Suspensions Pending Investigation
When provided with sufficient information to ascertain that further harm may occur during an investigation, a program participant may be temporarily suspended during the pendency of an investigation. As a general matter, any such authority to suspend shall be exercised by the Program Integrity Team or the Ethics & Discipline Committee, as appropriate.
NCCCO Staff shall have the discretion to temporarily suspend a program participant, except for a certificant or candidate for certification, pending further investigation and/or any final disciplinary action, if NCCCO Staff determines that the incident under review involves (a) an injury resulting in serious bodily harm or fatality, (b) a willful violation of any state or federal safety regulation, (c) a willful violation of NCCCO policies or procedures, or (d) a material risk of harm to the program or third parties if the program participant is not suspended temporarily.
Suspensions of certificants and candidates for certification are imposed by the Ethics & Discipline Committee; provided, however, that NCCCO Staff may place administrative holds on the processing of candidate applications.
If a program participant is suspended, a letter notifying the participant shall be sent within five (5) days after the decision was made to suspend.
Upon suspension of a program participant, the participant’s record(s) will be flagged and/or updated accordingly. As necessary or appropriate, the participant will be removed from the Verify CCO Online (VCO) database.
Unless previously lifted, a suspended program participant’s temporary suspension shall be lifted at the conclusion of an investigation or upon the final determination of any disciplinary action.