Can OHSAS and EMS Certifications Boost an Admin Manager's Career Prospects? Seeking Advice from Seniors

By pursuing OHSAS and EMS certification, can an administrative manager improve their prospects? I currently work as a Manager (Administration) and am considering obtaining OHSAS and EMS certification in the hopes that these credentials will benefit me. Senior members, please share your advice.

Welcome to this forum.

Implementation of EMS & OHSAS

Implementation of EMS & OHSAS helps everyone in an organization. The implementation of these management systems brings maximum benefits to employees. In the Western world, even trade unions make these systems compulsory. The above is a general remark. If you provide information about your industry, processes, and products being manufactured, I would then be able to comment in detail.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks & Regards,
Sudhir

You may first identify the scope of certification, then carry out HIRA & Aspect-Impact of all activities, identify applicable legal requirements & other requirements, make OCPs for activities with significant aspect/risk, identify targets on EMS & OHSAS at the organizational level & department level, identify EMPs, identify KPIs to measure the healthiness of management systems, plan internal audits (at least 2/year) & one by accreditation agency for certification/surveillance. Conduct management reviews at least once a year.

Regards,
Ujjwal Shah

Please find attached herewith the roadmap for EMS and OHSAS. As you are in Solar Power Projects, ISO 14001 would have a positive impact on the business. This certification would be mandatory if you intend to export to certain countries.

If you require any specific assistance, please let us know.

Thanks & Regards,
Sudhir

Greetings for the day! Thank you so much, Mr. Sudhir and Mr. Chakkaravarthy, for your prompt response. Basically, I am an MBA (HR) and an ex-serviceman retired from the Indian Army, currently working as a Manager (Administration) in a medium-sized software services enterprise in Hyderabad. Presently, I am considering a change and hence looking for better opportunities in IT MNCs and major manufacturing companies in a similar role.

Relevance of Certifications for Administrative Managers

1. Are these certifications relevant to a Manager in Administration?
2. Will certifications like OHSAS and EMS really help me in securing good opportunities in IT MNCs and major manufacturing companies in admin and facilities?

With warm regards,
Raman

The implementation of EHS and OHSAS would help every individual who wants to make a career in it. You have to be passionate! You will have to read both the standards and find your own ways for their implementation in the organization. You can also audit the systems. The EMS and OHSAS in India are perceived as the future. Both standards focus on Legal Compliance, which in most cases is the responsibility of HR or Administration. If you work hard and smart, you will definitely succeed. If you need any help, please let us know.

All the best.

Regards,
Sudhir

Based on the information provided by you, I understand that you are primarily focused on HR. Obtaining certifications in EMS and OSHA would be more beneficial if you are working as an HSE manager, as there are often many technical requirements to fulfill.

I cannot definitively say how much this will enhance your career. However, pursuing these certifications for additional qualifications is a positive step.

Kind regards,
Regards

Dear Mr. Raman, Thank you so much for your comments. I am not working in HR; rather, I am working as an Administrative Manager. Since security, safety, health, statutory and legal compliance, and facility management come directly under the purview of Administration in a company, I felt that certification in OHSAS and EMS, at least at the foundation level, would help me work more effectively as an administrator. Furthermore, it may enhance my prospects for better opportunities in prominent IT MNCs and major manufacturing companies. I am looking forward to your feedback.

Thank you,
Warm regards,
Raman

Dear Mr. Raman,

I am an ISO 9000 auditor with extensive experience. You mentioned your intention to work in HR within the IT field. In that case, it would be more relevant for you to pursue an ISO 20000 course, which is tailored for IT Services. OHSAS and EMS are more pertinent to manufacturing industries.

Considerations for Training

A word of caution: The training program is quite expensive to undertake independently. Additionally, it requires about five full days of absence from work. It is always advantageous if you can secure company sponsorship. It will certainly be beneficial for an HR professional in the IT industry to be qualified in ISO 20000. This qualification can enable you to lead the organization in obtaining and maintaining certification. The IT professionals may not have the time or patience for this task!

By the way, certification is what a company receives for the standard, while Lead Assessor qualification is what an individual obtains.

Dear Mr. Ram,

Greetings for the day! Thank you so much for your comments. I am not working in HR; rather, I am an Administrative Manager. Since security, safety and health, statutory & legal compliance, and facility management fall directly under the purview of a company's Administration, I believe that certification in OHSAS and EMS, at least at the foundation level, will assist me in working effectively as an administrator. Furthermore, it may help me secure better opportunities in large IT MNCs and major manufacturing companies.

Waiting for your comments. Thanking you, with warm regards,

Raman

Dear Mr. Raman,

I have been an ISO 9000 auditor for a long time. You mentioned your intention to work in HR in the IT field. In that case, it would be more relevant for you to consider taking the ISO 20000 course, which is tailored for IT Services. On the other hand, OHSAS and EMS are more applicable to manufacturing industries.

I would like to offer a word of caution. The training program can be quite expensive to undertake independently. Additionally, there is the issue of being absent from work for a full five days. It would be advisable to try to secure sponsorship from your company.

Obtaining certification in ISO 20000 could greatly benefit an HR professional in the IT industry. This certification would enable them to take the lead in organizing the company's certification process and maintaining it, as the IT personnel may not have the time or patience for such tasks.

On a side note, a company receives certification for meeting the standard, whereas an individual attains Lead Assessor qualification.

Dear Mr. Ram,

Greetings for the day! Thank you for your feedback. I am not currently working in HR; rather, I hold the position of Administrative Manager. Given that security, safety, health, statutory and legal compliance, as well as facility management fall under the domain of Administration in a company, I believe that obtaining certifications in OHSAS and EMS, at least at the foundation level, would enhance my effectiveness as an administrator.

As I am currently employed in a medium-sized software services enterprise, I believe that these certifications could open up better opportunities for me in larger IT MNCs and major manufacturing companies in administrative roles. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Thank you,

Warm regards,
Raman

Dear Mr. Ujjwal,

Greetings for the day! Thank you so much for your comments. Presently, I am working as an Administrative Manager in a medium-sized software services enterprise. In the future, I am looking to work with major IT MNCs and manufacturing companies in the Administrative and Facilities department since I have a strong background in administration from the Indian Army and over 3 years of experience in an Admin role in my current software services company.

As security, safety, health, statutory and legal compliance, and facility management fall directly under the purview of Administration in a company, I believe that certification in OHSAS and EMS, at least at the foundation level, will help me work more effectively as an administrator of the company and enhance my chances of securing better opportunities in prominent IT MNCs and major manufacturing companies in an Admin role.

May I request your comments on whether these certifications would genuinely benefit me in an Admin role or not?

Thanking you,

Warm regards,
Raman

It should be clear that EMS and OHSAS certifications are available to and meant for organizations, not for individuals. Individuals employed in organizations can have the opportunity to gain experience in preparing the organization for certification, being part of the process to obtain the certifications for their organization, and later in implementation.

Prerequisites for Certification

For this, the prerequisite is that organizations decide at a high level to pursue the certifications, considering the benefits, direct costs involved (certification fees to certifying agencies, professional fees for preparing the organization for certification, fees for renewal after the validity period, etc.), costs associated with generating required procedures and documentation, costs for additional training to meet certification requirements, equivalent costs for sparing the Management Representative (MR) for certification preparation work, and other related expenses. HR, Administration, or HSE Managers may take the initiative to gather the necessary data on costs and benefits to convince top management to pursue certifications and secure budget allocation for this purpose.

The person designated as MR will have the maximum opportunity to gain experience in certification implementation. This certification would certainly enhance the individual's CV and may provide an edge in career advancement.

Career Benefits of Certification

I agree with Shri Murthar that "experience in obtaining certifications and their implementation" will be more beneficial for technical personnel in terms of career growth compared to HR/Admin Managers.

Individuals can take training courses for Lead Auditors for these certifications to complement their professional qualifications in HR, Administration, or HSE.

Regards,
Nityananda
[Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons]

Benefits of ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS) Certification

ISO 14001 Environmental Management can be a very effective tool to identify cost-saving opportunities for some organizations. However, some organizations may falter in their planning due to a lack of senior management commitment and a poor understanding of how it should be implemented, leading to managing an ineffective ISO 14001 EMS Certification.

Among the key benefits of the ISO 14001 EMS Certification standard are as follows:

Regards,

Dear Mr. Raman,

I need a training assessment objective type questionnaire for EMS & OHSAS training evaluations for all our employees. Please help us if possible.

Thanks & regards,
Himanshu Thakur