Auditor & Assessor Handbook
Version 2.0 · Publication Date: 2026-09-22 · Status: Published / Effective
Document ID: DV-F-37-v2.0
© 2026 DraftVerify™ Standards Initiative. All rights reserved.
1. Role
An assessor gathers and evaluates evidence against defined DraftVerify requirements.
An assessor shall not invent requirements during an audit or represent personal preference as a DraftVerify requirement.
2. Competence
DraftVerify shall authorize assessors only for scopes for which they have appropriate knowledge or support.
Relevant competence can include:
- DraftVerify Standard knowledge;
- draft-system operational knowledge;
- evidence gathering;
- interviewing;
- registry use;
- incident recognition;
- documentation review; and
- understanding the boundary between DraftVerify requirements and external regulated technical work.
3. Impartiality
Assessors shall disclose known relationships or interests that could reasonably affect impartiality.
Where a conflict cannot be adequately controlled, DraftVerify shall assign another assessor or independent reviewer.
4. Conduct
Assessors shall:
- be accurate and professional;
- protect confidential information;
- document evidence;
- avoid unsafe interference with operating equipment;
- avoid making legal conclusions outside the assessment scope; and
- distinguish DraftVerify findings from external safety or regulatory concerns.
5. Assessment sequence
The assessor should:
- confirm scope and applicable documents;
- review prior evidence and open findings;
- inspect relevant identity points;
- test or observe required verification workflows;
- sample controlled records;
- interview relevant personnel where useful;
- identify findings;
- conduct a closing review; and
- issue a controlled report.
6. Critical findings
If a critical DraftVerify nonconformity is found, the assessor shall clearly identify the affected scope and notify the certification decision function.
DraftVerify may require the affected pathway to be treated as unverified for DraftVerify purposes.
An assessor shall not claim legal authority to close a business, revoke a liquor licence, or order regulatory shutdown unless separate lawful authority actually exists.
7. Evidence standard
A finding shall be traceable to both:
- an applicable requirement; and
- observed or documented evidence.
Assumptions, hearsay, or unsupported inference shall not be the sole basis for an adverse finding.
8. Sampling
Where full inspection is impractical, sampling shall be appropriate to the risk and scope and shall be documented.
Sampling does not guarantee the absence of conditions outside the sample.
9. Report
The report shall include:
- organization and scope;
- date and assessor;
- Standard version;
- assessment method;
- sampled sites or systems;
- findings;
- critical gates;
- corrective action requirements; and
- assessor recommendation where the program uses one.
The assessor recommendation is not itself the final certification decision unless the assessor is also formally authorized for that decision and applicable impartiality controls are satisfied.
10. Records and retention
Assessment records shall be retained for the period defined by DraftVerify program rules, applicable contracts, privacy requirements, and legitimate operational need.
F-37 does not impose a universal ten-year retention period unless another controlling requirement specifies one.