Survey or Statistics on the use of OHSAS 18001 Worldwide

[samsung]

I did not understand clearly your 30th October 2010 06:24 PM message (maybe can you explain or restate it more clearly for me) but it's seems to me reduce the environment concept only to pollution impacts of our businesses. But typically the consumption of natural resources and biodiversity are other aspects in the preservation of our environment.

Hi Henria,

I got your point. 'Pollution' is quite a broad term and does encompass variety of elements in addition to 'emissions' or 'discharges' as commonly understood and perhaps that's the reason ISO 14001 seeks a top management commitment for 'Prevention of Pollution' alone which can include (Pl. refer note under 3.18 of ISO 14001:2004:

Prevention of pollution can include source reduction or elimination, process, product or service changes, efficient use of resources, material and energy substitution, reuse, recovery, recycling, reclamation and treatment.

1rst idea :
In my 30th October 2010 06:06 PM message I observed that BSI had a good OSHMS standard (BS 8800) and then created a second one (BS OHSAS 18001) only copying and pasting ISO 14001 (regarding Environment) and just changing some words. I think it's the reason this second BS is not very good*, compared to other OSHMS standards specially and directly built for OSH management (ILO-OSH, ANSI Z10, CSA Z1000, AS/NZS..., etc).

BS OHSAS 18001 now has enhanced alignment & compatibility with ISO 14001/ ISO 9001 and even with ILO-OSH:2001. I don't think it's a simple 'copy paste' from these standards with little changes. [/QUOTE]

Although I haven't gone through ANSI Z10 & other standards mentioned by you, yet I find OHSAS 18001 perfectly in line with ILO-OSH 2001 as is clear from the "correspondence between OHSAS 18001 & ILO-OSH 2001" . No difference at all.

note : we might ask also whether ISO 14001 is really so relevant and sufficient for the Environment (such as ISO 9001 appears to be for the quality, or ILO-OSH for occupational safety & health) or if it does not deserve to be a little more robust and professional. But that's another story and I'm not an expert of the Environment (nor Quality).

Only thing that ISO 14001 doesn't so far focus is 'human health' and (enhanced) alignment of its various requirements with national and international laws. Else the standard in it's present form is quite adequate to provide a reasonable platform for setting up of an EMS with which organizations can well manage their significant environmental aspects. Hopefully the future revisions would include what's missing now and would be more professional in their approach.

 

[Henria]

Hello !

Thank you Samsung for your answers and clarifications.

Concerning the parallelism between the international standard ILO-OSH and BS OHSAS 18001, personally I do not conclude "No difference at all" like you. I see instead differences that make me choose ILO-OSH.

Possible "match" elements from two standards does not mean they are equally relevant or have the same quality (eg BS 8800 is better than BS OHSAS 18001): we can say that different parts of our various cars "correspond" (engine, wheels, seats ...) but there are big differences in their overall quality when we drive different cars. It is similar with existing OSHMS standards (and I find that BS OHSAS 18001 is one of the worst).

But I understand to say that it hurting colleagues who use BS OHSAS 18001 or even other who would we don't speack about the other OSHMS standards existing. I support the analysis and choice of everyone / all the different existing OSHMS standards (starting with the international one) rather imposing an single british national standard. but I observe que softly the big countries are establishing their own national standard with ILO-OSH model (or choose it).

Bye.

 

[samsung]

ILO-OSH is undoubtedly a very good guidance document for establishing an OHSMS yet OHSAS or any other standards provide minimum requirements for setting up an OHSMS without preventing the organizations from adopting the best practices contained in any other document such as ILO-OSH or ANSI Z10.

 

[Henria]

I completely agree with you Samsung !

And that is precisely why I choose and use directly an "excellent" OSHMS model (the "best" according to my analysis) for my company ! Indeed, why choose a particularly "minimum" model...?

Regards.

 

[Pancho]

Although I haven't gone through ANSI Z10 & other standards mentioned by you, yet I find OHSAS 18001 perfectly in line with ILO-OSH 2001 as is clear from the "correspondence between OHSAS 18001 & ILO-OSH 2001" . No difference at all.

When we looked at what standard to register under, our consultant recommended the BS OHSAS document because while the requirements were substantially similar, the OHSAS doc was better known and there were many more registrations to it.

That tipped the balance for us, and we've been working towards BS OHSAS registration for over a year. The experience has been very enlightening. We are now scheduling our certification audit for next month. Working through the actual process of getting my business up to compliance, and then reading the list of differences in the link above, they do seem trivial.

 

[samsung]

That tipped the balance for us, and we've been working towards BS OHSAS registration for over a year. The experience has been very enlightening. We are now scheduling our certification audit for next month. Working through the actual process of getting my business up to compliance, and then reading the list of differences in the link above, they do seem trivial.

During the implementation stage it's advisable to refer the following ILO Codes of Practices that describe what exactly is to be done in order to effectively implement an OHSMS.

'Ambient factors in the workplace'

'Prevention of major industrial accidents'

'Safety in the use of chemicals at work'

'Technical and ethical guidelines for workers' health surveillance'

I wish you all success in the forthcoming assessment.

Thanks.

 

[Henria]

Hi Pancho !

My curiosity: what is your job and your experience in your company ? and what is the main specialty of your consultant ?

See you soon.

 

[Pancho]

Hi Pancho !

My curiosity: what is your job and your experience in your company ? and what is the main specialty of your consultant ?

See you soon.

Hi Henria. I run the company. Been at it for a while. Other details are in my profile or the links therein.

Our consultant specializes in Management Systems, and was instrumental in our successful implementation of ISO 9001 before our present case.

 

[Henria]

Hi Pancho !

Thank you for your reply. You're the boss and you wanted structure an OSHMS in your company. That's a good point! OSH managment really starts from the head the company.

I have asked these questions to know if you and/or your consultant you were OSH specialists. You don't, I understand better why the choice of the model * OSHMS to deploy in your company was based on external reputation criteria** and not on relevance effectiveness intrinsic criterias of prevention approach in your company to reduce occupational risks of your staff and improve the performance of your company in this field.

* How many and wich possible standards did the consultant submitt to you ?
** You said "... BS OHSAS doc was better known and there were many more registrations to it ..." but these mentions have strictly no effect regarding safety and health working conditions of your employees.

It's classic. But don't wory, it's possible to drive good OSH prevention even with the British OSHM standard (and it's possible to drive bad with an other one...). I invite you to read, however, ILO-OSH (free), ANSI/AIHA Z10 or BS 8800 to appreciate them and see they are more explicit and professionals that BS OHSAS 18001. Besides a day, you can easily adopt one of these standards (international Management Systems standards [ISO 9000 and 14000 series, ILO-OSH] are compatible, as well as national standards [...] usually).

In fact my general concern is that for every company it is better to survey and use the "best" OSHMS model among existing OSHMS standards, than simply to "survey statistics on use of BS OHSAS 18001 worldwide" as the title of this thread.

Bye.

 

[Pancho]

I invite you to read, however, ILO-OSH (free), ANSI/AIHA Z10 or BS 8800 to appreciate them and see they are more explicit and professionals that BS OHSAS 18001. Besides a day, you can easily adopt one of these standards (international Management Systems standards [ISO 9000 and 14000 series, ILO-OSH] are compatible, as well as national standards [...] usually).

In fact my general concern is that for every company it is better to survey and use the "best" OSHMS model among existing OSHMS standards, than simply to "survey statistics on use of BS OHSAS 18001 worldwide" as the title of this thread.

Bye.

Thank you for your advice, Henria. I've read the ILO-OSH Guidelines, and we did consider them. I like the part in them about National Standards. Clearly BS OHSAS offers no comparable Guideline for governmental policy. But I fail to see the substantial differences for my company by comparing the documents or reading Samsung's link.

Perhaps I missed something: could you kindly help me by pointing out the three most important practical differences between ILO-OSH and BS OHSAS 18001 for companies like mine?