OHSAS

OHSAS stands for Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series, a framework of international standards for managing occupational health and safety within organizations. OHSAS standards specify requirements for an occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS) that enables an organization to systematically identify hazards, assess and control risks, comply with legal requirements, and improve overall safety performance. Certification to the standard demonstrates to stakeholders that the organization has a structured approach to safety management.

History and development: The series was developed by the OHSAS Project Group, a collaborative effort among standards bodies and organizations. OHSAS 18001, the principal standard, was first published in 1999 and revised in 2007. A companion guidance standard, OHSAS 18002, provides guidance for implementation.

Relation to ISO 45001: In 2018 ISO published ISO 45001, a new international standard for OHS management systems, designed to be compatible with the ISO high-level structure used by ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. ISO 45001 superseded OHSAS 18001 as the preferred framework for OHSMS certification. Organizations certified to OHSAS 18001 have been encouraged to migrate to ISO 45001; the transition window typically ended around 2021, after which OHSAS 18001 certifications were no longer widely recognized by accreditation bodies.

Certification and implementation: Certification bodies audit against OHSAS 18001; ongoing surveillance audits maintain certification. Key elements include policy, planning, implementation and operation, checking and corrective action, and management review, with emphasis on hazard identification, risk assessment, legal compliance, objectives, training, communication, document control, emergency preparedness, incident investigation, internal audits, and continual improvement.

See also: ISO 45001, OHSAS 18002.