Introduction
Organizations of all kinds are increasingly concerned with achieving and demonstrating sound occupational
health and safety (OH&S) performance by controlling their OH&S risks, consistent with their OH&S policy
and objectives. They do so in the context of increasingly stringent legislation, the development of economic
policies and other measures that foster good OH&S practices, and increased concern expressed by interested
parties about OH&S issues.
Many organizations have undertaken OH&S “reviews” or “audits” to assess their OH&S performance. On
their own, however, these “reviews” and “audits” may not be sufficient to provide an organization with the
assurance that its performance not only meets, but will continue meet, its legal and policy requirements. To
be effective, they need to be conducted within a structured management system that is integrated within the
organization.
The OHSAS Standards covering OH&S management are intended to provide organizations with the elements
of an effective OH&S management system that can be integrated with other management requirements and
help organizations achieve OH&S and economic objectives. These standards, like other International
Standards, are not intended to be used to create non-tariff trade barriers or to increase or change
organization’s legal obligations.
This OHSAS Standards specifies requirements for an OH&S management system to enable an organization
to develop and implement a policy and objectives which take into account legal requirements and information
about OH&S risks. It is intended to apply to all types and sizes of organizations and to accommodate diverse
geographical, cultural and social conditions. The basis of the approach is shown in Figure 1. The success of
the system depends on commitment from all levels and functions of the organization, and especially from top
management. A system of this kind enables an organization to develop an OH&S policy, establish objectives
and processes to achieve the policy commitments, take action as needed to improve its performance and
demonstrate the conformity of the system to the requirements of this OHSAS Standard. The overall aim of
this OHSAS Standard is to support and promote good OH&S practices, in balance with socio-economic
needs. It should be noted that many of the requirements can be addressed concurrently or revisited at any
time.
The second edition of this OHSAS Standard is focused on clarification of the first edition, and has taken due
consideration of the provisions of ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ILO-OSH, and other management system standards
or publications to enhance the compatibility of these standards for the benefit of the user community.
There is an important distinction between this OHAS Standard, which describes the requirements for an
organization’s OH&S management system and can be used for certification / registration and / or selfdeclaration of an organization’s OH&S management system, and a non-certifiable guideline intended to
provide generic assistance to an organization for establishing, implementing or improving an OH&S
management system. OH&S management encompasses a full range of issues, including those with strategic
and competitive implications. Demonstration of successful implementation of this OHSAS Standard can be
used by an organization to assure interested parties that an appropriate OH&S management system is in place.
Those organizations requiring more general guidance on a broad range of OH&S management system issues
are referred to OHSAS 18002. Any reference to other International Standards is for information only.
OHSAS 18001:2007 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ASSESSMENT SERIES
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN OHSAS 18000:2007, ISO 14001:2004 and ISO 9001:2000
