Partner Article

OHSAS 18001 Certification: Why Does Your Business Need

Health and safety in the workplace are important issues in any work environment, both for employers and employees. The OHSAS 18001 certification is internationally recognised and guarantees optimal standards for all work-related health and safety issues.

What is OHSAS 18001 certification?

OHSAS stands for “Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series”. It is a British Standard of certification and serves to regulate safety management systems, ensuring that health and safety norms are constantly observed in any work environment. It exists alongside other organisations that deal with health and safety issues; often OHSAS certification combines with other standards authorities to produce a practically foolproof, worker-friendly and, above all, worker-safe, workplace. Adhering to the OHSAS 18001 certification programme means a thorough identification and control of all health and safety risks, as well as expert consultation on norms, practices and safety equipment.

The role of OHSAS certification

British Standard, BS OHSAS 18001, which has been adopted globally for all health and safety issues pertaining to the workplace, specifies all the requirements for occupational health and safety management systems. The OHSAS 18001 certification programme is designed to help organisations, companies and businesses to develop and implement policies and objectives, taking into account any legal requirements, to ensure they are fully informed, prepared and equipped to safeguard against any health or safety hazards in working environments. The certification applies to every type and size of organisation or company and embraces diverse geographical, social and cultural conditions.

International Safety Standards

The OHSAS 18001 certification is recognised globally. This is great news for international companies, especially those that are expanding and opening new branches world-wide. The renown and prestige attached to this certification extend to all corners of the globe with no need for alternative local certification and, generally, no need for translation. The original certificate, after ascertaining that the company meets all health and safety requirements, is usually issued in English, the international business language. In places as far apart as Brasil, Russia or Iran, an OHSAS 18001 certificate is instantly recognised.

Risk reduction

Accidents in the work-place: it is better if they just never happen! So much time can be lost when an accident occurs; even the slightest incident can turn into a major distraction, slow down production and create havoc in programming schedules. Project work that operates with really tight time schedules can go into panic mode at every small setback, and delays are nearly always caused by accidents of some kind. Ideally, where time is at a premium, accident risk should be kept forcefully at bay. Only stringent safety practices can reduce the risk of accidents occurring in the workplace and keep production bang on schedule.

Employee morale

People working in busy factories, or workplaces where there is a lot of machinery and a certain amount of risk, are generally happy to be fully equipped with every possible risk-reduction gadget/shield/item of safety-clothing. Employees know and respond when they feel that their welfare is being properly looked after by the company. An absence of work-related accidents gives a sense of security, as does the knowledge that the company takes the health, the safety and the general well-being of employees very seriously.

Reduced costs

Workers operating in good conditions of hygiene, safety and, as far as possible, comfort, are more likely to work faster, more accurately and better. Safe in the knowledge that the company they are working for has their well-being at heart, as the OHSAS 18001 certification clearly shows, well-cared-for employees generally give their best. Harmony on the work-floor is reflected in a more solid production and a more agile work flow, often resulting in substantially reduced costs.

All the benefits

OHSAS 18001 certification also means assistance with any legal competencies that may be required, as well as all-round management of critical risk evaluation, and each company usually develops dedicated risk management systems designed for specific work areas. Obtaining the OHSAS 18001 certificate means an immediate reduction in the potential for accidents, and what follows is generally a net improvement in overall performance. With the responsible adoption of OHSAS 18001 certification, companies are sending out a signal to stakeholders about their integrity, their resourcefulness and their capacity to obtain results by maintaining the highest standards all along the line.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tim Scott .