OHSAS 1800:2007

Introduction

An Occupational Health & Safety Management System also refers to as OH&SMS, comprises of regulations, procedures, strategies, activities, and records that describe the rules governing how the company takes care of workplace safety and health. This program needs to be tailored to your particular business because only your company can have the exact legal requirements and the workplace health & safety hazards that match your unique business processes. Nevertheless, the specifications of OHSAS 18001 provide a framework and guidelines for the creation of your occupational health and safety management system so that you don't skip the essential elements required for an OH&SMS to function.

OHSAS 1800:2007 Occupational Health and Safety Management Certification is an international standard that provides a framework for the identification, control and reduction of workplace health and safety-related risks. Implementing the standard will send a clear signal to your stakeholders that you see the health and safety of your employees as a priority within your organization.

OHSAS 18001 certification is being completed by an increasing number of organizations as employers are under increasing pressure to ensure a rigorous health and safety policy is in place that protects employees from possible occupational risks and reduces the likelihood of workplace accidents.

Please note: OHSAS 18001 has been replaced by ISO 45001-the new international standard for occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMS) published on 12 March 2018.

OHSAS 18001 is a globally recognized system for managing occupational health and safety at work. The standard defines the system for an organization related to the health and safety of the employees and stakeholders. The standard considers Prevention as employee health & safety approach.

Benefits

a. Improves corporate image and credibility among stakeholders, regulators, clients, prospective customers and the general public

b. Adopt regional best practices with respect to risk management

c. Provides health and wellbeing for employees, subcontractors, and the general public

d. Minimisation of employers' liability through proactive rather than reactive checks

e. Provides legislative awareness and respect

f. Reduces rates of accidents and incidents by reducing or eliminating hazards at work

g. Improves the investigation process on incidents

h. Increases employee motivation by providing a more secure workplace and participation process

Procedure and Documentation

STEP 1 Application and documentation

STEP 2 Pre Audit (may be conducted depending on the business organization)

STEP 3 Citification Audit Phase 1 & Phase 2

STEP 4 Issuance of the certificate on successful completion of the audit

STEP 5 Post-certification audit on a defined interval of time to check the compliance

STEP 6 Re-certification after 3 years
 

Documents required:

1. Records of hazard identification, risk assessment (including significance) and determining control

This is the record of known OH&S hazards, assessed risks, and determining controls. These need to be kept up to date and maintained. View OH&S hazard identification and classification for more information on hazard identification, risk assessment, and controls commitment.

2. Roles and responsibility and authority

The important information is also written in each document you have for the Occupational Health & Safety Management System, not only in one location, but it is important that you know what roles are specific to the Occupational Health & Safety Management System, and who is responsible for the critical activities and has authority.

3. Policy of OHSMS

The OH&S Policy is intended to be the documented intention of a company to comply with legal compliance, prevent injuries and bad health, and to improve continuously. The policy is a focus for the company to work towards, and should readily convey the organization's aim. This is sometimes documented in an OH&S Manual and often posted as a means of interacting with all workers in the company, as it is crucial that every employee knows how the Policy applies to their work.

4. Competence, Awareness & training

Keep documents to show that you have established what skills are needed for essential processes in your OH&SMS, and how workers fulfill those skills. When those responsible for the action did not fulfill the competencies, how did you resolve the inconsistencies in the curriculum to close the gaps?

5. Scope of OH&S Management System

Often captured in an OH&S manual, which defines the limitations of the company's Occupational Health & Safety Management Program, and describes the elements that are included and how they interact.

6. Communication from external Parties

OHSAS 18001 requires the organization to communicate, participate, and consult with employees, subcontractors and other external parties on occupational health and safety issues. Processing, recording, and reacting to appropriate communication from the outside shareholders is also needed. Unlike ISO 14001, which allows the company to determine whether it will or will not notify its neighbors, OHSAS  18001 requires that the company take into account input from outside stakeholders on workplace health and safety