OHSAS 18001 Occupational health and safety management systems

Background

Health and safety concerns resulting from work-related injuries, illnesses and deaths continue to alarm industry.  For example, OHSA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) reported that there were 4.2 million occupational injuries and illnesses among U.S. employees in 2005 and in 2006 5,703 employees lost their lives.

OHSAS 18001

OHSAS 18001 Occupational health and safety management systems - Requirements, published July, 2007, was developed "in response to customer demand for a recognizable occupational health and safety management systems standard against which their management systems can be assessed and certified" and to be compatible with the ISO 9001:2000 (Quality) and ISO 14001:2004 (Environmental) management systems standards.  It is intended to assist organizations in controlling occupational health and safety (OH&S) risks.

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Because the most effective occupational health and safety systems are established, operated and updated within the framework of a structured management system and incorporated into the overall management activities of the organization, OHSAS 18001:2007 incorporates the management structure contained in ISO 9001 (e.g., statements of policy and objectives, competency, corrective and preventive actions, internal audit, management review, continual improvement in the effectiveness of the management system, etc.).

The requirements of OHSAS 18001 can be addressed with a stand alone system or with an ISO 14001 system that has integrated the occupational health and safety requirements.

Fully conforming occupational health and safety management systems will address the following areas:

OH&S management system requirements

General requirements

Including the requirement to establish and implement a documented OH&S management system that is maintained with a focus on continual improvement; and, definition of the scope of its OH&S management system

OH&S policy (policy statements are a common requirement of ISO-based management systems)

Including the requirement that top management ensure, amongst other requirements, that this policy include a commitment to prevention of injury and ill health and continual improvement in both OH&S management and OH&S performance

Another important requirement is that this policy include a commitment to at least comply with applicable legal requirements such as those mandated by the U.S. Congress.  The U.S. Congress created OSHA under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which was signed by President Richard M. Nixon on December 29, 1970.  the most commonly referenced requirements are from the U.S. Code Title: 29 Labor, Chapter: 15 Occupational Safety and Health, Part: 1910 Occupational Safety and Health Standards, particularly Subparts:

D - Walking-Working Surfaces (1910.21 to 1910.30)

E - Means of Egress (1910.35 to 1910.38)

F - Powered Platforms, Manlifts, and Vehicle-Mounted Work Platforms (1910.66 to 1910.68)

G - Occupational Health and Environmental Control (1910.94 to 1910.98)

H - Hazardous Materials (1910.101 to 1910.126)

I - Personal Protective Equipment (1910.132 to 1910.139)

J - General Environmental Controls (1910.141 to 1910.147 App A)

K - Medical and First Aid (1910.151 to 1910.152)

L - Fire Protection (1910.155 to 1910.165)

N - Materials Handling and Storage (1910.176 to 1910.184)

S - Electrical (1910.301 to 1910.399)

Z - Toxic and Hazardous Substances (1910.1000 to 1910.1450 App B)

As well as acts of Congress such as the OSH Act of 1970 and national consensus standards such as the NFPA (National Fire Protection Agency) standard 70E, titled "Electrical Safety Requirements for Employee Workplaces" and NFPA 1600: Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs.

Planning

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Hazard identification, risk assessment and determining controls

Including requirement for the establishment, implementation and maintenance of a procedure for hazard identification, risk assessment, and the determination of necessary controls

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Legal and other requirements

Including requirement for the establishment, implementation and maintenance of a procedure for identifying and accessing applicable legal and other OH&S requirements

As well as the requirement to communicate relevant information on legal and other requirements to personnel working under its control and to other relevant interested parties

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Objectives and programme(s)

Including the requirement that the objectives be measurable and consistent with both the organization's OH&S policy and its commitment to the prevention of injury and ill health and compliance with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements

Implementation and operation

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Resources, roles, responsibility, accountability and authority

Including requirement that top management take final responsibility for OH&S and the management system

As well as the requirement that top management must demonstrate its commitment

And the requirement for the appointment of a member of top management with specific responsibility for OH&S and with defined roles and specific authorities

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Competence, training and awareness

Including the requirement that the organization ensure that personnel under its control performing tasks that can impact OH&S are competent

As well as the requirement for the establishment, implementation and maintenance of a procedure for making personnel under its control aware of both the actual or potential consequences of their work activities

This procedure must consider risks and differing abilities and responsibilities as well as literacy levels and language skills

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Communication, participation and consultation

- Communication
Including the requirement for the establishment, implementation and maintenance of a procedure for internal and external communications including contractors, visitors and other interested parties

- Participation and consultation
Including the requirement for the establishment, implementation and maintenance of a procedure for ensuring the appropriate levels of participation from its personnel in hazard identification, risk assessments, identification of controls, incident investigations and development and review of OH&S policies and objectives

The need for ensuring that appropriate relevant external parties are consulted

OHSAS 18001 Documentation

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OHSAS 18001 Occupational health and safety management systems has no formal requirements for an organization to establish and document a health and  safety manual.  However many organizations may choose to document a brief health and safety manual to provide a 'roadmap' of their system; and, to provide a marketing piece for customers and other interested parties that provides a high level view of how the organization is meeting the requirements.

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There are documentation requirements for:

1)

a scope that specifies the processes as well as the sites that are covered by the occupational health and safety management system;

2)

formal statements of the organization's health and safety policy and related objectives;

3)

procedures required by the standard which may identify responsibilities, inputs, activities, control points, outputs and references to other documents and records;

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a description of the interaction of the main elements of the OH&S management system;

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other documents  needed for the effective planning and operation of system including forms, tags and labels that prompt recording of evidence of conformance to requirements and become records

OHSAS 18001 Occupational health and safety management systems - Benefits

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closes the gaps between ISO 14001 and OSHA

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meets industry expectations

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provides for management of health and safety risk based on system management, not on inspections

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provides an opportunity for international recognition through 3^rd party registration

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makes savings from fewer illnesses and injuries possible

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provides a baseline for continual improvement

Training, Conferences & Meetings

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