© Uwe Völkner, Fotoagentur FOX
Offers to help implement occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMS) in companies
An OHSMS is particularly interesting for companies that have recognised that healthy, motivated, efficient and creative employees are decisive for sustainable success, and that achieving this requires an excellent occupational health and safety organisation. No matter the company’s size, OHSMS can optimise systematic occupational health and safety beyond legal requirements. If a company already runs management systems in the fields of quality assurance or environmental protection, for example, implementing an OHSMS is a consistent decision.
Management systems are innovative leadership tools that are used throughout the world. Quality and environmental management systems are based on norms issued by the International Standard Organisation (ISO). For years, management systems have also been used to support prevention and sustainable improvement in occupational health and safety. The publication entitled Consulting Federal States on Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems and How to Use Them [Beratung der Länder zu und Umgang der Länder mit Arbeitsschutzmanagementsystemen, German only] provides information on occupational health and safety management systems in Germany.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has developed international guidelines as a basis for management systems in occupational health and safety. The concept allows for the ILO guidelines to be adapted to national circumstances by developing national guidelines, which Germany implemented by means of the National Guidelines for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems [Nationaler Leitfaden für Arbeitsschutzmanagementsysteme, NLF].