OHSAS 18001 is a British Standard for occupational health and safety management systems that is recognized and implemented worldwide. Sound occupational health and safety policies are essential for employees but they are also increasingly important for your customers and other stakeholders. Occupational Health and Safety Management systems certification to OHSAS 18001 is a strong sign of your organization’s commitment to your employees’ health and safety. OHSAS 18001 addresses the following key areas:

• Hazard identification, risk assessment and determining controls
• Legal and other requirements
• Objectives and OHS program(s)
• Resources, roles, responsibility, accountability and authority
• Competence, training and awareness
• Communication, participation and consultation
• Operational control
• Emergency preparedness and response
• Performance measuring, monitoring and improvement

Taking care of occupational health and safety and preventing injuries in the work place are among the most important challenges facing businesses today. One of the biggest benefits of implementing an OH&SMS is the recognition that comes with being among those businesses that care for its employees’ health and safety. This can bring better relationships with customers, the public, and the community at large for your company, but it also brings other benefits.

Along with the good public image, many companies can save money through the implementation of an occupational health & safety management system. This can be achieved through reducing incidents that can result in workers’ injuries, and being able to obtain insurance at a more reasonable cost. This improvement in cost control is a benefit that cannot be overlooked when making the decision to implement an occupational health & safety management system.