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| OHSAS 18001:2007 |
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Occupational Health and Safety Management System
The (OHSAS) specification gives clearer direction to an occupational health and safety management system. OHSAS 18001:2007 is an audit/certification specification, not a legislative requirement or a guide to implementation. It should be noted that OHSAS 18001:2007 does not state specific performance criteria, or give detailed specifications for the design of a management system. Instead, the system is geared towards reducing and preventing accidents and accident-related loss of lives, resources, and time.
OHSAS 18001:2007 has been developed to be compatible with the ISO 9001 (Quality) and ISO 14001 (Environmental) |
Management systems standards. It is its hope that any organization that implements OHSAS 18001:2007 can easily integrate it with other quality, environmental or occupational health and safety management systems. The OHSAS 18001:2007 Specification follows the Plan-Do-Check-Review cycle, with a concurrent emphasis on continual improvement. This model aligns well with the structure of other management system documents such as ISO 14001, thus aiding the progress of integrated management systems.
The elements of OHSAS 18001:2007 includes Policy and commitment, Hazard identification, risk assessment & risk controls, Legal requirements, Objectives and Programs, Organization and personnel, Training, Communication and Consultation, Documentation and records, Operational Controls, Emergency Readiness, Measurement and monitoring, Accident and incident investigation, corrective and preventive action, Audit and Review, and Application and Relevance in the Industry. |
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Benefits: |
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Most organizations pursue OHSAS 18001 certification to qualify for a tender or to achieve preferred supplier status: e.g. for a Local Authority. However, there are many other benefits that can be gained, including: |
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Reduced risk to employees, customers and suppliers. |
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Reduction in the costs associated with accidents at work. |
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Enhanced staff morale and motivation. |
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Demonstrate legal compliance. |
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Reduced insurance premiums. |
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Competitive advantage. |
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Enhance status. |
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In a competitive market, your customers are looking for more than just keen pricing. Organizations need to demonstrate that their delivery is managed efficiently and responsibly and that they can provide a reliable service: free of the downtime associated with work-related accidents and incidents.
An effective occupational health and safety management system promotes a safe and healthy working environment by providing a framework that allows your organization to identify and control its health and safety risks, reduce the potential for accidents, aid legislative compliance and improve overall performance.
In addition, OHSAS 18001 is designed to be compatible with other management system standards such as ISO 9001 (Quality), ISO 14001 (Environmental) and ISO 27001 (Information Security). All or any combination of these complementary standards can be integrated seamlessly. They share many principles, so choosing an integrated management system can provide you with outstanding value for money. |
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