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OHSAS 18001 vs. AS/NZS 4801: Understanding Key Differences and Compliance Requirements
OHSAS 18001 was developed by BSI in the year 1993, this standard focuses on maintaining health and safety at the workplace whereas AS/NZS 4801 standard was developed by the Joint Australian/New Zealand Standard and was prepared by the Joint Technical Committee. Below is an overview about both the standards.
- Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series is for health and safety management systems. It is intended to help an organization control and manage occupational health and safety risks.
- It was developed in response to widespread demand for a recognized standard against which an organization could be certified and assessed.
- Main emphasis is on the elimination, reduction or control of hazards and risks associated with the business
- Structure and content of the system is guided by the OHS legislative obligations for the business:
- System scope extends to ‘everyone” entering the premises of the organization
- AS/NZS 4801 is the certification standard for an OHSMS (Occupational Health and Safety Management System) in Australia and New Zealand.
- OHSAS 18001 (Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series) is an internationally recognized standard
- These standards are complimented by AS/NZS 4804/OHSAS 18002-Guidelines for the implementation of AS/NZS 4801 & OHSAS 18001, respectively
- The guidance notes (Appendices) in AS/NZS 4801 and OHSAS 18001 are providing additional information on the requirements of this standard and correspondence between ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.
The Benefits of OHS Management Systems
- Compliance with Legislation.
- Ownership of Health & Safety Issues.
- Nominal effort required.
- Training needs are identified & realized.
- Reduce Costs.
- Ongoing improvement.
- Liabilities minimized.
Important Definitions to understand in OHSAS 18001:
- Hazard
Source, situation, or act with a potential for harm in terms of human injury or ill health, or a combination of these - Hazard Identification
Process of recognizing that a hazard exists and defining its characteristics - Risk
Combination of the likelihood of an occurrence of a hazardous event or exposure(s) and the severity of injury or ill health that can be caused by the event or exposure(s) - Risk Assessment
Process of evaluating the risk(s) arising from a hazard(s), taking into account the adequacy of any existing controls, and deciding whether or not the risk(s) is acceptable - Incident
work-related event(s) in which an injury or ill health (regardless of severity) or fatality occurred, or could have occurred
NOTE 1: An accident is an incident which has given rise to injury, ill health or fatality.
NOTE 2: An incident where no injury, ill health, or fatality occurs may also be referred to as a “near-miss”, “near-hit” “close call” or “dangerous occurrence”.
NOTE 3: An emergency situation is a particular type of incident
- Acceptable risk
Risk that has been reduced to a level that can be tolerated by the organization having regard to its legal obligations and its own OH&S policy
- Occupational health and safety
Conditions and factors that affect, or could affect, the health and safety of employees or other workers (including temporary workers and contractor personnel), visitors, or any other person in the workplace
NOTE Organizations can be subject to legal requirements for the health and safety of persons beyond the immediate workplace, or who are exposed to the workplace activities.
- Audit
systematic, independent and documented process for obtaining “audit evidence” and evaluating it objectively to determine the extent to which “audit criteria” are fulfilled
- Nonconformity
Non-fulfilment of a requirement
Types Of Certification
- ISO Certification
- ISO 9001 Certification
- ISO 14001 Certification
- ISO 45001 Certification
- ISO 22000 Certification
- ISO 27001 Certification
- ISO 17025 Certification
- ISO 13485 Certification
- ISO 20000-1 Certification
- ISO 22301 Certification
- ISO 50001 Certification
- ISO 37001 Certification
- IATF 16949 Certification
- ISO 29001 Certification
- ISO 31000 Certification
- ISO 20121 Certification
- ISO 10002 Certification
- ISO 41001 Certification
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The role of Continual Improvement in OHSAS 18001:
- Plan: Identify and priorities what needs to be addressed
- Do: Implementing controls to manage these issues
- Check: to ensure they are implemented
- Act: upon the results of our checks to improve the system and performance
How to comply with OHSAS 18001 clauses
Adhering to the clause requirements of the standard is simple, please read this guide below:
4.1 General Requirements
The organization shall establish, document, implement and maintain an OHSMS, in accordance with the requirements of the OHSMS/OHSAS standards.
4.2 Occupation, Health & Safety Policy
There shall be a Policy statement authorized by top management
- Appropriate to the nature & scale of the company’s OH&S Risks
- That includes commitment to prevention of injury and ill health and continual improvement in OH&S management performance
- That includes a commitment to continual improvement and commitment to comply with OH&S Legislation, and other requirements to which the company
- subscribes code of practice which provides framework for setting and reviewing OH&S objectives
- Documented, implemented maintained and communicated to all persons working under control of organization with an intent that they understand
- OH&S obligation
- Made available to interested parties;
- Periodically reviewed.
What are the mandatory points to be checked in an OHSMS policy?
The policy should be appropriate to the ‘significant’ risks identified through the OH&S Hazard identification and risk assessment processes.
Risk Assessment Records: The OH&S policy should include a commitment to continual improvement of OH&S performance. Documentary evidence should be available to demonstrate that such an aspiration is being achieved. OHS Objectives and Targets, Monitoring and Measurement Records, Corrective and Preventive action records. Records checked should demonstrate a trend towards improved performance.
Management’s commitment: The OH&S policy should include a commitment to compliance with relevant legal and other requirements to which the organization subscribes. Other requirements’ may include corporate or group health and safety policies, internal health and safety standards and specifications, industry codes of practice, or other policies e.g. Quality or Environmental, which state OH&S obligations.
Compatibility: Corporate or Group policies for compatibility with the organization’s OH&S policy. The policy makes reference to any internal safety standards and specifications, or industry codes of practice that are to be complied with. EXAMPLE: Code of Practice for Workplace Amenities. If it the organization’s intention to follow general Approved Codes of Practice (ACOP’s) a statement to that effect should also be included in the OHS policy.
Complies with the law: The policy itself complies with the law for EXAMPLE: Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000, check if the policy has been amended, in particular when there have been changes in circumstance such as, Group OHS policy amendments, New hazards being identified, through the risk assessment process, OHS objectives having been achieved.
Policy communication: the copies of the policy that have been issued are of the same issue status as the master copy. Ensure the OH&S policy has been communicated to ALL employees, making them aware of their individual OHS obligations. Consideration should also be given to how amendments to the policy are communicated and recorded.
Awareness: Training and Awareness Records, for evidence that employees have been made aware of the OHS policy and their individual obligations. Employees understanding of the OHS policy, Ensure interested parties receive a copy of the OH&S policy. Check whether consideration has been given to Customers, Shareholder, Stakeholders, Visitors, Contractors, Temporary Workers, and The General Public (particularly if they have access to the workplace)
Availability: Check how the OHS policy is made available to the interested parties identified, and how subsequent amendments are communicated (as appropriate). Ensure that the OHS policy is periodically reviewed to ensure that it remains relevant and appropriate to the organization and also check for Management Review Meeting minutes.
Want to know more?
If you are willing to have more information on OHSAS 18001 standard then please visit our website www.popularcert.com The OHSAS standard is been replaced by ISO 45001 standard now, we have a complete information about the updated version on our site, please click on this ISO 45001 and get more information.
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FAQs
What is the main difference between OHSAS 18001 and AS/NZS 4801?
OHSAS 18001 is an internationally recognized standard for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS), whereas AS/NZS 4801 is specific to Australia and New Zealand. While both focus on workplace safety, AS/NZS 4801 places more emphasis on compliance with local legal requirements.
Has OHSAS 18001 been replaced, and what is its successor?
Yes, OHSAS 18001:2007 has been replaced by ISO 45001:2018, which provides a more structured and risk-based approach to occupational health and safety management. Organizations certified to OHSAS 18001 need to transition to ISO 45001.
Why should an organization implement an OHS Management System like OHSAS 18001 or AS/NZS 4801?
Implementing an OHSMS helps organizations comply with legal requirements, reduce workplace risks, improve safety culture, minimize costs related to workplace incidents, and enhance overall employee well-being. Certification also boosts credibility and stakeholder confidence.