet and is available to stakeholders upon request. All personnel are responsible for reviewing and complying with the latest version available in the document management system.