What does SMETA / Sedex cover?
SMETA is Sedex’s social audit methodology, not a certification. It produces findings and corrective-action information. Two-pillar audits cover labour and health and safety; four-pillar audits also cover environment and business ethics. Approved audit companies conduct the assessments.
Who it is for
Businesses and suppliers assessing labour, health and safety, and other agreed ethical-trade topics.
Key areas to understand
Start with these areas. Identify which requirements apply to your activities and who is responsible for them.
- 1Agree the pillar scope and site coverage with the buyer.
- 2Prepare reliable records and access to worker perspectives.
- 3Manage findings and corrective-action follow-up.
Evidence to prepare
This list is a starting point. Check the standard for all required documents. For each item, record who is responsible, the activity or site it relates to, and a recent example showing how it works.
- Site profile and agreed audit scope
- Employment, working-time and payroll records
- Health and safety inspections
- Relevant environmental and ethics records
- Corrective-action plan and closure evidence
Keep records that explain what was checked, which requirement was used and who checked it. Include any action taken when a requirement was not met. Link each record to the work it supports.
An internal audit example
Suggested checks from 4Auditee
Sample one working-time concern and reconcile attendance, payroll and production scheduling records. Review the explanation with appropriate staff and protect worker confidentiality. Follow any action through to a later period to check whether the underlying scheduling pressure changed.
Choose a sample that suits your activities and risks. If you find a gap, record the requirement, the evidence and what was missing. Check more examples if the first results suggest a wider problem.
A common problem to check
Do not describe a SMETA report as a pass certificate. Buyers need to understand the findings, remediation and scope of the assessment.
Prepare for assessment
The assessment type for this guide is social audit methodology. Confirm the requirements, what will be assessed and how the assessment will work with the responsible body or customer. These steps help you prepare. You must also follow the scheme’s official rules.
- Define what is covered. List the products, services, activities and sites. Record the standard edition, additional scheme rules and customer requirements.
- Find what is missing. Compare the requirements with current work. Prioritise gaps by risk. Assign someone responsible and a completion date.
- Keep records of everyday work. Check a sample of actual records and speak with the people involved. Make sure they understand their responsibilities.
- Check the results. Complete internal reviews and audits. Check that corrective actions worked before closing problems.
From one site to many
Make it easy to find who is responsible at each site. Keep company policies separate from records of local work. Link each site’s records to its activities, risks and requirements so you can spot gaps at individual sites.
Sites that share a management system do not automatically qualify for one certificate or assessment. Confirm which sites can be included and how they will be checked with the assessment body.
About this guide and its sources
4Auditee wrote this guide using the public source below. The evidence list, audit example and preparation steps are our suggestions. Read the official standard and scheme rules for the full requirements. This guide does not include the standard’s full text or provide certification.
Sedex: SMETA / Sedex reference information