A SMETA site audit is built upon the Four Pillars, focusing on a rigorous review of six months of payroll and attendance records alongside confidential employee interviews involving 10%–25% of the total workforce. These on-site walkthroughs are designed to identify safety hazards and ensure strict adherence to labor laws.

Opening Meeting

Signing the Integrity Agreement

At 10:00 AM, the Lead Auditor convenes the meeting in the factory’s primary conference room, activating a secure electronic terminal to present their APSCA (Association of Professional Social Compliance Auditors) credentials (RA 2170XXXX series). The proceedings begin with the signing of the Integrity Agreement (Ref: SMETA-6.1-ID). This document requires the physical signatures of the factory’s legal representative and all attending management personnel on three original hard copies, finalized with the official company seal. The entire 15-minute process is logged within the audit recording system to ensure transparency.

The agreement establishes the auditors' independence throughout the 8-hour assessment. The auditors declare that the scope is limited to quality and compliance sampling of finished goods that are 100% packaged. The finished goods zone must remain secured and clearly labeled, with unauthorized intervention in work-in-progress (WIP) areas strictly prohibited. The Lead Auditor retrieves production schedules from the past 52 weeks and selects at least 25 random shipment records to cross-reference batch numbers against physical stock in the warehouse.

Auditors immediately request access to the complete 12-month attendance database from the Finance and HR departments. This covers raw electronic punch-clock data for all 350 employees; summary tables that have been manually edited or anonymized are strictly rejected. Citing Article 48 of the local Labor Law regarding minimum wage standards, auditors use scientific calculators to verify the statutory base rates for 30 sampled payslips, ensuring overtime is paid at 1.5x for weekdays and 2.0x for rest days.

• Social Insurance: Provide 12 months of payment proof for all employees, ensuring the contribution base aligns 100% with payroll records.

• Fire Safety: Prepare the building fire safety acceptance reports for the 4,000 m² facility, along with annual maintenance logs for the automated fire alarm system.

• Occupational Health: Submit recent monitoring data for workplace hazards, specifically noise decibels and VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) concentrations.

• Equipment Certification: Verify registration certificates for three on-site forklifts and two freight elevators, ensuring validity through the date of the audit.

Even if the factory had packaging label discrepancies in the previous year, this audit adheres to the standard SMETA 6.1 general inspection rules. Light intensity in the finished goods inspection area is measured with an illuminance meter and must remain stable above 500 Lux. Auditors also test indoor fire hydrants; static water pressure must stay between 0.15 MPa and 0.35 MPa. Furthermore, the yellow-and-black warning lines in front of each hydrant must be exactly 10 cm wide.

Auditors perform a GPS-verified check-in via their mobile terminals and upload timestamped site photos to the system. A key clause in the Integrity Agreement binds factory management to a non-retaliation policy, forbidding any discrimination or disciplinary action against interviewed employees. A random audit of 10% of personnel files must confirm identity verification was conducted on the date of hire; any record of child labor (under 16) or underaged workers performing prohibited tasks will result in immediate failure.

• Strict Prohibitions: No vouchers, gift cards, electronic "red packets," or lunch arrangements exceeding local business standards may be provided to auditors.

• Sampling Integrity: Factory personnel are forbidden from using body language or hints to influence the auditor’s selection of sampling boxes.

• Logistics Independence: Auditors will decline all transportation or accommodation subsidies, accepting only drinking water and access to a power outlet.

• Surveillance: CCTV systems in the finished goods warehouse must remain fully operational and unblocked throughout the audit.

Following GB/T 2828.1 standards, the sampling plan is set to Level II Tightened Inspection. Auditors weigh finished cartons on electronic scales, where the deviation between actual and listed weight must be within ±3%. Any evidence of double-taping on cartons will trigger a high-priority inspection of that batch. Additionally, emergency lights in the warehouse are tested to ensure they provide at least 90 minutes of continuous backup illumination.

Upon signing the agreement, the Lead Auditor verifies safety exit routes against the factory floor plan. Measurements must confirm that the distance from any work point in the finished goods area to the nearest outward-opening safety door does not exceed 30 meters. Simultaneously, the HR Manager must provide a 100% labor contract signing rate report.

• First Aid: Ensure first aid kits contain at least 15 essential medical items, all within their expiration dates.

• Waste Management: Inspect the waste storage area for ground hardening and leak-proof lining, with geomembrane thickness reaching 1.5 mm.

• Wage Parity: Compare piece-rate details for inspectors to ensure the unit price meets the minimum wage conversion factor set by the local Human Resources and Social Security Bureau.

• Electrical Safety: Inspect all distribution box covers in the finished goods area to ensure zero exposed wiring.

High-resolution forensic cameras are used to document shipping marks, safety warnings, and "Country of Origin" labels on cartons. Every sampled outer box is stamped with an "Audited" mark. During packing list verification, auditors drill down into individual SKUs to ensure barcode readability exceeds 99.9%. This granular level of detail is intended to eliminate any room for "compliance gaming" in social responsibility reports.

Management must provide records of the most recent all-staff fire drill, with photos proving a participation rate of over 95%. Auditors record the current ambient temperature (e.g., 26°C) in the monitoring log to ensure the environment does not contribute to worker fatigue. Warehouse rack spacing is measured to ensure a minimum width of 0.9 meters for forklift maneuverability and emergency egress.

• Specialized Roles: Submit qualification certificates for all specialized operators (e.g., electricians, forklift drivers) from the past year to ensure a 100% certification rate.

• Calibration: Provide annual calibration certificates for the 10 electronic scales used in the finished goods area.

• Fire Suppression: Verify the number of fire extinguishers; the protection radius for each unit must not exceed 20 meters.

• Insurance: Confirm that accidental injury insurance has been purchased for all employees by sampling three original policy documents.

Protecting Employee Rights

At 10:30 AM, auditors move to a private 12 m² meeting room on the second floor of the administration building. All surveillance cameras are powered down, and curtains are drawn tight. Infrared rangefinders ensure the interview station is at least 3.5 meters from doors or windows to keep background noise and conversation levels below 35 dB. Management must retreat to an office area 30 meters away.

From the total pool of 350 employees across the packaging, QC, and loading teams, 25 workers are selected via a random number generator for in-depth interviews. This sample covers every process from sealing and labeling to pallet wrapping. Auditors record employee IDs and tenure, specifically targeting "veteran" staff with over 12 months of service to verify long-term compliance.

The interview log is stamped "Confidential." Auditors sign a Privacy Protection Commitment on-site, and all records use codes (S1 through S25) instead of real names. Each employee is given a card with a Sedex Global Grievance QR code and a local "010" complaint hotline. Each interview is scheduled for 20 to 35 minutes.

Auditors retrieve 15 social insurance payment vouchers for the finished goods team, ensuring 100% coverage across pension, medical, unemployment, work injury, and maternity insurance. They also review work injury logs from the past year, focusing on forklift collisions or pallet collapses. If the injury rate is reported as zero, auditors cross-check this by asking employees about the frequency of first aid kit usage.

Physical conditions in the QC area are strictly monitored. Lighting at the inspection tables must measure 550 Lux, exceeding the 500 Lux visibility standard. Auditors verify the distribution of cooling fans to ensure indoor temperatures remain below 28°C during summer. Additionally, employees must present dust mask (GB 2626 standard) requisition logs to confirm they are replaced every 180 days.

Workers are asked to demonstrate the operation of eyewash stations, which must be located within a 15-meter walking distance. The water flow must reach a height of 15 cm. Auditors verify that employees participate in chemical spill drills every 180 days, supported by GPS-timestamped photos.

For female employees, auditors focus on the 128-day statutory maternity leave records. Systems must show clear start and end dates. Auditors compare these with job-substitution plans to ensure workers return to their original positions. If the monthly turnover rate in the finished goods line exceeds 15%, the interview sample size is increased.

At the loading docks, auditors check that loaders' safety shoes meet the 15kN impact resistance standard. Guardrail heights are recorded at 1.2 meters. Auditors also verify that piece-rate unit prices have been posted on public bulletin boards for at least 30 days; any changes must be backed by meeting minutes signed by the Employee Representative Committee.

All interview notes are placed in specialized bags with tamper-evident seals. Training logs are checked to ensure each inspector receives at least 8 hours of job-specific training annually. Signatures are cross-referenced to rule out proxy signing by a single individual. ly, auditors verify that no wage deductions or fines have been recorded over the last 240 working days.

Essential Document Submission

The factory must provide an electronic Personnel Roster for all 350 employees, detailing department, ID number, hire date, and job nature. From this, auditors pull annual payroll ledgers from May 2025 to April 2026, with amounts accurate to 0.01. Ledgers must break down base salary, position allowances, weekday/weekend overtime, and triple-pay for statutory holidays.

Original attendance records for the past 52 weeks must be exported directly from the three on-site terminals in TXT format; summary tables are not accepted. Auditors analyze daily hours for 25 packaging staff to ensure shifts stay under 11 hours. A single minute over the 60-hour weekly limit is flagged as a serious non-compliance.

• Social Security: Provide the last 12 months of payment details and tax receipts for all five insurance types.

• Contracts: Retrieve 350 original labor contracts to verify clauses regarding working hours and compensation.

• Onboarding: Submit registration forms and ID copies for all 2026 hires to confirm age verification was performed on day one.

• Terminations: Provide wage settlement proof and resignation letters for the three most recent departures, ensuring final pay dates align with departure dates.

Attendance and payroll data must maintain a logical "closed loop." If a 9:00 PM packing operation is recorded in the QC logs for March 15, 2026, but the attendance system shows the entire team clocked out at 5:30 PM, the auditor will issue a finding for data falsification. This cross-verification covers daily production logs, warehouse entry slips, and QC records.

For the finished goods section, the factory must submit Inspection Records (FRI) from the last 180 days, covering at least 30 batches. Auditors record the AQL (Acceptable Quality Level) used; for this on-site Level II check, limits are set at 2.5 for Major and 4.0 for Minor defects. Any batch that failed to meet these standards must be accompanied by a rework record.

Fire safety documentation must be provided for the 4,500 m² structure. Auditors verify that the building name, floors, and structure match the site exactly. The 2026 Annual Fire Facility Inspection Report is scrutinized for static pressure readings of the 15 warehouse hydrants. Any data falling outside the 0.15–0.35 MPa range is recorded as a safety hazard.

• Equipment: Submit special equipment registration certificates for the five electric forklifts and two freight elevators.

• Licenses: Provide valid operating licenses for warehouse managers, forklift drivers, and elevator operators (100% certification required).

• Calibration: Submit third-party annual calibration reports for the 10 electronic scales and 3 tensile testers, valid through the audit date.

• Drills: Prepare records for the two most recent all-staff fire drills, including GPS-timestamped photos.

Occupational hazard reports for the packaging workshop and warehouse are retrieved. Noise levels for inspection roles must be below 85 dB, and light intensity must be stable at 500 Lux. Auditors record the report numbers and verify the validity of the CMA (China Inspection Body and Laboratory Mandatory Approval) seal. If the team handles chemicals, health check-up receipts from the last 12 months must be provided.

Auditors will not accept the excuse that "this wasn't checked in previous audits." Regardless of past results, the SMETA 6.1 full-scale check is mandatory. Auditors independently verify monthly inspection logs for all emergency lights, ensuring they can provide over 90 minutes of power and that bulbs show no signs of blackening.

• Injury Logs: Provide monthly work injury statistics for the past year; even "zero" reports must be signed by the person in charge.

• Chemical Safety: Inspect Chinese-language MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) for all adhesives and cleaning agents used in packaging.

• Ethics: Submit management procedures regarding anti-discrimination, anti-retaliation, and anti-harassment, and verify the latest revision date of the Employee Handbook.

• Training: Provide "Three-Level" safety education records for the finished goods team, ensuring a minimum of 24 cumulative hours per person.

Regarding environmental compliance, the factory must provide its discharge permit or fixed pollution source registration. Auditors review contracts for hazardous waste disposal (e.g., packaging waste, used glue bottles). The contractor must possess HW49 hazardous waste disposal qualifications. Auditors record the number and weight (to 0.01 tons) of the most recent transfer manifest, ensuring it matches the on-site temporary storage ledger.

ly, three files from the QC group are randomly sampled to check for voluntary overtime agreements signed by the employees, which must specify compensation standards. Auditors then verify the canteen’s hygiene license and staff health certificates. They cross-check the QC team's meal breaks to ensure that after 4 hours of continuous work, employees receive at least a 45-minute break to prevent fatigue-related quality issues.

Auditors compare fire floor plans with actual fire zones. In the warehouse, stack heights must never exceed 2.5 meters, and a horizontal clearance of at least 0.5 meters must be maintained from all light fixtures. The brightness of exit signs is measured; if emergency batteries are dead or signs are missing, it is recorded as a SMETA Critical Non-Compliance.

Site Tour

Physical Environment Verification

During the walkthrough of the finished goods warehouse, auditors maintain a steady pace, first focusing their attention on the yellow floor markings. These warning lines are exactly 120 mm wide, defining aisles that must maintain a minimum width of 1.2 meters to ensure adequate clearance for manual forklifts and personnel. Storage locations are managed via a three-tier "Zone-Row-Position" system; each bin card must correspond to the specific SKU in the system in real-time, with an allowable error rate of less than 0.5%.

A vertical clearance of at least 45 cm must be maintained between the top of the packaged goods and the ceiling sprinklers. This gap ensures that, in the event of a fire, the water mist can effectively cover a 3-meter radius. Auditors also randomly measure the moisture-proof height at the base of the racks; pallets must be at least 10 cm off the ground and free of visible mold or cracks to prevent fungal contamination of the outer cartons.

Regarding stacking distances, finished goods must be kept 50 cm away from walls and structural pillars. This layout facilitates both ventilation and the strategic placement of pest control stations. Auditors verify the numbering of rodent traps or glue boards along the perimeter, ensuring logs show inspections every 24 hours and that traps are positioned at least 2 meters from products to prevent bait fragments from contaminating the packaging.

• Rack Loading: Each shelf level must display a clear load limit sign of 2,000 kg; overloading is strictly prohibited.

• Lighting Specs: Fixtures must be equipped with explosion-proof covers, typically utilizing 40W to 58W tubes.

• Floor Maintenance: Floors must be treated with a dust-proofing hardener, maintaining airborne dust levels below 2g per 100 m².

In the finished goods inspection (QC) area, ambient light intensity is the primary metric for verifying inspection validity. Illuminance at the center of the inspection table must remain stable between 1,000 and 1,200 Lux. Auditors take readings at three points—left, center, and right—with a maximum deviation of 50 Lux. Light sources must use D65 standard tubes with a Color Rendering Index (CRI) above 90 to ensure color perception remains within a 15% visual variance.

Inspection tables are designed at a height of 85 cm to 90 cm, allowing inspectors to maintain a natural vertical line of sight while standing. Auditors retrieve records for the last three batches to confirm that sampling sizes strictly follow AQL 2.5/4.0 standards. For an order of 3,200 units, a Level II sample size of 125 units is required; a single missing unit in the sample renders the process invalid.

All physical measurement tools must bear valid calibration labels. Digital calipers require a precision of 0.01 mm and must undergo external verification by a CNAS-accredited facility every three months. Electronic scales must be self-calibrated daily before use, with a tolerance within 0.1g. For moisture tests, probes must penetrate materials by 3 mm, with readings ideally falling within the industry standard range of 8% to 12%.

• Sampling Bins: Approved products must be kept in blue bins, while non-conforming items must be placed in red, lidded containers.

• Data Integrity: Inspection logs must record specific numerical values rather than binary "OK/NG" notations.

• Segregation: The rejected goods area must be enclosed by a 1.8-meter-high metal fence and kept under lock and key.

Packaging integrity is critical for maritime transit safety. Auditors verify the certification stamps on the side of cartons, confirming an Edge Crush Test (ECT) of 32 lbs/in or a bursting strength of 200 lbs/in². Sealing tape must be 50 mm wide, applied in an "H" pattern, with an overlap length of 5 cm to 7 cm to prevent accidental popping during transport.

Drop tests for export goods are a focal point of the physical audit. Auditors require a demonstration on a rigid concrete surface at least 10 cm thick. For a carton weighing 15 kg, the drop height is fixed at 76 cm. The test follows a "one corner, three edges, six faces" sequence for a total of 10 free-fall drops. Packaging is failed if a carton's edge deforms by more than 3 cm or if the internal product shifts by more than 0.5 mm.

Micro-environment control within the packaging is also governed by strict data. Anti-mold chip dosage is calculated based on volume, typically requiring at least 2g of active agent per cubic foot. Auditors check the opening logs for these chips; any packets exposed to air for more than two hours must be discarded. For textile products, each carton must contain 5g to 10g of silica gel desiccant, maintaining a moisture content below 5%.

• Barcode Quality: Barcodes must achieve an ANSI grade of C or higher when scanned.

• Marking Accuracy: The deviation between the centerline of side marks and top marks must not exceed 5 mm.

• Weight Accuracy: The discrepancy between net and gross weight for each carton must be within ±0.2 kg.

Loading docks represent the final physical barrier. Docks are standardized at 1.2 meters high, with a slope gradient of less than 1:12 to ensure forklift stability. The dock edge must be fitted with rubber bumpers at least 10 cm thick. Overhang rain sheds must extend 1.5 meters, and dock portals should feature inflatable seals to reduce external air intake by over 70% during loading.

Chemical Safety Standards

During the site walkthrough, auditors inspect the fireproof cabinets used for stain removers. The yellow secondary containment trays at the base must be capable of holding 25% of the total stored volume or 110% of the largest single container. The floor must be coated with a 2.0 mm epoxy resin layer, free of any visible cracks to prevent chemical seepage into the ground.

Every container of cleaning oil or thinner must feature GHS labeling covering at least 10% of the bottle's surface. Fonts must be at least 5 mm high to ensure fire or toxicity symbols are legible from 2 meters away. On-site MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) must be the Chinese version, contain all 16 standard sections, and be updated within the last three years to match the current chemical batches.

In chemical treatment areas, eyewash stations must be located within a 15-meter linear path. Auditors personally test the water pressure via the foot pedal; the water columns must reach a height of 15 to 20 cm within a pressure range of 0.2 to 0.4 MPa. The flow rate must be no less than 11.4 liters per minute, capable of 15 minutes of continuous flushing, and must be connected directly to the municipal water supply.

At silk-screening workstations, exhaust hoods must be installed within a 300 mm radius of the operation point. Using a hot-wire anemometer, auditors verify that the capture velocity at the hood edge reaches 0.5 m/s to keep chemical vapors out of the inspector's breathing zone. Exhaust ducting must be welded from 0.8 mm stainless steel, and the external activated carbon filtration units must have a filling density of 500 kg/m³.

Inspectors must wear 0.4 mm thick nitrile chemical-resistant gloves, free of any visible pinholes. Respirator cartridges must be replaced every 40 hours of cumulative use, with issuance logs tracked by employee ID. Temporary chemical storage at the packaging station must not exceed a 5-liter shift limit and must be kept in pressure sprayers with automatic shut-off valves and anti-static coatings.

Secondary chemical containers must bear labels including the product name, hazard category, and batch number. Label durability is tested on-site by wiping with 50% isopropyl alcohol for 30 seconds; the text must remain legible. Storage racks must not exceed 1.5 meters in height to prevent falls, and shelf edges must be fitted with 50 mm anti-slip guardrails.

Used rags contaminated with chemicals must be disposed of in red metal bins with foot-pedal lids to prevent vapor escape. These bins must be lined with 0.08 mm leak-proof PE bags, physically sealed with cable ties. The hazardous waste room exterior must display a 40 cm triangular warning sign, while the interior floor requires a 10 cm high concrete bund painted in high-visibility yellow.

• Warehouse Ventilation: Hazardous waste storage areas must achieve at least 10 air changes per hour.

• Fire Suppression: At least two 8 kg ABC dry powder extinguishers must be provided for every 50 m².

• Safety Distance: A minimum fire separation distance of 10 meters must be maintained between the chemical warehouse and finished goods.

• Mixing Precision: Scales used for ink mixing (30 kg capacity) must have a readability of 0.1g.

Residual heavy metals in finished products must comply with the 100 ppm limit. Auditors review third-party lab reports for recent shipments and cross-check them against the chemical ingredients found on-site. If a report indicates lead or cadmium levels are below detection limits, but lead-based paint is found on the floor, a physical traceability audit is immediately triggered. Wastewater drainage pH monitors must be locked between 6.0 and 9.0.

Living and Welfare Facilities

Upon entering the dormitory area, the auditor’s first task is to verify the building’s fire safety certification. Occupancy per floor is strictly limited to 150 persons. Using laser rangefinders, auditors measure the living space.

After deducting the footprint of beds and wardrobes, the net floor area per person must be between 2.5 and 4 square meters. In a 24 m² room with four bunk beds, the maximum occupancy is capped at 8 people. Auditors review the dormitory register to ensure "hot-bedding" (two people sharing one bed on rotating shifts) is not practiced.

Every employee must be provided with a private locker of at least 0.12 cubic meters, with the key kept by the employee. Upper bunk guardrails must be at least 20 cm high and cover at least half the length of the bed.

Emergency lights in dormitory corridors must be spaced no more than 15 meters apart. During a power-cut test, floor-level illuminance must exceed 1.0 Lux. Evacuation plans must be drawn at a 1:100 scale, with the current location marked by a 10 mm red dot. Each floor requires at least two remote exits with a minimum door width of 1.1 meters.

Canteen hygiene licenses must be posted at the service counter and remain valid for 12 months. Kitchen floors must have a 1:50 drainage slope to prevent pooling. For every meal produced, a 100g sample must be taken and stored in a dedicated refrigerator at 4°C for 48 hours.

The ratio of sanitary facilities is strictly audited. For female employees, there must be one toilet per 15 people; for males, one toilet and one urinal per 25 people. Partitions must be at least 1.8 meters high with door gaps under 5 mm to ensure privacy.

Handwashing stations must feature sensory faucets to minimize cross-contamination. Soap dispensers must be refilled before they fall below 10% capacity. Floor slip-resistance must be above 0.5, and at least two "Caution: Wet Floor" signs must be available per 100 m².

Drinking water points must be accessible across the living quarters, with a maximum walking distance of 50 meters. Filter replacement logs must be affixed to the machines, with a 6-month maintenance cycle. The factory must post water quality reports meeting GB 5749 standards, covering 35 indicators including E. coli and heavy metals.

Shower water temperatures must be maintained between 38°C and 42°C to prevent scalding. Floors must drain within 5 minutes, requiring a pipe diameter of 100 mm. One industrial-grade washing machine (min. 5 kg capacity) must be provided for every 30 employees, with 24-hour power access.

• Dormitory Lighting: 150 Lux at the center of the room, and 300 Lux at desk areas.

• Waste Management: Living waste bins must be sealed with lids and cleared at least twice daily.

• Fire Safety: Each dormitory floor must have at least two 4 kg ABC dry powder extinguishers.

• Stairwell Width: Evacuation stairs must be at least 1.1 meters wide with a 15 cm step height.

The medical room must provide one standard first aid kit for every 100 employees. Kits must contain at least 15 essential items, including elastic bandages, medical tape, and sterile gauze. Auditors check expiration dates; any item expired by even a single day will result in a non-compliance finding.

If the canteen uses Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), the cylinder room must be isolated outside the building, at least 10 meters from open flames. Cylinders must be physically secured with chains. Gas leak alarms, linked to explosion-proof exhaust fans, must be installed 30 cm from the floor.

Document Review

Payroll and Working Hours Verification

The auditor’s primary task is to review a complete set of payroll and attendance records for the preceding 12 months. For a facility with 300 employees, the sample size typically ranges from 50 to 60 individuals, specifically targeting peak production periods (October and November) and months surrounding the Lunar New Year (January and February). The sampling pool must include packing staff, Quality Control (QC) inspectors, warehouse personnel, and employees who have resigned within the last six months.

Attendance verification begins with the raw backend data from fingerprint or facial recognition systems. The auditor cross-references specific dates—for instance, Wednesday, November 15. If the ERP system shows 2,000 finished units were moved to the warehouse at 6:30 PM that day, the clock-in records for the relevant production and packing teams must show they were on-site past that time. Any "logical gap" where production occurs while the attendance system shows staff are off-duty is flagged as a major discrepancy.

Wage calculations are benchmarked against local statutory minimums. For 2024, the monthly minimum wage is 2,690 RMB in Shanghai and 2,360 RMB in Shenzhen. Auditors calculate the hourly rate by dividing the monthly salary by 21.75 days and then by 8 hours. In Shenzhen, if an employee’s base pay is 2,300 RMB, they are considered underpaid even if no overtime is worked.

Overtime (OT) pay must strictly follow statutory multipliers: 150% for weekdays (e.g., 20.34 RMB/hour in Shenzhen), 200% for weekends (27.12 RMB/hour), and 300% for statutory holidays such as October 1–3 (40.68 RMB/hour). Attempting to offset OT pay with "attendance bonuses" or "position allowances" will be identified as wage arrears during a deep data dive.

• The 60-Hour Weekly Limit: A hard ceiling consisting of the 40-hour regular work week plus a maximum of 20 hours of OT.

• Continuous Work Limits: Employees must receive at least 24 consecutive hours of rest within every seven-day period.

• Timeline Consistency: Time stamps across electronic logs, manual sign-in sheets, warehouse entry slips, and QC records must align.

• Piece-Rate Reconciliation: Total output × Unit rate must be ≥ (Statutory Base + Statutory OT). Any shortfall must be documented as a supplementary payment.

Daily QC reports record SKU numbers, inspection times, results, and signatures. If a QC certificate signed at 8:30 PM on December 12 indicates packaging was completed, but the attendance system shows the entire department clocked out at 5:30 PM, the facility is suspected of concealing overtime hours.

Auditors also perform a "hidden headcount" check by reviewing canteen procurement logs for rice and cooking oil. Based on an average consumption of 0.3 kg of rice per person per day, if November’s purchase of 2,500 kg suggests a headcount far exceeding the attendance roster, it indicates the presence of "invisible labor" or unrecorded shifts.

• Payment Proof: Electronic bank transfer receipts are required; pay dates must not fall after the deadline specified in the labor contract.

• Termination Settlements: Records for employees who left in the last three months are checked to ensure all wages were settled on the day of departure or within the legal grace period.

• Social Security: Recent payment details are compared against the attendance roster to identify any discrepancies in coverage.

• Deductions: Monetary fines for product defects or policy violations are strictly prohibited and recorded as non-compliance.

For piece-rate workers, auditors conduct a deep-dive on 3 to 5 high-output employees. For example, if an employee produced 5,000 units at 0.9 RMB/unit in August, their 4,500 RMB earnings are reverse-calculated. If the resulting hourly rate is lower than the local statutory rate (including OT), the factory must prove they paid the difference.

Chemical usage logs often serve as "smoking guns" for hidden shifts. If a requisition form for adhesives or cleaning agents is dated Sunday at 2:00 PM, while attendance records claim the plant was closed, this contradiction is flagged as a serious breach of integrity under SMETA 6.1.

• Comprehensive Working Hours: Facilities using non-standard hour systems must provide valid original approval from the local Bureau of Human Resources and Social Security.

• Paid Leave: Auditors verify pay records for annual leave (5 days after 1 year), sick leave (at least 80% of base pay), and maternity leave.

• Income Tax: Data from the tax filing system must align perfectly with gross wages and actual bank transfers.

Employment Legality and Personnel Files

The auditor reviews the Master Employee Roster for the facility’s 300 staff. A random sample of approximately 15% (45 files) is selected. Each file must contain an employment application, a copy of the employee’s second-generation National ID, a signed labor contract, and pre-job training records.

For employees born after 1990, auditors use online verification systems or ID scanners to confirm authenticity. Blurred ID copies or significant discrepancies between the ID photo and the employee's current appearance are flagged as red flags for potential child labor (under 16), which is a zero-tolerance issue.

Administrative efficiency is also tested. Personnel staff must be able to retrieve any randomly selected file within three minutes. Significant delays or missing documents are noted as indicators of poor administrative oversight.

For juvenile workers (aged 16–18), auditors check for specialized health exam reports covering blood work, hearing, vision, and lung function. These exams must pre-date the labor contract. The factory must also present juvenile worker registration certificates issued by the local labor bureau.

Labor contracts must be signed by the employees themselves. Auditors interview 5 to 10 QC staff to confirm they hold their original contract copies. If original contracts are found locked in the HR office, it is recorded as a compliance failure regarding the "withholding of personal documents."

Termination files are also scrutinized. Auditors review records for 20 employees who left in the last 24 months, matching resignation dates with final payout slips. If an employee resigned on May 12, their final pay must be settled by May 17 rather than being deferred to the next regular payday.

For temporary staff provided by labor agencies, the factory must provide the agency’s business license and the workers' contracts. Auditors check for illegal recruitment fees, such as deposits or uniform charges. By law, the factory must bear the cost of the initial medical exam (approx. 200 RMB); a lack of reimbursement records is a violation.

Application forms must be free of discriminatory language regarding gender or reproductive status. Auditors screen 100 recruitment records for phrases like "males only" or "unmarried/no children preferred," which are flagged under the Discrimination category.

Specific roles, particularly in final QC, require specialized training records. If an employee signed a final inspection report just two days after joining but has no quality control training on file, it is flagged as a risk to product quality and a record-keeping failure.

Social security receipts must cover all five types of insurance: pension, medical, work-related injury, unemployment, and maternity. Auditors compare the 280 names on the August insurance bill with the 305 names on the attendance roster. HR must provide proof of "new hire" status (under 30 days) or legal exemptions for the 25-person gap.

Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) Records

The audit begins with the Fire Safety Acceptance Certificate. Any warehouse or workshop renovated or built after 1998 must have a formal completion filing. If a warehouse measures 2,500 m² but the official filing only lists 1,500 m², the area is flagged as an unauthorized and non-compliant structure.

Special equipment files must cover all freight elevators, forklifts, and boilers. Two 3-ton elevators must display 2026 Safety Inspection Tags. Auditors check the "Next Inspection Date"; any overdue equipment results in a high-risk safety finding for the transport of finished goods.

The factory is required to conduct two fire evacuation drills annually. Records must include the drill plan, a sign-in sheet for all 300 employees, and time-stamped photos. The drills must involve the packing workshop and warehouse. Auditors review the October 20, 2025 records, checking extinguisher discharge techniques and total evacuation times in the photos.

Monthly inspection logs must cover all 260 fire extinguishers on-site. Auditors randomly pull five extinguishers near QC exits to check the tags. Additionally, stored goods must remain 0.5 meters below sprinkler heads to ensure a spray radius of 2.8 to 3.5 meters. Shelving that obstructs smoke detectors is marked as a hardware failure.

The factory must present its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and corresponding approval. Auditors review the last 12 months of monitoring reports for wastewater, exhaust, and noise. Exhaust sampling points must have standard platforms, and Non-Methane Hydrocarbon (NMHC) emissions must stay below the local limit of 60 mg/m³. Any exceedance requires proof of corrective action and re-testing.

• Wastewater: Discharge permits must limit daily output to 50 tons, with quarterly cleaning records for oil separators.

• Industrial Solid Waste: Scrap cartons and plastic film from QC must be stored in designated areas, strictly separated from general waste.

• Hazardous Waste (HW): Used oil and spent activated carbon must be stored in leak-proof HW rooms with signage meeting GB 18597 standards.

• HW Disposal: The factory must present an annual contract with a licensed vendor, along with 5-copy manifests and corresponding invoices.

For roles involving noise, dust, or chemicals, the factory must provide pre-employment, on-the-job, and post-employment medical reports. Auditors review the 2025 health checks for three packing staff. If an employee shows a hearing loss exceeding 40 dB, the factory must provide documentation of a job transfer or medical observation.

Employee Interviews

Private Interview Setting

The interview room must be situated in a separate building at least 50 meters away from the factory manager’s office and administrative areas. Windows must be physically obscured to ensure that management cannot observe the facial expressions of the interviewees. Ambient noise levels must remain below 45 decibels, ensuring that whispered conversations between the auditor and the employee at a distance of 1.5 meters cannot be overheard by outsiders.

Upon entering the room, the auditor uses a 2.4GHz signal detector to sweep for bugs or hidden cameras in smoke detectors, power outlets, and air conditioning vents. Any identified surveillance equipment must be covered with opaque black tape. Tables and chairs are positioned to avoid one-way mirrors, and the interviewee’s seat should face away from the door to reduce psychological pressure.

• The room is strictly prohibited from having internal telephones with recording functions or any public address equipment.

• Ventilation must provide at least 8 air changes per hour to maintain CO2 levels below 1,000 ppm.

• The space must be at least 15 square meters, providing 2.5 square meters per person for group interviews of six.

• Surface illumination, measured by a digital lux meter, must be stable at 500 Lux or higher.

• During interviews, doors must remain unlocked from the inside to allow free exit at any time.

This physical isolation provides the foundation for obtaining authentic production data. Auditors select names randomly from the finished goods warehouse. Based on AQL 2.5 Level II sampling standards, packaging records are pulled from a batch of 3,000 cartons. The five employees responsible for sealing, labeling, and scanning that specific batch are then pulled from their stations and guided directly to the interview room.

Interviews begin with a verification of original ID cards. The auditor retrieves the employee’s raw clock-in data for the October–December period. If a piece-rate wage slip for November shows 5,200 RMB, the employee must explain how they met the hourly quota of 120 packages given a production line speed of 2.5 meters per minute.

• Cross-check the employee’s ID number against the inspector ID on the finished goods' quality stamps.

• Inquire whether they have worked more than six consecutive days in the past 22 working days.

• Verify if the employee received their anti-slip gloves (valued at 3.5 RMB per pair) during their last 300 hours of operation.

• Observe the employee's hands for thickened cuticles or cracking, typical of long-term manual carton sealing.

• Confirm if the interviewee understands the safety clearance required for packaging machines operating at 150°C.

Selected employees must describe the criteria for rejecting finished products. If an employee reports manually rejecting over 200 units daily for aesthetic defects, the auditor will immediately cross-reference this with Quality Control reports. If the reported defect rate is consistently below 0.5%, this data conflict is recorded as a major non-compliance.

Such data triangulation exposes falsified documentation. Auditors also inspect employee badges. If a 15 RMB badge fee was deducted from wages but not explicitly listed under "Other Deductions" on the payslip, it is flagged as a violation of recruitment fee transparency requirements.

Stacking height in the warehouse is limited to 2.5 meters. Interviews verify if workers received proper manual handling training for 20 kg cartons. The auditor may ask the employee to demonstrate their lifting posture; if they cannot describe how to use their leg muscles to lift, the facility's training records for the past year are deemed purely "paper-based" and ineffective.

Interviews are strictly timed at 15 minutes per person, covering the 48-hour pre-job safety training. Employees must identify three emergency assembly points in the workshop. If an employee mentions that fire extinguishers are frequently blocked by pallets of finished goods, the auditor will ask for the exact month of the most recent fire drill to test the consistency of the factory's records.

• Confirm the triggers and payout dates for the 10% attendance bonus.

• Verify if an employee representative manually signs the replacement dates on the water filter logs.

• Check if the supply of tissues and soap in the restrooms is sufficient for the daily needs of 300 people.

• Confirm that the monthly high-temperature allowance of 300 RMB is paid in full to individual accounts during summer.

Verifying Working Conditions

Auditors compare payroll records from October to December 2025 against raw hexadecimal data exported from the time clocks. If a packing employee is recorded as "resting" on November 15, but their quality stamp appears on the shipping manifest for that same day, a data conflict is triggered. Such discrepancies usually indicate unrecorded Sunday overtime, violating the "one day of rest in seven" rule.

Under piece-rate systems, working conditions are verified against production line speeds. With a motor frequency of 50Hz producing 12 units per minute, an employee must process 180 units per hour. At a rate of 0.25 RMB per unit, the auditor calculates whether the 8-hour daily income meets the local minimum wage of 2,320 RMB.

Social security deductions are checked to two decimal places. Statutory rates are typically 8% for pension, 2% for medical, and 0.5% for unemployment. Auditors check payslips to ensure the contribution base is not lower than the local government’s minimum threshold. If a factory uses a 1,800 RMB base for an employee earning 4,000 RMB, it is flagged as an illegal underpayment.

Occupational health in the QC department is a priority. For high-frequency vibration stations (3,000 units/carton), employees must confirm they rotate every two hours. Auditors check 3M particulate respirators to ensure the factory provides them for free, rather than deducting the 4.5 RMB cost from wages.

If the weight of a finished carton reaches 23 kg, the auditor checks for auxiliary lifting equipment. Based on site tests, the labor intensity of moving 50 such cartons manually requires additional rest periods. Employees are asked about the "5-minute break per hour" policy to see if production pressure has forced them to forfeit their right to rest.

While training logs may show a 24-hour safety course in March 2025, auditors test this by asking employees to locate the Safety Data Sheets (SDS). If an employee cannot identify the cyanoacrylate in the sealing glue or its respiratory risks, the training is ruled a mere formality.

If the shipping area temperature reached 34.5°C in July, auditors check June–September payslips for the 300 RMB monthly high-temperature allowance. Employees must describe the frequency of provided cold drinks and heatstroke prevention medicine to determine if environmental improvements are actually implemented.

Average noise levels in the warehouse must stay below 85 dB. Five employees working near sealing machines are asked about their initial hearing screenings. If the factory fails to arrange a medical exam within 30 days of the employee starting a high-noise role, or fails to provide earplugs with a 25 dB noise reduction rating, it is recorded as a Health and Safety hazard.

Rights and Protection Principles

Auditors follow Sedex 6.1 sampling protocols: 15 interviews for a 100-person factory, 26 for 500 people, and 40 for 1,000 people. The list is not based on management-provided rosters but on random selections made by the auditor directly on the packing line. Selected employees must leave their stations and enter the interview process within 60 seconds.

Once selected, employee ID numbers are locked into a handheld device to prevent management from "swapping" workers under the guise of changing clothes or using the restroom. For the five workers at the packing station, auditors verify the batch numbers currently being processed to ensure a 100% match with packaging records.

Sampling must be 100% random. If a selected employee is not at their station, the auditor checks the attendance system for a leave permit filed before 3:30 PM. Absence without a permit results in a 20% deduction in the factory’s transparency score and a "Major Non-Compliance" rating.

During ID verification, employees must present their original second-generation ID cards. Auditors inspect the anti-counterfeiting patterns and chips to detect identity fraud. Any worker under 16 is classified as child labor; those aged 16–18 are juvenile workers and must have valid labor bureau registration.

• Juvenile workers must not exceed 5% of the total workforce and are strictly prohibited from working night shifts (past 10:00 PM).

• Verify that juvenile workers are not lifting loads heavier than 15 kg at weighing stations.

• Check for specialized occupational health exams conducted every 180 days for juvenile staff.

• Ensure juvenile workers are not assigned to shrink-wrap machines operating at 150°C.

Once identity is verified, physical isolation begins. The interview room must be at least 50 meters from the workshop, free of phones and sensors. With lighting at 500 Lux and noise at 45 dB, the auditor ensures the conversation is inaudible from 1.5 meters away.

This shield lowers the employee's guard. Auditors explicitly state that interview notes will not appear in the public report provided to management. Instead, codes like "Packing-03" are used. This de-anonymized confidentiality agreement is the baseline for protecting worker rights.

No administrative staff are permitted within 5 meters of the interview room corridor. If a supervisor is seen loitering or attempting to signal an interviewee through a window, the interview is terminated. This is recorded as "Obstruction of Audit," a critical, zero-tolerance violation.

In the QC section, auditors look for hidden fines. Employees describe what happens if a seal is crooked or a barcode is unscanable. If fines exceed 20% of the employee’s daily wage, it is a serious breach of the labor contract.

• Check for "voluntary" unpaid overtime to fix quality reworks.

• Inquire if a uniform deposit of 300–500 RMB was required upon hiring.

• Check if a 15 RMB badge fee was deducted from the first month's salary.

• Confirm that cut-resistant gloves (4.5 RMB/pair) used in the packing area are provided free of charge.

Effective communication is essential. In factories with many migrant workers, auditors must speak the local dialect or use an independent third-party translator. Translators cannot be factory HR, management, or supervisors to prevent the filtering of information.

ly, employees are asked if they have met an employee representative in the last 365 days and must demonstrate how to use the grievance box. If the box is rusted shut or placed directly under a CCTV camera, the detail is recorded.

The veracity of feedback is verified through data triangulation. If 10 interviewees use identical phrasing—down to specific verbs—to describe "voluntary overtime," the auditor will conclude that "coaching" took place. This is a breach of integrity that can invalidate the entire audit report.

Closing Meeting and CAPR

Non-Compliance Grading

During the closing meeting, auditors utilize the SMETA 6.1 assessment guidelines to evaluate the facility’s electronic attendance and payroll records from the past 12 months. For a workshop with 200 employees, the Sedex sampling table requires a review of 22 payroll records. If even a single record identifies a minor under the age of 16, the finding is immediately classified as a Critical violation. As this is a zero-tolerance issue, the factory must submit a preliminary remediation plan to the Sedex Advance platform and initiate formal remedy procedures within 24 hours.

Critical violations are not limited to age requirements. In the finished goods area, if fire exits are obstructed by three stacked cartons that cannot be immediately moved, or if a fire extinguisher’s pressure gauge drops below the 0.7 MPa green-zone threshold, these are recorded as severe safety hazards. Such items carry a mandatory 0 to 30-day rectification window; any delay will trigger a red warning flag visible to all buyers on the platform. Furthermore, if the auditor measures an evacuation route to be narrower than the statutory 1.1-meter requirement, it is automatically graded as Critical.

Statistics indicate that approximately 70% of SMETA findings are categorized as Major non-compliances. A Major grading is assigned if the attendance system shows that 15% of the sampled workforce exceeds 60 hours per week or 36 hours of overtime per month (referencing Article 41 of the Chinese Labor Law). To close these items, the factory must complete a desktop audit within 30 working days by uploading PDF documentation, including detailed payroll distributions and compensatory leave records. The evidence trail must also include shift schedules for the following three months and signed voluntary overtime agreements.

Social security coverage is another quantitative benchmark. If local regulations mandate 100% coverage but the factory only provides it for 85% of staff, the 15% gap is listed as a Major violation. In the CAPR, the auditor will specify that the factory must provide the last three months of social security payment receipts (covering all five insurance types and the housing fund) alongside a government-issued compliance certificate. Corrective actions must be finalized within 30 to 60 days, ensuring all employees are covered at the correct contribution base, supported by screenshots of bank transfer vouchers.

When an issue shifts from a systemic pattern to an isolated incident, it is downgraded to Minor. For example, if only one emergency light in a 5,000 m² warehouse fails to illuminate within 3 seconds of a test, it is treated as a one-off event. These items are granted a 60 to 90-day buffer. The factory must provide high-resolution (at least 1280x720 pixels) photos of the replacement, including a date watermark and a close-up shot from within one meter.

Observations are not formal violations but indicate areas where management systems could be more robust. Examples include the absence of handwashing diagrams in restrooms or lighting levels on the packaging line falling below 300 Lux (per ISO 8995). These details are noted in the sixth column of the CAPR. While they do not require a 90-day "closed-loop" confirmation, an accumulation of unresolved observations can lower the factory’s Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) score and jeopardize the goal of a 95% compliance rating.

• Critical: Life-safety hazards (e.g., failed fire shutters) or illegal child labor. Requires 24-hour feedback.

• Major: Systemic deviations in hours or wages (e.g., social security coverage < 90%). Requires a rectification plan within 30 days.

• Minor: Isolated equipment defects (e.g., 1 expired extinguisher out of 50). 60 to 90-day rectification window.

• Observation: Suggested improvements (e.g., 20cm paper towels missing in restrooms). Impacts management maturity scores.

The CAPR must be completed following Root Cause Analysis (RCA) principles. Management cannot simply state "replaced the extinguisher"; they must specify that "the Administrative Department will now conduct 100% monthly inspections of all fire equipment." This level of detail directly influences the auditor's judgment on the effectiveness of the fix. If the RCA logic is missing, the auditor may reject the application during the report review stage 10 days later. Factories should retain copies of their 10-digit reference codes to track improvement benchmarks over 12 months.

During the on-site signing phase, factory representatives must verify every physical description of the non-compliances. If a defect relates to product quality—such as a risk of mold on outer cartons—the auditor will check the warehouse's temperature and humidity logs. If humidity consistently exceeds 65% without dehumidification, it serves as evidence of a systemic failure. This rigor extends to the packaging workshop, where auditors randomly check five boxes to ensure labeling complies with Directive 94/62/EC. Any labeling errors are recorded as non-compliances under the Environmental pillar.

The chosen verification method determines the subsequent cost of compliance. Approximately 35% of Major violations require a Follow-up Audit. Within six months, an auditor will return to the workshop to draw a new sample of at least 10 records. If the same obstruction of fire equipment is found, the violation is automatically escalated from Major to Critical. Conversely, Desktop Verification is used for items that can be confirmed via PDF contracts, transfer vouchers, or 5-megapixel (or higher) comparison photos.

Digital evidence must be uploaded via the Sedex API. For missing Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) in the chemical warehouse, the factory must upload full 16-section Chinese versions. If any section is missing, the system will automatically block the submission. Delays in progress trigger system alerts; if a CAPR item remains "Open" after 90 days, the factory must launch an internal audit by the 15th day post-audit to ensure all evidence is ready for pre-screening by the 25th day.

• Desktop Verification: Submission of clear comparison photos (1280x720); used to close 65% of common violations.

• Follow-up Audit: On-site verification of 10+ new samples, typically within 180 days.

• Immediate Rectification: 100% resolution before the auditor leaves (e.g., clearing a walkway); photos are included directly in the initial report.

Rectification Deadlines

The CAPR delivered at the closing meeting includes a 10-digit reference code that acts as a countdown for each non-compliance. If evidence is not uploaded to the Sedex Advance platform within the specified timeframe, the entry will turn red, signaling a breach.

Incidents involving child labor, forced labor, or fire exits narrower than 1.1 meters are Critical violations. The factory must provide an initial proposal within 24 hours. If goods are found blocking an alarm in the warehouse, the auditor will require them to be moved immediately before their departure.

While severe physical hazards are granted a 30-day window, evidence photos must be taken and archived on the day of the audit. Regarding the 22 sampled payroll records, if 15% of employees exceed 36 hours of monthly overtime, this is a Major violation that must be resolved within 30 to 60 days.

Resolving a Major violation requires more than verbal assurances. The factory must scan the last three months of payrolls, bank transfer records, and Labor Bureau approvals into PDFs. Files must be under 5MB and uploaded via the Sedex interface, where the system automatically verifies the completeness of the submission.

Major violations often require a follow-up visit. If evidence is not submitted within 60 days, the auditing body will schedule a return visit within 180 days to sample 10 new records. If the issue persists, the grading escalates from Major to Critical.

Social security gaps are also critical. If only 170 out of 200 employees are covered, the 15% shortfall must be rectified within 60 days. The factory must provide stamped receipts from the Social Security Bureau and screenshots of every bank transfer. Missing any link in this chain prevents the system from "closing" the case.

Minor issues, such as a single fire extinguisher out of 50 falling below 0.7 MPa, are granted the longest window of 90 days. The factory simply needs to replace the unit and upload a 1280x720 resolution photo.

Photos must include date and location watermarks. They must be taken from within one meter to clearly show the pressure gauge needle in the green zone. While these minor items are not urgent, failing to address them within 90 days results in the system automatically escalating their severity by one level.

The rectification period begins the day after the audit concludes. By the 15th day, the factory must have drafted its Root Cause Analysis. Instead of a simple "moved the goods," the entry should read: "Repainted 1.2-meter-wide yellow 'no-parking' lines; Administrative Department to inspect fire exits every 10 days."

Any rectification lacking clear preventative measures will be rejected. For issues like missing 94/62/EC environmental labels on packaging, the deadline is 60 days. The factory must upload new color proofs and invoices from the printing house. SMETA does not accept verbal guarantees of any kind.

Digital evidence requirements for photos are strict. If the chemical warehouse is missing the 16-point Chinese MSDS, the factory must upload the scans within 30 days. If the 8-point font in the photos is illegible, the auditor will reject the submission during the 10-day review period.

Verification Categories

In the CAPR, the auditor assigns a "closure method" for each finding. Depending on the severity and nature of the issue, this will either be a digital upload or a physical return to the site.

Desktop Verification accounts for roughly 65% of cases. Factories upload high-definition photos (1280x720+ pixels, under 5MB) to Sedex. These must contain GPS and time watermarks to prove the work was completed within the 30 to 90-day window.

For example, if a fire hydrant was blocked, you must upload three comparison photos: before removal, after removal, and the final state with 1.2-meter yellow lines painted on the floor. The hydrant ID number in the photo must match the audit records to close the case.

If environmental labels on packaging are incorrect, the factory must upload a revised proof in PDF, along with contracts and invoices for the purchase of at least 500 new outer cartons. The auditor will check the dates; if the purchase occurred outside the rectification window, the submission will be rejected.

Issues involving wages, working hours, or safety system failures require a Follow-up Audit. These visits are usually arranged within 180 days, where the auditor will re-examine the files of 10 to 22 workers. If the previous finding was excessive overtime, the factory must now demonstrate three consecutive months of records showing less than 60 hours per week.

A follow-up audit isn't just about old issues; it also includes physical checks of finished goods. An auditor might randomly open five sets of cartons to measure if the sealing tape is the required 6cm wide, or check warehouse logs to ensure humidity has remained below 65%.

Social security shortfalls also require on-site verification. If previously only 170 out of 200 were covered, the auditor will randomly select five employees during the follow-up and ask them to log into the official Social Security Bureau website to verify their last two months of contributions. A single missing payment will result in the finding remaining open.

Once evidence is uploaded, a dedicated reviewer evaluates it within 10 working days using the 10-digit reference code. If one page of the 16-part chemical MSDS is missing, or if the text in a photo is too small to read, the application is rejected.

For a leak in a container, the rectification photo must be a 5-megapixel close-up showing the repaired crack, accompanied by a bank transfer screenshot for the purchase of new drums. Without this data, the red alert on the platform will remain active.

Follow-up audits can be comprehensive; if more than five Critical violations were found, the auditor may need to re-inspect the entire 2,000 m² facility. They will use tape measures to ensure evacuation routes remain 1.1 meters wide and check for any goods improperly stored in corridors.

The finished goods inspection area is a focal point. Auditors will review 100% of the damage inspection logs. If three cartons show signs of moisture damage, the auditor will rule the rectification ineffective despite what the paperwork says. SMETA verification relies exclusively on 100% factual evidence.

• Desktop Verification: Uploading PDFs or photos. Best for paperwork like training sign-in sheets or specialized equipment certificates.

• Follow-up Audit: Requires face-to-face interviews and physical measurements, such as verifying actual wages paid or checking if fire doors close automatically.

• Immediate Rectification: Issues fixed before the auditor leaves, such as moving debris from a walkway. Photos are included in the initial report.

For electrical grounding issues, a resistance test report must be uploaded. If previous tests exceeded 4 ohms, the new report must come from a CNAS-accredited institution. The measurement location in the PDF must match the exact "Machine No. 5" identified in the original finding.

To resolve a noise violation, the factory must upload earplug distribution logs and a photo of a noise level test at the workstation. The decibel meter must read below 80 dB, and the photo must include the Safety Engineer’s signature to prevent falsification.