OHSAS 18001 revised (II)
- September 13th, 2007
The Occupational Health & Safety Assessment Series 18001 has been upgraded from the 1999 version to the 2007 version and has been made available since beginning of August this year.
We have laid the foundation for the changes between the 1999 and the 2007 OHSAS18001 standard in the first article by looking at the definitions and the approved changes.
Now we are going to focus on the clauses and differences that may affect your current implemented system:
OH&S POLICY
The OH&S Policy under paragraph 4.2 has been structured into paragraphs a – h with the inclusion of “provide the framework for setting and reviewing OH&S objectives” as well as – it should be “communicated to all persons working for or on behalf of the organization”.
PLANNING
The heading has changed to read “Hazard identification, risk assessment and determining controls”.
The paragraph has also made provision to include “human factors, such as behaviour and capabilities”; “changes or proposed changes in the organization or its activities”; “modifications to the OH&S management system, including temporary changes, and their impacts on operations, processes, and activities” and “any legal obligations relating to risk assessment and implementation of necessary control measures”.
A section on the methodology of HIRA (Hazard identification and risk assessment) has been added as well as mentioning the measures to be considered when determining control: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, signage/warnings and/or administrative controls and personal protective equipment.
OBJECTIVES & PROGRAMMES
These two items have been grouped together where it was previously separated into two paragraphs (4.3.3 & 4.3.4).
Objectives should be measurable and the programme shall be adjusted as necessary to ensure the achievement of the objectives.
STRUCTURE & RESPONSIBILITY
Implementation and Operation and the sub-paragraph on “resources, roles, responsibilities, accountability and authority” were changed from the previous heading and now only refer to “structure and responsibility”.
A further two sentences have been added to emphasize the fact that the top management appointee shall be made known to all persons working for or on behalf of the organization as well as the fact that these persons working for the organization or on behalf will take responsibility for OH&S over which they have control, including adherence to the organization’s OH&S rules and requirements.
TRAINING
Focus is now on a training needs analysis and should there be shortcomings to take action and to retain associated records. The procedure should include making person aware of OH&S consequences, actual & potential, of their work activities and the benefits of personal performance and the OH&S policy, procedures and management system.
The Training procedures should include the consideration of language skills apart from literacy, responsibility, ability and risk.
COMMUNICATION
Clause 4.4.3 has changed from “Consultation and communication” to “Communication, participation and consultation”.
A key change is the inclusion of “persons working for or on behalf or the organization”. Here again the clause was divided into to sub-clauses addressing “communication” and then separately addressing “consultation and participation” Each section is requiring a separate procedure.
COMPLIANCE
Clause 4.5.2 is a new addition and splits into two sub clauses: 4.5.2.1 & 4.5.2.2 which focuses on compliance to legal and also compliance to other requirements.
INCIDENT INVESTIGATION
The heading of Clause 4.5.3 changes to “Incident Investigation, nonconformity, corrective and preventive action” and is also split into two sub clauses: 4.5.3.1 dealing with “Incident Investigation” and 4.5.3.2 dealing with the remainder of the heading.
New requirements have been introduced for the investigation of incidents (see 4.5.3.1)
In these two articles on the revised OHSAS18001:2007 standard I have merely tried to indicate the changes to the standard. These changes present a fresh opportunity to evaluate the functionality and performance of your Health and Safety management system and will hopefully present new opportunities for improvement that will result in a safer and healthier workplace.
One last thought – the new standard is trying to get the balance between safety and health right. We still find when we do an audit on a health and safety system that it remains 80% safety and 20% health.
How to Conduct an ISO/OHSAS Audit
I would like to give you a glimpse of how I normally conduct an ISO/OHSAS audit (without indicating that this method is perfect or totally correct).
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