BS OHSAS 18001 Health & Safety Management System

There are many reasons for organisations to implement an Occupational Health and Safety Management System, not least the reduced risk of failing to comply with legislation:

BENEFITS TO HAVING A BRITISH STANDARD OHSAS 18001 HEALTH & SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Compliance with legislation - OHSAS 18001 provides a framework by which your organisation can identify the health and safety legislation applicable to its activities, products, services and identified hazards. Such a framework extends to provide the means to comply with the regulatory requirements identified.

Ownership of Health and Safety issues - OHSAS 18001 provides the means by which your organisation can communicate and consult upon its Health and Safety issues.

Nominal effort is required - Organisations with a formal documented Management System compliant with ISO 9001 (Quality) and/or ISO 14001 (Environmental) can easily extend existing system controls to encompass the management of Health and Safety.

Training needs are identified and realised - OHSAS 18001 enables Health and Safety training needs to be identified, and the adequacy of subsequent training assessed through measures of competency.

Reduce costs - The cost of an accident extends beyond the compensation paid to an employee. By implementing Health and Safety improvement strategies, through the effective implementation of a documented OH&S Management System, significant financial savings can be realised; not forgetting the effect that accident reduction can have upon the morale of employees.

Opportunity for integration - Compatibility with ISO 9001/14001 provides an opportunity to integrate your Management Systems, thereby reducing bureaucracy and maximising effectiveness.

Liabilities minimised - As hazards and their associated risks are eliminated or controlled, liabilities can be reduced.

Time spent on improving an organisation's health and safety could provide a financial return in terms of:

Reduced accidents and occupational ill health.

Reduced stress and greater productivity.

An improvement in underwriting risk.

A reduction in the likelihood of paying legal costs and compensation.