Posted By Dee
Teresa,

Personally I think, you are getting bogged down in something that isn't an issue.

There is no need to have them all combined in one policy. Remember you are not required to document everything. You will not doubt already have a H&S Policy in place that can be referenced to.

Do you already have management systems in place for the 9000, etc., and you are trying to combine them into one or are you starting the whole thing from scratch?

I have been doing system development for a number of years and alot of it relates to cross-referencing to other information already in place.

If you want to e-mail me with further details, I can possibly be of further assistance.

Best Regards, Dee

Posted By Simon Carrier
Hello Teresa
We do not have a totally integrated management system, QA was on the scene first and like to keep it separate. However when I put in the systems for 14001 and 18001 I made sure that the policy document covered all the aspects of both standards and to be honest it was not a big deal, there is quite a lot of synergy between the 2 standards and 9001, written that way by ISO/BSI as they identified a need in the market. So when, for example, 14001 requires you to commit to continual improvement the same is applicable of 18001 and 9001, obviously from a different perspective but essentially the same requirement. You just need to ensure that you address the requirements of the 3 standards and ensure that your documents reflect the differing themes. Needs working at but can be done. However having said all that ISO are investigating putting together a standard for Integrated Business systems (TC207) I will send a copy of our HSE policy if you like.

Posted By Teresa Green
Thank you for the responses so far however with respect no one has yet answered my original question or perhaps sees where I'm coming from so to put it another way:

We are legally obliged to have a health and safety policy with all of its constituent parts. We are commercially obliged (if we want to remain in business) to have 9001, 14001 and 18001. To make life easier for the people who have to use our management systems we believe that it would be better if they were in one place i.e. within an integrated system. However if the local HSE inspector paid us a visit and asked to see our H&S policy how would we address this. Yes our arrangements in effect would be part of the manual and the procedures but how do we show this.

As OHSAS 18001 clearly states "compliance with this occupational health and safety assessment series does not of itself confer immunity from legal obligations." So what we are trying to ensure is that we have a H&S policy combined in an IMS that meets all three certificates not just three certificates that cover an IMS that doesn't meet with a basic legal requirement.

Any comments gratefully received.

Regards

Teresa

Posted By Arran Linton - Smith
Teresa,

Often in OH&S there is confusion between policy and the whole safety management process.

I frequently hear H&S Policy as a description for the whole Safety Management process when it should only now be used to describe a statement of commitment and vision.

If you turn to page 9 of the IOSH publication ‘Systems in Focus’, Policy is described as ‘a statement of commitment and vision by the organisation, which creates a framework for accountability that is adopted by senior management’.

As long as your policy statement includes a commitment to H&S planning, organising, communicating, consultation, training, implementation and operation, a process of measuring OH&S performance, corrective and preventative actions, management review and a commitment to continual improvement, that is all you need to deliver H&S Policy.