Standards

OHSAS 18001

was created via the concerted effort from a number of the worlds leading national standards bodies, certification bodies, and specialist consultancies. A main driver for this was to try to remove confusion in the workplace from the proliferation of certifiable OH&S. specifications.

COMPATIBILITIES
OHSAS 18001 has been developed to be compatible with the ISO 9001 (Quality) and ISO 14001 (Environmental) management systems standards, in order to facilitate the integration of quality, environmental and occupational health and safety management systems by organizations, should they wish to do so.

The (OHSAS) specification gives requirements for an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system, to enable an organization to control its OH&S risks and improve its performance. It does not state specific OH&S performance criteria, nor does it give detailed specifications for the design of a management system.

APPLICATION AND BENEFITS
The OHSAS specification is applicable to any organisation that wishes to:

  • Establish an OH&S management system to eliminate or minimise risk to employees and other interested parties who may be exposed to OH&S risks associated with its activities
  • Implement, maintain and continually improve an OH&S management system
  • Assure itself of its conformance with its stated OH&S policy
  • Demonstrate such conformance to others
  • Seek certification/registration of its OH&S management system by an external organisation
  • Make a self-determination and declaration of conformance with this OHSAS specification.

ISO 9001:2000
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published the new edition of ISO 9001 in December 2000, which replaces the 1994 edition of the ISO 9001 standards as well as ISO 9002 and ISO 9003.

The revised quality management standard balances system-based experience from previous editions with emerging insights into a process-oriented structure. The new standard takes a more generic approach towards all industry sectors rather than the manufacturing based style of the previous editions. The structure of the new ISO 9001:2000 standard takes on the model of Plan, Do, Check, Act based on the Quality Management System Principles of Deming's.

ISO 14001

An Environmental Management System provides a framework for managing environmental responsibilities so they become more efficient and more integrated into overall business operations.

Environmental Management Systems are based on standards, which specify a process of achieving continuously improved environmental performance and complying with legislation. AfriCert offers registration to the internationally recognised environmental standard ISO 14001; registration can:

  • Remove uncertainty and inconsistency by managing disruption and waste
  • Give competitive advantage to avoid international trade barriers
  • Help companies stay in compliance with regulatory requirements
  • Improve overall performance

ISO 14001is an international standard that specifies a process for controlling and improving a company's environmental performance.

ISO 14001 consists of:

  • General requirements
  • Environmental policy
  • Planning
  • Implementation and operation
  • Checking and corrective action
  • Management review

This means you:

Identify elements of your business that impact on the environment and gain access to the relevant environmental legislation.

Produce objectives for improvement and a management program to achieve them, with regular reviews for continual improvement.