OHSAS 18001 is an international standard for occupational health and safety management systems. It specifies requirements for controlling occupational health and safety risks and improving performance. Organizations can integrate OHSAS 18001 with other management standards like ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. Implementing an OHSAS-compliant system involves developing an OH&S policy, identifying hazards, setting objectives, training employees, auditing performance, and getting certified through an external audit. Benefits include motivating staff, reducing costs from injuries, and gaining customer confidence.

1. OHSAS IN BRIEF
Ravi Shrestha
Officer-OHSAS
December, 2011

2. What is OHSAS 18001???
 Stands for Occupational Health & Safety Assessment Series.
 OHSAS 18001 is recognized globally as the international
management system standard that specifies requirements
for an OH&S MS to enable an organization to control its
OH&S risks & improve its OH&S performances.
 It has been developed to be compatible with ISO 9001
(QMS) and ISO 14001 (EMS).
 It allows organizations to integrate quality, environmental
and occupational health and safety management systems
throughout its operations.

3. Elements of OHSAS 18001
 Developing an OH&S Policy
 Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment
 Identifying Legal Requirements
 Setting OH&S Objectives
 Establishing an OH&S Management System
 Training Employees
 Implementing OH&S Control Measures
 Emergency Planning
 Document and Record Control

4. Elements of OHSAS 18001 contd…
 Internal Audit Programs
 Corrective and Preventative Action
 Management Involvement and Management Review
 Steps to OHSAS 18001 Certification

5. Principles of OHSAS 18001
OHSAS 18001 is based on several principles which includes,
 Leadership Involvement – The top management of the
organization must be actively engaged in the management system;
 Risk Management – Implementation of an OH&S management
system is driven by the risk management needs of the organization –
the hazards and risks identified and the controls that are determined
to be necessary to prevent injuries and ill health;
 Commitment to Compliance – Societal interests, as reflected in
the laws and regulations promulgated, must be addressed;

6. Principles of OHSAS 18001contd…
 Worker Participation – Workers, as the primary stakeholders of an
occupational health and safety management system, have the right to
be involved in management system processes; and
 Performance Monitoring & Improvement – Continual
improvement, a management system mantra, cannot be achieved
unless processes are in place to measure performance.

7. What is OH&S MS ???
 Stands for Occupational Health & Safety Management System
 It is a part of an organization’s management system used to
develop and implement its OH&S policy and manage its OH&S
risks.

8. OH&S MS Model
 This OH&S MS Standard is based on the methodology known as
Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) Cycle.

9. OH&S MS Requirements
4.1 General Requirements
4.2 OH&S Policy
4.3 Planning
4.3.1 Hazard Identification, risk assessment and determining control
4.3.2 Legal & other requirements
4.3.3 Objectives and programs
4.4 Implementation and operations
4.4.1 Resources, roles, responsibility, accountability and authority
4.4.2 Competence, training and improvement
4.4.3 Communication, participation and consultation
4.4.4 Documentation
4.4.5 Control of documents

10. OH&S MS Req. contd…
4.4.6 Operational control
4.4.7 Emergency preparedness and response
4.5 Checking
4.5.1 Performance measurement & monitoring
4.5.2 Evaluation of compliance
4.5.3 Incident investigation, nonconformity, corrective action
& preventive action
4.5.4 Control of records
4.5.5 Internal audit
4.6 Management Review

11. OH&S Policy
 Top management shall define and authorize the organization’s
OH&S policy and ensure that within the defined scope of its
OH&S management system it:
a) is appropriate to the nature and scale of the organization’s
OH&S risks;
b) includes a commitment to prevention of injury and ill health
and continual improvement in OH&S management and OH&S
performance;
c) includes a commitment to at least comply with applicable legal
requirements and with other requirements to which the
organization subscribes that relate to its OH&S hazards;

12. OH&S Policy contd…
d) provides the framework for setting and reviewing OH&S
objectives;
e) is documented, implemented and maintained;
f) is communicated to all persons working under the control of
the organization with the intent that they are made aware of
their individual OH&S obligations;
g) is available to interested parties; and
h) is reviewed periodically to ensure that it remains relevant and
appropriate to the organization.

13. Steps to develop/review OH&S Policy
Step 1 Determine OH&S responsibilities.
 It is important that this is done before the policy is developed so the
responsibilities can be incorporated into the policy to emphasize
what the organization expects of everyone in ensuring a safe and
healthy workplace.
Step 2 Do a rough draft of the policy.
 Discuss the policy with senior management and reach agreement on
the draft.
Step 3 Discuss it with your consultative committee (the OH&S
Committee or the consultative group you have set up to develop your
OH&S system).
Step 4 Put the draft out for comment by employees and make
changes if necessary.

14. Steps to develop/review OH&S Policy contd…
Step 5 Have senior management endorse the policy.
Step 6 Publicize and promote the policy.
This can be done by:
 Placing copies of the policy in prominent positions in the
organization (notice boards, crib room, foyer).
 Using the policy to drive the OH&S program.
 Incorporating the policy in OH&S training.

15. Steps to OHSAS Implementation
The process for establishing an OHSAS 18001 management
system is essentially the same as the process used for
implementing an ISO 14001 system which are as follows:
 Preliminary review of existing programs and systems
 Identification of hazards and applicable laws and regulations
 Developing new procedures
 Training personnel
 Implementing new programs such as internal audit and
management review
 Seeking certification of the OHSAS program

16. Benefits of OHSAS Implementation
 Implementing an OH&S MS motivates staff as it shows
commitment to their welfare and employees then can feel
greater commitment to the organization.
 The reduction in injury to workers is of benefit to both
employees and employers.
 Cost savings can be made through reduced business
interruptions and absenteeism and greater motivation.
 Customers take confidence when seeing organizations
managing occupational health and safety as they are more
confident that there will be no business interruptions and
regulatory action against their supplier.
 Reduction in insurance premiums can be obtained by improved
risk management and improved performance.