OHSAS 18001
Occupational Health & Safety Management
Employers around the world have a duty of care to provide a healthy and safe working environment under occupational health and safety legislation and common law. An organisation has the responsibility and obligation to manage activities in such a way as to anticipate and prevent circumstances that may result in occupational injury or ill health.
An Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) is a part of the overall management system, which includes organisation structure, planning activities, responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes and resources for developing, implementing, achieving, reviewing and maintaining the occupational health and safety policy, and so managing the occupational health and safety risks associated with the business of the organisation.
Organisations that have pioneered establishing OHSMS have reported realised benefits in reduced operational costs associated with work related accidents and ill health. A safe and healthy workplace is essential to achieve high productivity and quality necessary to compete in the market place. The establishment of OHSMS is recognised and has been proved to be beneficial for sound financial reasons, as well as ethical and regulatory reasons.
Certification Standard
The Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series (OHSAS 18001) has been developed in response to customer demand for a recognisable occupational health and safety management system standard against which their management systems can be assessed and certified. OHSAS 18001 corresponds to the structure of ISO 14001, and is designed to be compatible with ISO 9001. The facilitation of an Integrated Management System of quality, environmental and occupational health and safety has never been made more possible.
System Requirements
The technical specification of OHSAS 18001 takes a structured approach to occupational health and safety management. The elements of successful OH&S management are depicted as a process model consisting of the following elements:
1. OH&S Policy
2. Planning
3. Implementation and Operation
4. Checking and Corrective Action
5. Management Review
6. Continual improvement
Utilising appropriate management tools such as OHSAS 18001 will definitely help local industries in the development and implementation of their health and safety management systems and with complying with the relevant legislation.
Benefits of Certification
Internal
- Eliminate or minimise risk to employees
- Improve occupational health and safety performance
- Reduce medical claims and insurance costs
- Reduce production down time due to accidents and sick leave
- Enable integrated audits with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001
External
- Eliminate or minimise risk to other interested parties that may be exposed to occupational health and safety risks associated with the organisation’s activities
- Assure interested parties of its conformance with the organisation’s occupational health and safety policy
- Enhance image and global competitiveness
- Satisfy vendor/investor criteria and regulatory requirements
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