Health & Safety Executive - ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 Confusion

[Grusha]

Hi everyone, I really hope someone can help me with this...

The Health & Safety Exec sets out H&S Policy as:
-Policy Statement
-Organisation
-Arrangements
-Monitoring
-Review

Is it law that you must have one document set out in this order? I ask because I am integrating 18001 and 14001. Therefore, I would simply like to build on my 14001 core procedures manual, adding the relevant 18001 information. The information added would cover the HSE requirements, just not in the same format / order as they suggest - is this ok?

Many thanks in anticipation

[Jennifer Kirley]

Originally Posted by Grusha

Hi everyone, I really hope someone can help me with this...

The Health & Safety Exec sets out H&S Policy as:
-Policy Statement
-Organisation
-Arrangements
-Monitoring
-Review

Is it law that you must have one document set out in this order? I ask because I am integrating 18001 and 14001. Therefore, I would simply like to build on my 14001 core procedures manual, adding the relevant 18001 information. The information added would cover the HSE requirements, just not in the same format / order as they suggest - is this ok?
Many thanks in anticipation

Hello Grusha,

There's no requirement for a format, only that the information be there, accurate, known, understood, reviewed, etc.

With the revised 2007 edition of OSHAS 18001, there is better alignment to ISO 14001 than the 1999 document had. So integrating should be somewhat easier. Of course there are additions like (OSHAS 18001) 4.2b)'s reference to employee ill health, which isn't required by ISO 14001. No matter; in fact, since some environmental controls could benefit an effort to safeguarding employee health, it's actually okay - not mutually exclusive.

I hope this helps!

[tyker]

I'm not an expert on H&S legislation so the best advice I can give is to talk to the HSE. If you're being proactive about safety, they'll be helpful.

I believe the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974 will come into play and you may wish to view the HSE website FAQ section and relevant leaflets as:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/faqs/policy.htm

[Grusha]

Thanks, it's always comforting to know you're not going to waste your time doing something the wrong way round!

[Paul Simpson]

Hi, Grusha. Sorry I have not had a chance to reply earlier - holiday for 2 weeks!

In answer to your question:

Originally Posted by Grusha

Hi everyone, I really hope someone can help me with this...

The Health & Safety Exec sets out H&S Policy as:
-Policy Statement
-Organisation
-Arrangements
-Monitoring
-Review

The Health & Safety at Work Act (HSAWA) requires employers to

to prepare and as often as may be appropriate revise a written statement of his general policy with respect to the health and safety at work of his employees and the organisation and arrangements for the time being in force for carrying out that policy, and to bring the statement and any revision of it to the notice of all his employees.

The beauty of this (or the problem depending on your point of view ) is that there is no specific requirement for what the "organisation, arrangements etc." should contain. Certainly you shouldn't be starting from a zero base - try and find out what is in place currently and then review it before you bring it in to your integrated management system.

Originally Posted by Grusha

Is it law that you must have one document set out in this order? I ask because I am integrating 18001 and 14001. Therefore, I would simply like to build on my 14001 core procedures manual, adding the relevant 18001 information. The information added would cover the HSE requirements, just not in the same format / order as they suggest - is this ok?

Many thanks in anticipation

No problem with your proposal. Having done your review (above) you can bring the documents required under the HSAWA into your current EMS system. Good luck!

[Grusha]

Thank you very much!

I would like to say we were not starting from zero but the more I look into H&S at my organisation the less I find...

[Stantheman]

Hello ther sorry i came into this late but the intent of the scpes was to build on each other now using 18001-2 we have a structured HSE systems managment for building all HSE systems on let me know if i can help