OHSAS 18001:2007 (OHSAS 18001) Certification

WHAT IS IT?

OHSAS 18001 is the internationally recognised standard for occupational health and safety management. The standard can be adopted by any organization wishing to implement a formal procedure to reduce the risks associated with health and safety at work. The standard is designed to clarify an organisation's impact on health and safety issues as well as help reduce the risk of accidents and any breach in legal requirements.

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Learn more about OHSAS 18001

This page covers information regarding our OHSAS 18001 certification service as well as the history of the standard itself. Use the links below to jump to a particular section of the page.


What are the benefits?		What is the process?		How much will it cost?

THE HISTORY OF THE OHSAS 18001 STANDARD

The OHSAS 18001 standard was developed to bridge the gap where no international standard existed for occupational health and safety. Development involved input from a number of leading bodies, including certifiers, trade bodies and expert consultancies.

The first version of the standard appeared in 1999 and was based on a number of existing standards (including BS8800:1996) that had been developed by the leading national certification bodies.

The current version of the standard is OHSAS 18001:2007. This supersedes OHSAS 18001:1999, which is to be phased out by July 2009. Thereafter it will no longer be recognised.

Despite not being an ISO standard, OHSAS 18001 has been designed to be compatible with the ISO 9001 (Quality) and ISO 14001 (Environmental) standards, thus helping organizations to achieve an integrated management strategy.

The OHSAS 18001 standard specifies a number of key criterion for an organization to demonstrate and includes:-

Planning for hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control
Structure and responsibility
Training, awareness and competence
Consultation and communication
Operational control
Emergency preparedness and response
Performance measuring, monitoring and improvement

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BENEFITS OF OHSAS 18001

Most organizations pursue OHSAS 18001 certification to qualify for a tender or to achieve preferred supplier status: e.g. for a Local Authority. However, there are many other benefits that can be gained, including:

Reduced risk to employees, customers and suppliers
Reduction in the costs associated with accidents at work
Enhanced staff morale and motivation
Demonstrate legal compliance
Reduced insurance premiums
Competitive advantage
Enhance status

In a competitive market, your customers are looking for more than just keen pricing. Organizations need to demonstrate that their delivery is managed efficiently and responsibly and that they can provide a reliable service: free of the downtime associated with work-related accidents and incidents.

An effective occupational health and safety management system promotes a safe and healthy working environment by providing a framework that allows your organization to identify and control its health and safety risks, reduce the potential for accidents, aid legislative compliance and improve overall performance.

In addition, OHSAS 18001 is designed to be compatible with other management system standards such as ISO 9001 (Quality), ISO 14001 (Environmental) and ISO 27001 (Information Security). All or any combination of these complementary standards can be integrated seamlessly. They share many principles, so choosing an integrated management system can provide you with outstanding value for money.

If you would like an integrated management system, comprising all or a combination of ISO management standards, simply let us know your requirements and we will work with you to develop the right solution for your needs.

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YOUR JOURNEY TO OHSAS 18001 CERTIFICATION

STEP 1: Preparation

Realistically, if you are new to the OHSAS 18001 standard, you are going to need some guidance. Once contact is made, we'll discuss your requirements with you and suggest the solution that best suits your needs. After assessing your needs we will give you a fixed price quotation so that you know exactly how much your registration will cost. Your quotation will be based upon issues like size, scope and an assessment of your needs. To get the ball rolling, simply call us on 0800 404 7007 or email us an enquiry.

STEP 2: Application

Once you decide to go-ahead, we'll assign a Lead Assessor to you. He or she will be your principal contact throughout the registration process and beyond. They will build-up detailed knowledge of your business and will offer you the support you need.

STEP 3: Pre-Audit Assessment

Your Lead Assessor will visit you to explain the standard and ensure you are prepared for your Audit Assessment. He or she will facilitate a risk assessment that will lead to the production of your health and safety policy and objectives. They can also sign-post you to issues of compliance and legal requirements to ensure you have everything that is required to be documented. Together, you will then determine the appropriate timetable for your Audit Assessment. Many organizations benefit from a pre-assessment "dry run" and your Lead Assessor will be able to advise you on this.

STEP 4: Audit Assessment

Once you are ready for your formal Audit Assessment, your Lead Assessor will make the required arrangements for you. On completion, you will be informed of the Auditor's recommendation before he or she leaves your premises.

STEP 5: Registration & Certificate

Following the independent Auditor's recommendation, your registration will be formally confirmed. Soon after, your certificate of conformity to the OHSAS 18001:2007 standard will be issued and sent to you.

STEP 6: Continual Assessment

Having achieved certification, you'll want to maintain your registration and your Lead Assessor will remain on hand to facilitate improvements and ensure that you continue to meet the requirements of the OHSAS 18001 standard.

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WHAT WILL OHSAS 18001 CERTIFICATION COST?

We like to provide our clients with a fixed price because we know that day rates have a habit of going over budget!

We will calculate the cost of your pre-assessment based on such factors as size, scope, the number of sites you have, employee numbers and whether all parts of the organization are to be included. In all cases, we will provide you with a fixed price quotation.

The table below provides details of our Audit Assessment fees at the current rates.

Annual Turnover

Audit Only Fee*

Up to £250k

£695

£250K to £1M

£695 - £995

£1M to £2.5M

£995 - £1,595

£2.5M to £5M

£1,595 - £1,995

Above £5M

P.O.A**

* All fees subject to VAT at the prevailing rate.
** Businesses over £5M or Group companies, fees subject to quotation.

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OUR CREDENTIALS

Our reputation was established in 1965 as a division of Salford University Business Services. In 1997, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry approved use of the word 'British' in our new corporate title (The British Accreditation Bureau), in recognition of our pre-eminent status.

All of our advisors and assessors are professionally trained and have a business background, so you can count on their practical and business-friendly approach.

Our client portfolio is a good mix of public and private sector organizations, as well as institutes and trade bodies. Our pre-eminent status is your guarantee of quality and we have been a recognised Investor in People since 1999.

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CONTACT

To find out more about OHSAS 18001 certification from the British Accreditation Bureau, please call us Monday to Friday between the hours of 09:00 to 17:30 or use the Certification Contact Form using the link below.

0800 404 7007

Certification Contact Form

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