HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

OHSAS 18001

Nicola Coote

What is OHSAS 18001?

• A way to measure management systems that control OH&S risks and improve performance

• It does not state specific performance criteria

• It does not specify the exact design of the management system

• Based around elimination / minimisation of risk,

to ‘mitigate’ risk

• Requires continual improvement; prioritize

• Requires conformance with an organisation’s own safety policy

What does the system contain?

PlanningPlanning

Implementation & operation

Implementation & operation

Checking & corrective

action

Checking & corrective

action

Management ReviewManagement Review

Continual Improvement

Initial ReviewInitial Review

policypolicy

What are the benefits of OHSAS ?

Organisations can demonstrate they have a management system that is recognised

Forthcoming Accreditation in UK enables that recognised standard to be verified

Can measure / demonstrate ongoing improvement

Useful when tendering for large contracts etc

Can help to reduce insurance premium

Components of OHSAS

4.1 General requirements4.2 OH&S policy4.3.1 Planning for hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control4.3.2 Legal and other requirements4.3.3 Objectives4.3.4. OH&S management programme4.4 Implementation and operation4.4.1 Structure and responsibility4.4.2 Training, awareness and competence4.4.3 Consultation and communication4.4.4 Documentation4.4.5 Document and data control4.4.6 Operational control4.4.7 Emergency preparedness and response4.5.1 Performance measurement and monitoring4.5.2 Accidents, incidents, non-conformances and corrective action4.5.3 Records and record management4.5.4 Audit

Components of OHSAS

This breaks down into 5 key components:

1. Policy (Clause 4.2)

2. Planning (inc. ‘Legal’ and ‘Risk’) (Clause 4.3)

3. Implementation and operation (Clause 4.4)

4. Checking and corrective action (Clause 4.5)

5. Management review (Clause 4.6) Note: There is a need to conduct an initial review to ascertain where your

time and resources need to focus. Therefore the following presentation will be in 6 stages rather than 5.

so let’s have a look at how it works..

Step 1 – Initial Review

This is necessary to identify

• Where you are now in relation to OHSAS 18001

• Where the gaps are and how big they are

• What time, resources and actions are needed to implement systems that will meet the standard

Step 1 – H&S Review

Status Review

Existing information, instructions & allocated

resources

Policy

Best practice/Guidance

from Sector

Legislation & Regulations

Step 2 - OH&S Policy

• Must be signed by senior management

• State commitment to continual improvement

• Commit to comply with current H&S legislation

• Be communicated to all employees

• Be available to all interested parties

• Reviewed by senior management (reports on performance of management system must be presented to senior management)

Note: the key difference to look for is commitment to continual improvement, senior management led.

Step 2 – OH&S Policy

How do you:

? Make staff aware of the policy

? Inform them when it is changed

? Involve staff in the design / implementation of the policy

? Publicize your policy to other interested parties

? Record acknowledgement of receipt and understanding of policy, given language and literacy levels

? Keep it up to date

Step 2 – OH&S Policy Targets and Objectives

Does your policy:

? Include specific objectives and targets

? Have visible commitment of senior management (how is this commitment communicated)

? Include a commitment to continual improvement.

? Commit to comply with current applicable legislation and other relevant industry guidance and standards

?  Clearly define responsibilities at all levels of employment

? Measure effectiveness / implementation of responsibilities against performance

Specific

Measurable

Achievable

Realistic

Time bound

Step 2 – PolicySetting targets and objectives

Quantify them !

Targets must

be

Step 3 - Planning

Hazard identification etc

Risk assessment system throughout whole site, which covers:

• Routine and non-routine activities

• Activities of staff, contractors, visitors etc

• Workplace facilities, conditions etc

The system must include:

• methodology for hazard identification and risk assessment

• Identification of legal requirements

• Objective setting

• system for monitoring effectiveness of actions etc

Step 3 – Planning for hazard identification

Risk assessment

When planning for hazard identification, consider:• Day to day operational and maintenance hazards

• Non-routine (one-off) hazards or deviations from routine hazards

• Methods you are going to use to identify hazards (eg spot checks, inspections)

• Methods you are going to use to identify consequences (eg fault tree analysis)

• Who is going to conduct inspections, risk assessments and how are these going to be robust; suitable and sufficient

• How are controls to be integrated into operational procedures

• Methods for consulting staff on findings and controls

• How assessments will be reviewed, eg following an incident

Step 3 – Planning

Legal requirements, objectives etc

• Identify what legislation applies

• Ensure there is a system for keeping up-to-date with legislation changes, ACoPS etc

• When setting objectives (KPI’s) ensure there is a link with relevant legislation

• Define targets you want achieved and timeframes

• Ensure that safety / worker representatives and other key personnel are familiar with systems for identifying legislation, obtaining information etc

• Ensure worker representatives and other key personnel are involved in setting targets

• Objectives and targets must be documented.

• Objectives to consider: legal, financial and operational issues

Step 4 – Implementation and operation

The OH&S Management Programme

A programme is needed to say how the objectives will be achieved, and to include:

• Responsibility and authority for achieving the objectives

• Means and time-scales for achievement

• Arrangements for review at regular and planned intervals

• Arrangements to amend, to address changes to activities, services, operating conditions etc

Step 4 – Implementation and Operation

Example

Action Timescale Cost Responsibility Sign off

Install a new tiled floor in Cheltenham branch

End Dec 2006

£10,000 C. U. Later

Complete MH risk assessments all branches

End March 2007

£4,500 B.A.C. Ache

Complete MH training for all staff

End Sept 2007

£7,000 N.Yr. Trolley

Step 4 – Implementation and Operation

Training and competence

All personnel to be competent to:

• Perform tasks safely

• Understand importance of conformance to the OH&S policy and procedures

• Know roles and responsibilities of others

• Potential consequences of departure from policy

Training to take account of risk, literacy, ability etc.

Step 4 – Implementation and operation

General issues

• Ensure method statements are in place that detail processes to minimize or eliminate risks

• Consider industry requirements and recommended codes of practice

• Safe systems of work need to be communicated to staff with low literacy levels or poor understanding of English 

• Operational plans for implementing legal and other requirements are in place

•  A process should be in place to communicate changes in legislation to affected staff

• Ensure there are regular meetings as a route to communication

• Consider bulletin boards and newsletters; these should be included in auditing

Step 4 – Implementation and operation

Documentation and data control

Procedures for document control needed to ensure they:

• adequately reflect the management system

• can be located / easily retrieved

• are periodically reviewed/ updated etc

• current versions are available at all locations

• obsolete documents are removed

• Identifiable and traceable to activities

• Protected against damage

• Maintained to demonstrate conformance to OHSAS 18001

• Archived documents are retained for legal preservation

Step 4 - Operational control

What to look for

Physical checks often help to identify if controls are effective

Step 4 - Operational control

What to look for

Note the pallet in the walkway

Step 4 - Operational control

What to look for

Step 4 - Operational control

What to look for

Operational control should include contractor and customer activities

Step 4 - Operational control

What to look for

Simple observations can identify deeper problems in systems

Step 4 - Operational control

What to look for

Good / bad procedures for work at height or contractor work

Step 4 - Operational control

What to look for

Pre OHSAS 18001

Post OHSAS 18001

Step 4 – Implementation and operation

Emergency preparedness / response

System required to:

• Identify potential for incidents / emergencies (eg disaster recovery plan)

• Deal with emergency responses

• Test emergency procedures, where practicable

• Ensure staff are involved in development of plans

• Provide information to visitors, contractors etc

• Review emergency arrangements

• Record dangerous occurrences.

Step 5

Performance measurement and monitoring

Procedures must be in place to:

• Measure performance on a regular basis

• Monitor the extent to which OH&S objectives are being met

• Implement proactive monitoring measures

• Implement reactive monitoring measures

• Ensure monitoring equipment is calibrated/maintained .

Records of the above to be kept.

Step 5

Performance measurement and monitoring

• Measure against objectives and targets

• Measure actual activity against planned activity

• Measure against previous reporting of ill health, accidents and incidents

• Check completion of corrective actions

• Check whether corrective action has been effective !

Step 5

Performance measuring and monitoring

Procedures need to define responsibility and authority for:

• Handling accidents

• Investigating accidents

• Dealing with breaches in procedures that resulted in an incident / accident

• Actions to mitigate consequences arising from accidents etc

• Initiation / completion of preventive / corrective actions

• Where performance is not meeting criteria, the root causes need to be identified and addressed

Step 6

Audit and management reviewAuditing needed to establish:

• Strengths and weaknesses in management system

• Conformance with OHSAS 18001

• Whether systems are properly implemented

• Proper maintenance of systems / procedures

• Review of previous audits

• Will form basis for action plan for the next year

• Results must be communicated to relevant personnel

Audit results to be informed to senior management.

Step 6

Management reviewConsiders the overall performance of the OH&S system

•        A programme of review should be identified: weekly, monthly, annually, etc.

• Frequency may need to be revised in-line with system maturity, audit outputs and results

• Audit results should form the basis of review

• Review should be documented

• Review should be linked to risk assessment

• Audit schedules should be established based upon results of risk assessments

Senior management to undertake management review

 

Non-Conformance to the Standard

• No risk assessments

• No objectives / targets

• Poor communication• Poor documentation• No management

review• Legal breach.

• Notice board not up to date

• PPE showing signs of wear

• Poor housekeeping

Major non-conformance Minor non-conformance

Registration Process

STAGE ONEDesk top review,

inc. clause 4.3

STAGE TWOImplementation

audit

Address non-conformances

Introductory visit- Conducted early on in the project.

Identifies areas that are OK and which areas need more work.

Nicola Coote, CFIOSH, MIIRSM, MCIPD, Sp Dip Env Man

Director 

Tel;  01622 717700Website: www.phsc.co.uk