Posted By Mike Jones Hi there, I am looking for some comments/advice on setting up a Health and Safety management system as I have been given this remit as part of a restructure. At the moment there is no system, so I am looking for advice on how to carry ou this duty. I am currently reading through HSG65 for a start but would like to know if there are any other systems that could be recommended. Any help or advice would be appreciated. Thanks Mike

Posted By Nigel Hammond Hi Mike OHSAS 18001 gives the bare bones and OHSAS 18002 explains it in more detail. Both documents are a very 'dry' read and lack the gloss of HS65 but if you take the time to really study them - they make more sense than HS65. I would suggest that you book yourself on the IOSH 1 day Safety Management Systems course which compares OHSAS 18001, HSG 65 and BS8800. The basic message of the course was that HSG65 and BS8800 are dated - where as OHSAS 18001 is the one to go for. Having said that, HSE and Environmental Health Officers love HSG65 and I seriously wonder if many of them have heard of OHSAS 18001! You could also invite organisations like BSI or LLoyd's Register to come in and give you proposals for a gap analysis and external accreditation to OHSAS 18001 to get an idea of what's involved.

Posted By Dave Wilson Any system which you use will have to be tailored to the organisation and the way it does things, both HSG65 and 18001 are good at this. Dont feel that the number of the system is relevant it is the way in which it is implemented. HSE/EHO use HSG 65 as it is the regulators bible, provides consistency of enforcement etc not because they have not heard of 18001,I would attend the IOSH course and / or maybe get a feel what others within your sector are doing and take it from there.

Posted By Mike Jones Thanks so far for all responses, your comments are appreciated and helpful. Mike