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WHY ORGANISATIONS NEED A HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Worldwide, organisations operating without a formal health and safety management system undermine their accountability, competitiveness and profitability, and in doing so they expose their people and their business to human and economic risks.

Many firms tackle routine tasks such as the auditing of their activities, or the identification and resolution of health and safety issues in an ad hoc way instead of as part of a long-term improvement programme, leaving underlying problems to resurface later with potentially more damaging risks.

What’s more, many countries lack a clearly defined structure for a health and safety system. Although some national bodies have tried to develop their own standards, organisations often fall short of compliance with local legal requirements.

OHSAS 18001 PROVIDES A SINGLE STANDARD

OHSAS 18001 delivers the solution. Developed by a committee of national standards bodies, certification bodies and industry representatives, OHSAS 18001 clears up the confusion in the workplace caused by the proliferation of health and safety specifications.

OHSAS 18001 does not lay down specific criteria, nor does it tell an organisation how to design its own management system. Instead it prescribes what must happen, leaving how it happens to the individual organisation. This means any organisation, anywhere and of any scale or type, can apply OHSAS 18001 to fit their individual health and safety policy requirements.

In addition, OHSAS 18001 builds its framework around risk assessment, not legal compliance. It emphasises management commitment, objective setting and continual business improvement.

OHSAS 18001 enables organisations to apply a plan, check and review approaches to driving internal control and improvement. Organisations can plan for objectives and processes, implement, monitor and measure these processes and results against policies, objectives and requirements, and undertake a periodical review to ensure continual improvement of the process.

CERTIFICATION TO OHSAS 18001 DELIVERS SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGES

OHSAS 18001 takes account of an organisation’s existing business needs. It allows seamless integration with the ISO 9001 (Quality), ISO 14001 (Environment), BS 8800 and HS (G) 65 systems. OHSAS 18001 delivers efficiencies.

With OHSAS 18001certification in place, organisations reduce their risk exposure and improve profitability and sustainability. They understand all the hazards and risks they pose and will know how to manage and reduce those risks. Sound health and safety management can be included in future business plans. Specifically, certification to OHSAS 18001

Increases staff motivation.
Reduces operating costs.
Offers potential reductions in the cost of insurance premiums over time.
Reduces accident costs.
Reduces the risk of damaging publicity.
Provides a public demonstration of due diligence.
Reduces accident investigation time.
Lowers staff turnover.
Increases environmental awareness amongst staff.

SGS HELPS ORGANISATIONS DEVELOP HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

Around the world many organisations seeking full certification to OHSAS 18001 choose to work with SGS.

SGS works with organisations every step of the way, starting with a preliminary review involving a risk assessment; then set-up stage, which involves total implementation throughout the organisation; and finally an onsite verification of the implementation.

Following a successful audit of the new system, organisations receive their certificate of registration for OHSAS 18001, thus immediately enhancing their credibility nationally and globally.

SGS provides full training to help anyone develop their skills and knowledge in health and safety management systems. In-company training, designed to meet an organisation’s specific requirements, complements a national programme of training.

The SGS group of companies leads the world in the field of inspection, verification, testing and certification. The Group comprises more than 300 affiliated companies, each separately organised and managed in accordance with the laws and local practices of the countries in which it does business.

Founded in 1878, the Group operates in 140 countries. SGS does not engage in any manufacturing, trading or financial activities which might compromise its independence and integrity. For further information please contact:

SGS United Kingdom Ltd
SGS House
217-221 London Road
Camberley
Surrey
GU15 3EY
Tel: +44 (0) 1276 697 999
Fax: +44 (0) 1276 698 696