In July 2007 the revised version of OHSAS 18001 was introduced. The changes are basically a tidying and alignment exercise with the quality management system standard ISO 9001 and the environmental management system standard ISO 14001.

Amending your management system to meet the 2007 requirements

In the foreword to the revised standard are listed the principal changes. If you already have an effective occupational health and safety management system which also meets the requirements of the 1999 version of the standard you will probably also meet the requirements of the new standard, or at most you may need to make some minor changes to your system to comply. To put these changes into perspective we have provided some notes against each of these principal changes.

 

Principal changes
Comment/Impact
The importance of “health” has now been given greater emphasis. Apart from a definition of “ill health” there is little to justify this “greater emphasis”
BS OHSAS 18001 now refers to itself as a standard, not a specification, or document, as in the earlier edition. This reflects the increasing adoption of OHSAS 18001 as the basis for national standards on occupational health and safety management systems. No impact for those already registered to the 1999 version
The “Plan-Do-Check-Act” model diagram is only given in the Introduction, in its entirety, and not also as sectional diagrams at the start of each major clause. Repeating the diagram throughout the old standard added very little value
Reference publications in Clause 2 have been limited to purely international documents. No impact, although the OHSAS 18002 document still refers to the 1999 version of OHSAS 18001
New definitions have been added, and existing definitions revised. No impact, but you may want to align the definitions with your management system with the 2007 standard
Significant improvement in alignment with ISO 14001:2004 throughout the standard, and improved compatibility with ISO 9001:2000. No impact
The term “tolerable risk” has been replaced by the term “acceptable risk” No impact
The term “accident” is now included in the term “incident” No impact
The definition of the term “hazard” no longer refers to “damage to property or damage to the workplace environment” A much better definition in relation to occupational health & safety
Sub-clauses 4.3.3 and 4.3.4 have been merged, into a single clause 4.3.3 “Objectives and Programme(s)” in line with ISO 14001:2004. No impact
A new requirement has been introduced for the consideration of the hierarchy of controls as part of OH&S planning A little more detail provided but it is highly likely that all these points would have been addressed within your risk assessment and planning procedures
Management of change is now more explicitly addressed If you plan changes before implementing them then you will be meet this requirement
A new clause on the “Evaluation of compliance” has been introduced, as per ISO 14001:2004 Definitely an extra requirement you will need to address
New requirements have been introduced for participation and consultation Explicit requirement now to involve employees in risk assessments, accident investigations, but only when appropriate. Requirement to consult with contractors, although this was implicit in old standard under “interested parties”
New requirements have been introduced for the investigation of incidents More emphasis on analysis, continual improvement and communication

For those who have not yet started

If you were considering designing and registering your occupational health and management system to meet the requirements of OHSAS 18001 then the revised standard will hold no additional fears for you. There are an extra 3 pages of content but this is due to changed layout, renumbering (and splitting) of some clauses, and adding a little more text to make the requirements a little more explicit.

For those trained as internal auditors

There is no requirement to re-train to the new standard. Obviously checklists will have to be amended to reflect changes to clause numbers and a few additional requirements.

Clause heading comparisons

BS OHSAS 18001:2007
OHSAS 18001:1999
1 Scope 1 Scope
2 Reference publications 2 Reference publications
3 Terms and definitions (23 items) 3 Terms and definitions (17 items)
4 OH&S management system requirements 4 OH&S management system elements
4.1 General requirements 4.1 General requirements
4.2 OH&S policy 4.2 OH&S policy
4.3 Planning 4.3 Planning
4.3.1 Hazard identification, risk assessment and determining controls 4.3.1 Planning for hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control
4.3.2 Legal and other requirements 4.3.2 Legal and other requirements
4.3.3 Objectives and programme(s) 4.3.3 Objectives
4.3.4 OH&S management programme(s)
4.4 Implementation and operation 4.4 Implementation and operation
4.4.1 Resources, roles, responsibility, accountability and authority 4.4.1 Structure and responsibility
4.4.2 Competence, training and awareness 4.4.2 Training, awareness and competence
4.4.3 Communication, participation and consultation 4.4.3 Consultation and communication
4.4.3.1 Communication
4.4.3.2 Participation and consultation
4.4.4 Documentation 4.4.4 Documentation
4.4.5 Control of documents 4.4.5 Document and data control
4.4.6 Operational control 4.4.6 Operational control
4.4.7 Emergency preparedness and response 4.4.7 Emergency preparedness and response
4.5 Checking 4.5 Checking and corrective action
4.5.1 Performance measurement and monitoring 4.5.1 Performance measurement and monitoring
4.5.2 Evaluation of compliance 4.5.2 Accidents, incidents, non-conformances
4.5.3 Incident investigation, nonconformity, corrective action and preventive action and corrective and preventive action
4.5.3.1 Incident investigation
4.5.3.2 Nonconformity, corrective action and preventive action
4.5.4 Control of records 4.5.3 Records and records management
4.5.5 Internal audit 4.5.4 Audit
4.6 Management review 4.6 Management review