Work Place and Control of Organisation for OHSAS 18001:2007

[tecvidya]

In OHSAS 18001:2007, definition at 3.23 for workplace says, it is any physical location in which work related activities are performed under the control of the organization.

NOTE When giving consideration to what constitutes a workplace, the organization (3.17) should take into account the OH&S effects on personnel who are, for example, travelling or in transit (e.g. driving, flying, on boats or trains), working at the premises of a client or customer, or working at home.

Can really an organisation and to what extent, exercise on OHS issues for employee in travel or in customer premises

Any views on this please respond

regards

[Sidney Vianna]

Originally Posted by tecvidya

Can really an organisation and to what extent, exercise on OHS issues for employee in travel or in customer premises

Any views on this please respond

regards

Certainly. While an organization might not be able to control the working environment of a customer, they certainly can mitigate the risks to their employees, working remotely, by policies and provision of personal protective equipment.

For example, as an auditor, I work for a CB who has empowered me to refuse to work, if the conditions are riskier than acceptable levels.

If I enter an area, at the client's premises, where PPE is required, such as safety goggles, hard hats, breathing apparatus, etc. these should be provided, either by my employer or the audited organization.

There are many policies that can affect this. For example, my employer has a policy prohibiting the usage of cell phones, while driving, unless you use a hands free device.

An organization can certainly influence the OH&S risks to their employees, when working remotely, and travelling.

[Henria]

Hi all,

I agree with you Sidney.

Admittedly in these external working situations (out of ours own plants) we do not have the capacity to control all the determinants of risks which expose our personnel. But the bases of H&S prevention are valide as much, beginning with risks assessment and H&S requirements identification applicable to these situations. We can then act on part of risks factors. (in collaboration with the entity responsible for the place in question).

The problem it is that these situations of exposure can be difficult to apprehend for two reasons:
- they can be distant on the one hand, and
- more or less unknown compared to our usual occupations.

To compensate these two handicaps I see complementary possibilities:
- anticipate and prepare H&S aspecta in the preliminary contacts (between the company user and the intervening company) for the forecast and the theoretical preparation of the intervention,
- and obtain the autonomy of the intervening personnel (formation set, specific procedures) to to supplement this theoretical preparation by a work practises just at the beginning of the real intervention (e.g. preliminary impection of the places of intervention from H&S point of view).

About the voyages we can choose the mode, the comfort and the company of transport… we can determine comfortable duration and rest… we can also refuse to pass by or to go in certain countries…

Cordially.