The objective of this Standard is to set auditable criteria for an occupational health and safety management system. The Standard is a specification that aims to encompass the best elements of such systems already widely used in Australia and New Zealand.
The OHSAS certification system was created by an association of national standard bodies, certification bodies/registrars, and specialist consultancies. As a worldwide certification body/registrar, DNV participated in the development of the standard.
The OHSAS series
The occupational health and safety assessment series OHSAS 18001 was designed to help organisations formulate occupational health and safety policies and objectives. The series includes the 18001 specifications and accompanying guidelines to implementation of OHSAS 18001. The standard is applicable to any organisations that wish to take a proactive approach to its occupational health and safety risks.
Eliminating risks and hazards
AS/NZS 4801 & OHSAS 18001 will measure your managements system with regards to several dimensions. The extent of application will depend on such factors as the occupational health and safety policy of the organisation, the nature of its activities, and conditions under which it operates. AS/NZS4801 and OHSAS 18001 are virtually mirror images of one another.
A successful management system should be based on:
- An occupational health and safety policy appropriate for the company.
- Identification of occupational health and safety risks and legal requirements.
- Objectives, targets, and programmes that ensure continual improvements.
- Management activities that control the occupational health and safety risks.
- Monitoring of the occupational health and safety system performance.
- Continual reviews, evaluation, and improvement of the system.
Where do I go from here?
For third party certification, you need to implement an effective management system complying with the requirements of the standard. The first step is to get on the road to certification.
