Status of OHSAS 18001 - Occupational Health and Safety

[Roger Eastin]

Does anyone know the status of the ISO Safety and Health standard? The name is ... let me see... uh, SH18000? or SA18000?

Some companies (eg Belden Cables UK)are now certified to this standard OHSAS 18001 (not exclusively an ISO standard). You can buy it through ANSI so I guess it's official. More info at: http://www.nsaicert.com/ohas.htm

Roger

[Randy]

It's starting to come into use by many organizations. CEEM, DNV and BSI offer training on it. I think DNV and BSI are doing registration too.

I've used it some (I'm an EHS guy by trade) and like it. If you take out the word "safety" and insert "environmental" you basically have ISO 14000. Both documents are structured the same.

You need both OHSAS 18000 and 18001.

[Roger Eastin]

Marc - ya think it's too early to start a forum for ISO 18001? I see AIAG is starting a committee on this standard which could mean that Big 3 may move to make this mandatory (from a 3rd party standpoint) for their suppliers too. (It's great to be involved in the wonderful world of ever-spiraling standards!)

[Randy]

The AIHA is formally involved in developing a Safety Standard right now that looks like it is based on BS8800 & OHSAS 18001.

[Marc]

Are you sure it's going to be an ISO standard?

[David Mullins]

ISO doesn't appear to have a technical committee looking at this subject.

From what I can recall the last time ISO looked at the subject, too many countries could foresee human rights problems associated with such a standard and discussion didn't get too far. Seems you couldn't certify sweat shops and rug makers with children chained to looms. But you can get them quality certified/registered!

------------------

[Fire Girl]

Funny you should mention...

I was actually going to put in a post about that myself. I couldn't remember the number of the new H&S standard. The only thing I was wondering about is each country likely has different labour laws, etc. How will this work? For quality, I mean there aren't really any 'laws' per se governing this. But health & safety for sure there are laws. My company is just starting to develop a H&S System (yes we are a little behind the times). But I'm thinking that perhaps if there was a third party (other than the Ministry of Labour) to answer to they might take it more seriously.

More info on this new standard would be appreciated.