OHSAS stands for Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Specification.
This term refers to a specific approach to assessing and managing health and safety within an organization. It was formalized by the British Standards Institute in April 1999 when they released the OHSAS 18001 specification. OHSAS audit thus refers to an audit conducted against this particular standard.
Here's a breakdown:
- Occupational: Related to jobs or employment.
- Health and Safety: Refers to the well-being and protection of employees and other stakeholders.
- Assessment Specification: A formal set of requirements that define the criteria for evaluating the organization's health and safety management system.
Therefore, an OHSAS audit examines an organization's health and safety performance against the established OHSAS 18001 standard (now superseded by ISO 45001). It helps identify areas for improvement and ensure the workplace is safe and healthy.
Key things to know about OHSAS:
- Developed to provide a framework for a robust occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS).
- OHSAS 18001 was the internationally recognized standard used by organizations before ISO 45001.
- While no longer current (as it has been replaced by ISO 45001), understanding OHSAS provides a foundation for understanding the current ISO standard.
In conclusion, when you see "OHSAS audit", remember it refers to an audit conducted according to the principles of the *Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Specification*, particularly the OHSAS 18001 standard.
