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OHSAS 18001 - Health and Safety Management Systems


The importance of managing Occupational Health and Safety is recognised by all interested parties: employers, employees, customers, suppliers, insurers, shareholders, the community, contractors, and regulatory agencies. OHSAS 18001:1999 was released in April 1999. OHSAS 18002:2000 is the Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems Guidelines for the implementation of OHSAS 18001.

OHSAS 18001 was developed in response to urgent customer demand for a recognisable occupational health and safety management system standard against which their management system may be assessed and certified. OHSAS 18001:1999 is compatible with ISO 9001:1994 and ISO 14001:1996.

The specification takes a structured approach to OH&S management. The emphasis is placed on practices being pro-active and preventive, by the identification of hazards and the evaluation and control of work related risks. OHSAS 18001 can be used by organisations of all sizes regardless of the nature of their activities or location. Organisations can now achieve third party certification for their Occupational Health and Safety management system.

OHSAS 18001 features include the following elements:

  • OH&S policy
  • Planning
  • Implementation and Operation
  • Checking and corrective action
  • Management Review
  • Continual Improvement

Benefits of OHSAS 18001:1999

OHSAS 18001 is the sound solution to the ever increasing challenge facing most organisations due to high injury and illness, lost work days, increasing occupational health and safety regulations, large citations/penalties, rising workers' compensation costs, costly medical claims, worker retention and employee satisfaction.

Real world operating experience shows workers’ compensation claims to be spiralling upward. California led with workers' compensation increasing by as much as 20% from last year. Surveys predict that more than one third of all workers’ compensation throughout the United States will increase by between 11%-20% by the end of this year. Other factors for the increase include claims as a result of the regulation such as OH&S’s ergonomics; increase of worker benefits and the levelling of managed care’s ability to save money for the insurers and employers.

Workers' Compensation Medical claims have soared to a record 3.6 billion in 1999-2000. This represents an increase of more than 70% or more than 1.5 billion since 1994 according to the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California. Physicians' costs have increased medical expenses, rising to just under 2.2 billion last years, up 85% since 1994. The cost began increasing with legislation giving physicians an increased role in directing treatment of injured workers. All other medical costs have risen 53% in the past year to 1.5 billion.

Traditional occupation health and safety management usually meant reacting to work related incidents rather than planning for the control of work related risks that compose OHSAS 18001:1999. Other costs facing organisations include, but are not limited to, investigation time, wages paid for lost time, clerical time, decreased output of the injured worker upon return and the loss of business and goodwill.

Organisations that have been the pioneers in attaining OHSAS 18001:1999 already report realised benefits of increased operational benefits, reduction in lost work days, fewer accidents and medical claims, recognition by insurers and regulars and improved worker retention and satisfaction. These organisations report the process of attained registration through the NSAI approach has improved internal and external communication of the organisation occupational health and safety commitment. Employees have responded favourably to registered organisations' overt commitment to continued occupation health and safety improvements. Enhanced employee awareness and individual commitment to occupational health and safety has served as the basis for positive organisational change.

Much of the improvement is attributed to employee education and awareness of safety issues and understanding. This increased awareness has been the key factor for OHSAS 18001 organisations saving in legal expenses, building damage, tool and equipment damage, product and material damage and production delays and interruptions.

Bottom line improvements for organisations that have a registered OH&S management system include efficient organisational discipline, employee awareness and satisfaction, recognition by insures, lower workers’ compensation and medical costs and increased control of regulatory issues.

NSAI Registration

NSAI is committed to providing the ultimate in customer services to clients and potential clients with open lines of communications. NSAI allows for a flexible registration process that is tailored to meet individual client or corporate schedules. Lead auditors are assigned early to bring the most efficient and effective use of time and resources. The registration audits are planned according to client need.

Some organisations may choose to register only their Occupational Health and Safety management system to OHSAS 18001, while others can see advantages integrating OH&S with other management systems. There is a close correlation in the process of working toward the assessment and registration of different management systems. ISO 14001 implementation is usually simplified if an organisation is ISO 9000 certified. Similarly most organisations that seek, or have ISO 14001 certification will have the foundations of OHSAS 18001. Managing occupational health and safety risks by OHSAS 18001 is facilitated by the fact that ISO 14001 provides the framework.

OHSAS 18001 can be a stand-alone specification or may be integrated into an organisation’s Quality and Environmental Management System. This Total Integrated Management System – Quality, Environment and Health and Safety is certainty one of the most productive and efficient. It is the wave of the future – Total Integration of Management Systems QUALITY/ENVIRONMENT/HEALTH & SAFETY.

NSAI offers organisations the following options:

  • OHSAS 18001 Health and Safety Registration
  • ISO 14001/OHSAS 18001 Environment/Health and Safety Registration
  • ISO 9001/ISO 14001/OHSAS 18001 Quality/Environment/Health and Safety Registration

 

NSAI Transition Policy to S.R. OHSAS18001:2007

NSAI Transition Policy to S.R. OHSAS18001:2007 can be downloaded here.

 



Contact:
Maria McKeown
Certification Officer 
tel: 353 1 807 3934
mob: 087 917 5444
fax: 353 1 807 3844
email: Maria McKeown

 

FOB Rev.11




Last Updated - [16 Jan 2008 @ 12:42:42]

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