Purpose & Scope¶

This document is IMS00 — the master governing document for the organisation’s Integrated Management System (IMS). It defines the structure, purpose, and rules of the controlled document library; explains how each document type relates to the others; and establishes the governance framework that applies across the entire system.

The IMS integrates the management of safety, regulatory compliance, operations, people, and continuous improvement into a single coherent framework. Rather than maintaining separate systems for safety, transport compliance, food safety, biosecurity, and employment obligations, the IMS treats these as interconnected disciplines governed by a common document structure and common standards of control. IMS00 sits outside and above the numbered document types. It is not a Register, Policy, Handbook, or Compliance Plan — it is the document that governs all of them. It should be the first document read by anyone new to the library, and the reference point for anyone taking on responsibility for document ownership, review, or audit preparation.

This framework applies to all staff, contractors, and managers responsible for creating, maintaining, or using controlled documents.

Document Hierarchy & Taxonomy¶

The Sidelink IMS document library is organised into thirteen controlled document types, each serving a distinct purpose. Together they form a layered system: from high-level intent through to operational detail, safety analysis, and audit evidence. IMS00 sits above all of them as the governing framework document.

Some document types have two components: a controlled template that lives in the document library, and operational records generated from that template. The distinction is explained for each relevant type in Section 3.