::SIMS Safety & Health Environment Consulting & Training::

SIMS Safety & Health Environment Consulting & Training

What is OHSAS 18001?

OHS An Occupational Health & Safety Management System is a framework that allows an organization to consistently identify and control its health and safety risks, reduce the potential for accidents, aid legislative compliance and improve overall performance.

OHSAS 18001 is the assessment specification for Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems. It was developed in response to the need for companies to meet their health and safety obligations in an efficient manner.

The following key areas are addressed by OHSAS 18001:

	Planning for hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control
	OHSAS management programme
	Structure and responsibility
	Training, awareness and competence
	Consultation and communication
	Operational control
	Emergency preparedness and response
	Performance measuring, monitoring and improvement

How Can OHSAS Help?

The OHSAS specification is applicable to any organization that wishes to:

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

Essentially, OHSAS helps in a variety of respects... it helps: minimize risk to employees/etc; improve an existing OH&S management system; demonstrate diligence; gain assurance; etc. The benefits can be substantial.

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