Answer to Question 2:

Dear Ollie,

It is an Occupational Health and Safety Management System which enables an organisation to control its occupational safety and health risks and improve its performance. Having certification by an external organisation ensures that the safety management system is continually maintained to the high standards set. OHSAS 18001 involves a cyclical approach to developing safety policy, planning and resource implementation, measuring performance and carrying out management reviews. It does not state specific OH&S (Occupational Health and Safety) performance criteria, nor does it give detailed specifications for the design of a management system. The standard is applicable to any organisation that wishes to:

• Establish an OH&S management system to eliminate or minimise risk to employees and other interested parties who may be exposed to OH&S risks associated with its activities
• Implement, maintain and continually improve an OH&S management system
• Assure itself of its conformance with its stated OH&S policy
• Demonstrate such conformance to others
• Seek certification/registration of its OH&S management system by an external organisation
• Make a self-determination and declaration of conformance with the OHSAS specification

All the requirements of the OHSAS (Occupational Health and Safety Series) specification are intended to be incorporated into any OH&S management system. The extent of the application will depend on such factors as the OH&S policy of the organisation, the nature of its activities and the risks and complexity of its operations. OHSAS specification is intended to address occupational health and safety rather than product and services safety. The OHSAS 18001 safety management system is compatible with the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System.

Kind Regards, Paul