The ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board developed the SN 9001 Quality Management Systems to help reduce risk in the professional snow and ice removal industry.

Smithers Quality Assessments recently announced that it is the first certification body to be accredited by the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board to certify professional snow and ice management companies to the SN 9001 Quality Management Systems standard.

The new standard resulted from a need identified by the Accredited Snow Contractors Association for a management system that would provide the framework for documenting operating processes and procedures to help moderate litigation against the snow removal industry in slip and fall accident cases.

SN 9001 applies both a pre-season inspection and in-event assessments to ensure conformity to the standard. By implementing SN 9001, companies hope to demonstrate their commitment to quality and safety.

"ASCA adopted the first set of industry standards for the professional snow and ice management industry and built on them to develop SN 9001 with the goal of reducing risk," said Kevin Gilbride, executive director of the Accredited Snow Contractors Association. "A management system and audit with SN 9001 provides companies in our industry with increased quality, safety, and service that may potentially reduce insurance rates."

Gretchen Merriman, director of operations for the quality and environmental management systems certification body, said, "To achieve SN 9001, snow removal companies will demonstrate that they have a robust quality management system in place with consistent and verifiable processes and records."