OHSAS 18001 – Occupational Health and Safety Management System for Organisations
OHSAS 18001, well known as Occupational health and safety management system, is a consent standard developed in 1999 by a self-regulating group of national standard bodies and certification bodies. It represents occupational health and safety assessment series, which was updated in the year 2007 and latest version for OHSAS 18001 certification is standard OHSAS: 2007
OHSAS 18001 Standard is prepared the same way as ISO 14001, the environmental management system standard, and has basically the same elements. This was especially developed to be compatible with ISO 9001, the quality management system standard, and ISO 14001 to allow organisations to develop and register integrated quality, environmental and occupational safety and health management systems.
It has been noticed that the organisations that have implemented a system to improve the management of health and safety practices have reported improved employees safety awareness, reduced cost and fewer accidents. Apart from this, OHSAS 18001 provides a blue print, which companies can use to integrate quality, environmental and safety and health program management for increased management efficiencies. Several companies have found that they need to address health and safety elements as they implement ISO 14001 management systems because of the crucial interconnection between environmental and safety and health programs in areas such as emergency planning and hazard risk assessment.
Steps to OHSAS 18001 Certification
The process for establishing an OHSAS 18001 management system is essentially the same as the process used of implementing an ISO 14001 system:
1. Preliminary review of existing programs and systems
2. Identification of hazards and applicable laws and regulations and establish system for risk assessment.
3. Developing ohsas procedures to meet standard requirements as well as establish control standard operating procedures and OHS management plans
4. Establish objectives and targets for OHS.
5. Training personnel
6. Implementing new programs such as internal audit and management review
7. Seeking certification of the OHSAS program
These days more and more companies are concerned about demonstrating their commitment to occupational health and safety. This is mainly important for employees but also for customers and other stakeholders. OHSAS 18001 certification improves the efficiency of the internal operations, thus reduces the chances of danger, accidents and downtime. Good environment at the workplace along with the safety of the employees is the prime responsibility of the organisation as the future hazards affect their efficiency. OHSAS 18001 assures the compliance with present legal requisites and reduces the risk of various penalties and possible litigation.
OHSAS 18001 focuses on creating a safe and healthy work environment for the employees. Thus, organisations of all sizes and types can apply for OHSAS 18001 Certification, improving the health and safety performance of the workers.
Global Manager Group – an ISO consultancy and training company assists to get OHSAS certifications. The company offers a complete range of Occupational Health and Safety Management System Documents including safety manual, OHSAS 18001 procedures, sample OHS plans, templates, audit checklist as per OHSAS 18001, SOP, forms etc.
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