OHSAS 18001:1999 – Health & Safety Management Systems

Purpose:

The OHSAS 18001:1999 Health and Safety Management Systems (HSMS) Standard is primarily concerned with ‘Health and Safety Management’ issues. It is a generic standard, and as such can be applied to any size or type of organisation, whatever its product or service, in any sector of activity, and whether it is a business enterprise, a public agency or government department.

The reference to ‘Management System’ refers to what the organisation does to manage its processes, or activities in order that its products or services meet its set objectives for example:

satisfying its Employees Health and Safety requirements, or
complying with Health and Safety regulations.

Usage:

OHSAS 18001:1999 is the most widely adopted Health and Safety standard in the world. There has been a marked increase in certifications within the last few years and the trend seems likely to continue at a faster pace than before driven by increased levels of international trade, reduced trading barriers and enlargements within harmonised markets such as the EU.

Compliance:

Compliance with the OHSAS 18001:1999 Standard requires companies to undertake internal audits and undergo regular external assessment and audits of their HSMS by a certification body in order to gain certification.

Benefits:

OHSAS 18001:1999 certification is not a legal requirement, however, the number of companies facing litigation costs due to Health and Safety related negligence cases from employees is soaring due to the proliferation of ‘no-win-no-fee’ legal services.

Directors and officers of companies can also prevent cases of criminal negligence by ensuring an externally audited management system covering Health and Safety is in place.

In most cases, insurance companies will not cover Health and Safety related legal costs where the company has been negligent in not adequately maintaining a Health and Safety Management System. Usually, the onus is on the company to prove that to its insurers that it has an externally audited HSMS in place.

Most companies opt to achieve certification for key reasons including:

improvements in organisations efficiency and effectiveness
enhanced employee satisfaction
meeting Health and Safety legal requirements for employers
reduced insurance costs
competitive advantage over rivals
requirement within ‘invitations to tender’
requirement within ‘supply chains’