OSHA vs. OHSAS 18001 vs. Work Environment - Clause 6.4
- Thread starter Raffy
- Start date
F
Fire Girl
Raffy
If you are talking about Work Environment with respect to ISO 9K:2K, work environment could include such things as a healthy and safe work environment. It could also be things such as adequate lighting, good ergonomics and proper set up. Does the person have to walk halfway across your plant to get pieces for a small assembly? Does the job require even pressure; ie over time the worker will become fatigued and therefore not be working to his/her peak potential. That sort of stuff anyway...
[This message has been edited by Fire Girl (edited 19 June 2001).]
If you are talking about Work Environment with respect to ISO 9K:2K, work environment could include such things as a healthy and safe work environment. It could also be things such as adequate lighting, good ergonomics and proper set up. Does the person have to walk halfway across your plant to get pieces for a small assembly? Does the job require even pressure; ie over time the worker will become fatigued and therefore not be working to his/her peak potential. That sort of stuff anyway...
[This message has been edited by Fire Girl (edited 19 June 2001).]
Work environment has been a subjective requirement from the beginning. All you need is a stroy. Well, not a story, but be ready for a discussion.
Fire Girl's discussion is a good example which covers the basics. Auditor's do not walk around with light meters, for example, nor is there definitive criteria in most (99.99%) situations where a light meter would be necessary as a process criteria (as opposed to 'standard' laboratory conditions for which there are many sources of,to say the least, industry standards). If light is a 'critical' issue, the expectation would be they would want to see records of it being monitored.
Don't get excited. Work environment is subjective and relative. A metal turning station, for example, will typically be dirtier than a simple assembly area or a soldering station.
-> Does a simple health and safety seminar would be enough?
That's standard introduction training, isn't it? Has to include MSDS training. Or departmental specific in worst case? This has to be done.
-> certificate?
For what?
Fire Girl's discussion is a good example which covers the basics. Auditor's do not walk around with light meters, for example, nor is there definitive criteria in most (99.99%) situations where a light meter would be necessary as a process criteria (as opposed to 'standard' laboratory conditions for which there are many sources of,to say the least, industry standards). If light is a 'critical' issue, the expectation would be they would want to see records of it being monitored.
Don't get excited. Work environment is subjective and relative. A metal turning station, for example, will typically be dirtier than a simple assembly area or a soldering station.
-> Does a simple health and safety seminar would be enough?
That's standard introduction training, isn't it? Has to include MSDS training. Or departmental specific in worst case? This has to be done.
-> certificate?
For what?
B
benjamin
Would our 5S effort fall under 6.4?
It seems that this would be managing the work environment to achieve conformity to product requirements.
Thanks.
It seems that this would be managing the work environment to achieve conformity to product requirements.
Thanks.
As our registrar explained it 'work environment' definition is up to each company to define. Depending on your product/service needs this can vary from including temperature controls to decontamination proticols.
Your defined work environment should directly reflect what is (6.4) '...needed to achieve conformity to product requirements' as it pertains to the scope of your certification.
I would caution against additing any more into this detail that necessary. Remember you will have to show how you manage this as well as how it is defined.
Edit - Added ps: There is no linkage between ISO and OSHA.
[This message has been edited by E Wall (edited 21 June 2001).]
Your defined work environment should directly reflect what is (6.4) '...needed to achieve conformity to product requirements' as it pertains to the scope of your certification.
I would caution against additing any more into this detail that necessary. Remember you will have to show how you manage this as well as how it is defined.
Edit - Added ps: There is no linkage between ISO and OSHA.
[This message has been edited by E Wall (edited 21 June 2001).]
energy:
No link between ISO & OSHA - we're talking regards to 6.4 and the Work Environment. No auditor will ask to see results of OSHA requirements as part of 'Work Environment' definition. Our auditor, for example, doesn't even want to hear "OSHA".
Strictly speaking we're to be identifying and managing the conditions of the work environment needed to achieve conformity of product. These conditions could include the physical, social, psychological and environmental factors.
Additionally, the work environment itself may need to be suitable for the activities performed. Proper lighting, ergonomics and cleanliness of the work area may be essential to the ability to produce conforming product. Ambient temperature, humidity and vibration may be conditions requiring control and monitoring when performing tasks such as the calibration of sensitive equipment.
Whether there is a relationship to an OSHA guideline or not is not under the audit scope.
No link between ISO & OSHA - we're talking regards to 6.4 and the Work Environment. No auditor will ask to see results of OSHA requirements as part of 'Work Environment' definition. Our auditor, for example, doesn't even want to hear "OSHA".
Strictly speaking we're to be identifying and managing the conditions of the work environment needed to achieve conformity of product. These conditions could include the physical, social, psychological and environmental factors.
Additionally, the work environment itself may need to be suitable for the activities performed. Proper lighting, ergonomics and cleanliness of the work area may be essential to the ability to produce conforming product. Ambient temperature, humidity and vibration may be conditions requiring control and monitoring when performing tasks such as the calibration of sensitive equipment.
Whether there is a relationship to an OSHA guideline or not is not under the audit scope.
energy:
No link between ISO & OSHA - we're talking regards to 6.4 and the Work Environment. No auditor will ask to see results of OSHA requirements as part of 'Work Environment' definition. Our auditor, for example, doesn't even want to hear "OSHA".
Strictly speaking we're to be identifying and managing the conditions of the work environment needed to achieve conformity of product. These conditions could include the physical, social, psychological and environmental factors.
Additionally, the work environment itself may need to be suitable for the activities performed. Proper lighting, ergonomics and cleanliness of the work area may be essential to the ability to produce conforming product. Ambient temperature, humidity and vibration may be conditions requiring control and monitoring when performing tasks such as the calibration of sensitive equipment.
Whether there is a relationship to an OSHA guideline or not is not under the audit scope.
Eileen
No link between ISO & OSHA - we're talking regards to 6.4 and the Work Environment. No auditor will ask to see results of OSHA requirements as part of 'Work Environment' definition. Our auditor, for example, doesn't even want to hear "OSHA".
Strictly speaking we're to be identifying and managing the conditions of the work environment needed to achieve conformity of product. These conditions could include the physical, social, psychological and environmental factors.
Additionally, the work environment itself may need to be suitable for the activities performed. Proper lighting, ergonomics and cleanliness of the work area may be essential to the ability to produce conforming product. Ambient temperature, humidity and vibration may be conditions requiring control and monitoring when performing tasks such as the calibration of sensitive equipment.
Whether there is a relationship to an OSHA guideline or not is not under the audit scope.
Eileen
E
energy
Q9001:2000 Section 5.1 a)"communicating to the organization the importance of meeting customer as well as statutory and regulatory requirements". Couldn't that be interpreted as a link to OSHA, Federal, DEP regulations, if applicable?
None
Marc, for the most part, there is NO connection. ISO 9001 6.4 deals with the work environment from the perspective to provide for product quality. We are talking about issues, such as cleanliness (such as in clean rooms), hygiene (for food processing), light (so operators can see what they are doing and inspectors can visually detect defects), etc....Occupational Health & Safety can (and should) be managed as a separate management system or as an integrated one, but, for the most part, OH&S is OUTSIDE of the scope of ISO 9001.
Marc, for the most part, there is NO connection. ISO 9001 6.4 deals with the work environment from the perspective to provide for product quality. We are talking about issues, such as cleanliness (such as in clean rooms), hygiene (for food processing), light (so operators can see what they are doing and inspectors can visually detect defects), etc....Occupational Health & Safety can (and should) be managed as a separate management system or as an integrated one, but, for the most part, OH&S is OUTSIDE of the scope of ISO 9001.
