SOC LLC, a Day & Zimmermann (D&Z) company, announced that it has achieved its certification for Management System Quality of Private Security Contractor (PSC) Operations, known as ANSI/ASIS PSC.1-2012 (PSC.1). SOC, a global provider of integrated security and critical infrastructure solutions for U.S. Government and commercial customers, received PSC.1 Certification as part of an American National Standard (ANS), aimed at assuring the quality of PSC services while maintaining the safety and security of operations with respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in contingent and hostile environments, where the rule of law has been undermined by conflict or natural disaster.
In order to achieve PSC.1 Certification, SOC provided complete and full transparency in a rigorous audit and inspection of the Company’s quality and risk management systems, in addition to onsite inspections of field operations abroad. The inspection was performed by third party audit firm, MSS Global Ltd. (MSS Global). MSS Global is a certified auditor of the ANSI PSC.1-2012 standard through the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). On March 18, 2016, SOC’s PSC.1 Certification was issued by MSS Global. The certification is valid through March 2019.
Mark Cooper, Director of Safety & Quality at SOC spearheaded the certification and audit process and is the driver of SOC’s commitment to transparency and accountability in safety policies, trainings, safety and risk management systems, which he leads at SOC. SOC’s Ethics and Compliance Team, led by SOC General Counsel Mike Littlejohn, has worked to establish a culture of compliance backed by a robust ethics programs, training and policies in support of the Company’s core values of safety and integrity. “Achieving PSC.1 Certification is an important step in acknowledging SOC’s integrity and high standards of ethics and compliance in the private security sector,” commented Steve Selfridge, President, SOC. “Because we remain a trusted partner to our customers, our teams believe in being held accountable for our actions - we stand behind this commitment in everything we do, and in support of the Mission,” he added.
ANSI/ASIS PSC.1-2012, The Management System for Quality of Private Security Company Operations – Requirements and Guidance, is a mechanism for PSCs and their clients to provide demonstrable commitment, conformance, and accountability to the principles outlined in the International Code of Conduct (ICoC) for Private Security Service Providers. This standard builds on the Montreux Document and the International Code of Conduct (ICoC), both of which SOC supported as a key participant during the inception of the guidelines.
About ASIS - ASIS International, known as the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS), is the leading organization for security professionals worldwide, dedicated to increasing the effectiveness and productivity of security professionals by developing educational programs and materials that address broad security interests and specific security topics. An ANSI-accredited Standards Developing Organization, ASIS works with national and international standards-setting organizations to advance security practices worldwide through the development of standards and guidelines within a voluntary, non-proprietary and consensus-based process.
About ANSI - As the voice of the U.S. standards and conformity assessment system, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) empowers its members and constituents to strengthen the U.S. marketplace position in the global economy while helping to assure the safety and health of consumers and the protection of the environment.
About SOC’s Ethics & Compliance - SOC’s ethics and compliance efforts are led by the Company’s executive management team, dedicated ethics program staff, and the commitment of employees. SOC maintains a written Code of Ethics and Standards of Business Conduct, provides regular training on compliance topics important to our business, and offers a worldwide Company Ethics Help Line for employees and third parties to ask questions, raise concerns or complaints about operations. SOC prohibits retaliation against any employee or other person for raising questions, concerns, or complaints in good faith.
SOC is a member of the Defense Industry Initiative (through Day & Zimmermann) and a Charter signatory to the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Providers, as a multilateral pact sponsored and supported by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and several governments. As an operator in high risk, complex environments, SOC acknowledges its commitment to the preservation of Human Rights and compliance with ANSI quality management standards for Private Security Companies (PSC 1 –2012).
