Navigating OHSAS 18001 Certification: How Can We Achieve It for Our Large-Scale Industry?

How to Obtain OHSAS 18001 Certification for the First Time

Please suggest how to obtain OHSAS 18001 certification for the first time for a large-scale industrial setting.

Regards,
Johnson Lasrado

This code pertains to Occupational Health and Safety in the organization. The code specifies certain norms that must be strictly adhered to, and records of compliance need to be produced during audits. It would not be possible to explain the details of the same through this mail. You may write to me at [Email Removed For Privacy Reasons], as we are one of the leading consultants for ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and OHSAS 18001.

Regards

Steps to Obtain OHSAS 18001 Certification

Greetings! My name is Kiran Parmar, and I work as an Assistant Manager (Systems) at a large-scale industry. Our organization is certified for ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 18001, and SA 8000. I am a qualified internal auditor for all systems and also a certified SA 8000 Lead Auditor by Social Accountability International, New York.

If you are looking to get OHSAS certified, the first step would be selecting the certifying agency under which you would be certified for the OHSAS system. The next crucial part is the implementation and integration of the OHSAS system. Below are the core documents that you will need to prepare to meet the requirements of the OHSAS 18001 Standard:

- [A] OHSAS Manual
- [B] OHSAS Management System Procedures
- [C] Details of Departments and Activities to be Covered
- [D] OHSAS Register of Regulation
- [E] OHSAS Register of Risk Assessment / HIRA for Major Activities
- [F] OHSAS Objectives / Targets / Programs
- [G] Section-Department-wise Details of OH&S Management System Documents like Department Master List, File, Form, Formats, SOPs / Work Instruction / Health Checkups Data, MSDS, Safety-related Documents, etc.

Please feel free to contact me for further assistance. My email is [Email Removed For Privacy Reasons], and my mobile number is [Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons].

Regards,
Kiran Parmar

Registration and Certification for OHSAS 18001

Registration requires evidence of implementation of OHSAS 18001 requirements, which includes procedures and records to maintain compliance with applicable laws, commitment to continual improvement (in a broad sense), and commitment to the prevention of accidents and incidents. The decision to actually certify an organization to OHSAS 18001 will depend on the specific business goals that the company has in conforming to the standard, as well as the market and public context in which the company operates. For some companies, independent, third-party certification may be the most beneficial option. It is crucial to understand that either third-party certification or self-declaration may be options.

Focus on Health and Safety

OHSAS 18001 focuses on creating a safe and healthy work environment for employees. Thus, organizations of all sizes and types can apply for OHSAS 18001 Certification, improving the health and safety performance of workers.

Self-Declaration of Conformance

One important difference between OHSAS 18001, ISO 14001, and other international standards is that an organization can self-declare its compliance. Because ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 are very similar, the management systems can be effectively combined, integrated, and self-declared (a cost-saving option where there are no registration fees).

Like ISO 14001, self-declaration is an option unique to the OHSAS 18001:2007 standard, and thus organizations can simply use the standard as a guideline. Although entities can self-declare conformance to OHSAS 18001, this only means that they conform to a prescribed system, not to prescribed health and safety technologies, safety levels, etc. Keep in mind that OHSAS 18001 does not replace existing health and safety regulations, but certified companies are typically more quickly alerted to health and safety issues.

Third-Party Verified Registration

Generally, when you sign a contract with a third party, it will include the Registration Audit and the Surveillance Audits. The Registration Audit is the initial audit that will be done to see if you will achieve registration. After you have your registration, the Registrar will come back every 6 or 12 months to see if you are maintaining your system and continuing to meet the requirements of the standard. Registrars vary in their approach, so you will want to find out details from each Registrar you are interested in.

You may find that the terms Registration and Certification are often used interchangeably. That is because the registration company (the registrar) that you select recommends your management system for certification, registers your company, and issues a certificate.

Your certificate will be valid for 3 years. After that period, your registrar will be required to do another Registration Audit to renew your certification. The contract you set up with your registrar will be for the three-year period. You would renew your contract after three years to start the cycle again.

Types of Audits

- Registration Audit: An audit of your OHSMS system to see if you meet the requirements of the Standard and will achieve registration.
- Surveillance Audit: A follow-up audit of a portion of your OHSMS to see if the system is being followed and maintained. These are done every 6 months or year.

Regards,
Rohan Puthran.

OHSAS 18001:2007 Occupational Health and Safety Management Certification

OHSAS 18001:2007 is an international standard that provides a framework to identify, control, and reduce the risks associated with health and safety within your company. Implementing this standard will send a clear signal to your stakeholders that you view employees' health and safety as a principal priority within your company.