Will OHSAS 18001 will follow the same revision trail as ISO 14001?

[cheahga]

Hi All,

It's been some time I have not posted threads, hope that you guy will not be angry with me!!!! .

Anyway, I have this question on my mind. Since ISO 14001 is undergone changes and now is already reaching official launching of the new standard soon, I wonder will OHSAS 18001 will follow the same trail!!! Our company is trying to pursue for OHSAS 18001 next year after having our ISO 14001 certificate since 1999!!!

Really hope that the expert in Cove can help to enlighten me on this???

Thanks in advance......

[Randy]

The OHSAS Committee has stated that the need to revise the document will be revisited as necessary to keep it aligned with existing management systems. My guess is (based upon conversations with one of the UK dudes that helped write it) that within a year or 2 you'll see 18001 amended.

[cheahga]

Thanks a lot, Randy. Your the man!!!

[Sidney Vianna]

Since ISO has (at least twice) decided not to move forward with a Management System Standard for Occupational Health and Service, and we are using OHSAS 18001, for the most part, it will be interesting to see what happens when the upcoming ANSI/AIHA Z10-200X Standard - American National Standard- Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems gets released.

Will people still rely on OHSAS 18001 or would business migrate to the ANSI Std?

The RAB has indicated it's intention to launch an Accreditation Scheme for the ANSI Standard, once released.

[Randy]

I attended the ASSE convention in Las Vegas in July and questioned a "ANSI/AIHA Z10-200X Standard - American National Standard- Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems" GURU about the proposed US Standard. The guy started out his speech saying the there was no internationally recognized standard for developing a safety based management system and that the US/ANSI/AIHA one will be the one that folks would follow. I wigged..........

I flat told him and all the people present that in the absence of the OHSAS 18001 Specification and the ILO's Health & Safety document he was probably telling the truth. I asked him how a document like 18001, which was developed by 13 organizations from many different countries, being used on every continent (except possibly Antartica) couldn't be considered a recognized international standard (specification)? I got a big "DUH". When I cornered him about one of the real reason behind the development of the ANSI/AIHA document being more business/revenue related than anything else, you could hear a pin drop....no answer. This gentleman, who had apparently been an active member of the "team" on the Z10 could not supply one good solid reason why the Z10 would be an advantage to US organizations over 18K.

[Sidney Vianna]

Randy, thanks for the information and for the pointed question. I wish I was there.....

Originally Posted by Randy

I flat told him and all the people present that in the absence of the OHSAS 18001 Specification and the ILO's Health & Safety document he was probably telling the truth.

Better than the Presidential Debates!

One day I will write a paper about the commoditization of standards. With the ANSI and the ILO developments, I suspect that, the next time the ISO TC brings up a vote for ISO to develop a OH&S Management System Standard, ie, ISO 18001, they will vote YES. (3rd time is a charm? or the monie$ are too much to be ignored?)