Having looked at a wide variety of management systems over the years and being continually asked if OHSAS18001 is ‘something we should go for’ it’s worth examining the relevance of this and other management systems. In this competitive environment, where costs are under pressure, can they pay for themselves and what reliance can be placed on those companies claiming to be compliant? This article doesn’t just apply to 18001, but equally applies to other standards such as 14001 and 9001.
The first thing to say, to get it out of the way if you will, is that OHSAS18001 has little to do with keeping people safe! A controversial statement possibly, but 18001 is nothing more than a management system, aimed at continual improvement. It is up to the organisation to make it work for them and if done right, it should have a dramatic improvement on the ‘management’ of the safety within the company. Over the years I’ve audited many companies with 18001 who have glaringly obvious safety issues, but the point is once these issues have been identified, a good 18001 management system makes it more likely they will be resolved and managed.
In essence, 18001 puts pressure on the organisation to act on the findings of audits, risk assessments and recommendations from competent advice. Failure to act on these findings or to changes in legislation may result in loss of accreditation or at the least, significant non-conformance – hence the success of management systems. They compel companies to act and demonstrate leadership commitment and for this reason HSG65 (HSE guidance on management systems) is currently being updated to incorporate 18001. A good management system might just ensure you spot shortcomings in your safety management systems and address them before they result in accidents. Having a good management system in place, is also a good indication that you may be able to defend any prosecution of corporate manslaughter, should the unthinkable happen.
So what value the certificate on the wall? Well, it depends on what it actually states! Did you know anyone can look at your management system and issue you a certificate saying it complies with 18001? It’s a little bit like asking a friend to diagnose an illness on the basis they once spent time in hospital! There are many companies selling safety compliance and offering management systems advice, along with ‘compliance certification’ which looks good and ticks a box. But be aware, many of these companies have no background in health and safety and are often expanding their certification options on the back of their ISO quality systems work. It isn’t illegal, but is it morally justifiable? The Government doesn’t think so. The Lord Young review of safety, completed in 2010, established a register to which competent safety advisers should belong. Although not legally binding, the review indicated that companies who take advice on safety systems from well intentioned amateurs, may not be doing themselves any favours.
Similarly, 18001 ‘accreditation’, under the terms of UK Regulation, can only be obtained (in the UK) from a company underwritten by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) by virtue of regulation. Claiming false accreditation may be in breach of the Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008 (Statutory Instrument 2008/1276) and result in fines and prosecution. The same applies to other management systems such as 14001 and 9001.
So check the wording of your certificate carefully. If it says ‘in compliance with’ or ‘certificated to’ 18001 then you may find it has been carried by non accredited auditors. Although this does not mean your system is poor or not in compliance, it may mean it won’t stand full scrutiny and may not satisfy the standards suggested in the forthcoming revision of HSG65. This could also be an issue for those companies selecting and recruiting contractors on the basis they have 18001, 14001 etc. In such cases, where the words ‘accredited’ are missing, it is worth checking their systems closely, as you may be putting your business at risk.
The number of UK organisations offering such non-accredited certification has expanded tremendously over the last few years as the commercial importance of these schemes has come to the fore. But recent incidents where failings have been found at companies claiming conformance to standards, have lead government departments such as the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) and DEFRA, to advise care when selecting compliance schemes and when declaring 18001 compliance status. DEFRA have welcomed the progress that has been made by UKAS to strengthen the accreditation of certification bodies and the development of an international standard, ISO 17021, on conformity assessment. The 17021 standard sets out the requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems and incorporates new guidance, produced by the European Cooperation for Accreditation.
In summary then, any management system can be claimed to be in compliance with a standard, but only those externally audited by a Certification Body accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), can truly be thought to measure up without further scrutiny. We all like value for money, but is what you are paying for truly of value?
Originally published in The Geotechnica