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Accrediation of Health and Safety Management System
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#1 Posted : 22 November 2007 15:07:00(UTC)
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Posted By Andrew Palmer
Hi,
We are a Housing Association and are looking at the options for a working towards a publicly recognised H&S accreditation award, a sort of Investors in People for Health and Safety. I've seen the BSI offering but are there any others?

I would welcome any comments or suggestions on the value of these schemes versus the efforts required to attain them!

Thanks for you help
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#2 Posted : 22 November 2007 16:02:00(UTC)
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Posted By Amanda
Have you considered the British Safety Councils 5 Star award. Many companies undertake these to accredit the system they are using and in the case of contractors the 'client' knows that if they have achieved the standard the H&S is 'up to scratch' Plus you get a nice award to hang in reception.
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#3 Posted : 27 November 2007 12:37:00(UTC)
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Posted By David Balkwell
Dear Andrew

I know its an old chesnut readers and has even been raised as this last week but there really is a difference between Accreditation and Certification/Registration

See http://www.iso.org/iso/certification

As the Co-founder of the original OHSAS18001 I have to say now it is a BS - BSOHSAS18001:2007 I would stick with that, it better interfaces with any Quality and Environmental initiatives you may have and will help drive to a common organisational goal ie a single Business Management System or IMS


I have some powerpoint presentations re 18001 and would be happy to let you have them if they help you make up your mind

Also you might be interested to know a number of Housing Associations are working on 18001

Regards
David
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#4 Posted : 27 November 2007 18:50:00(UTC)
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Posted By Mike
I see just now from the UKAS website that in the UK only two bodies so far, LRQA and SGS UK, are ISO 17021 accredited by UKAS to certify to OHSAS 18001.

What may be confusing for those who are not quality professionals is that anyone can set themselves up as an accreditation body in this field and certify other organisations who will audit the client body. These ABs won't be accredited to ISO 17021. They won't be party to international recognition agreements, they won't be recognised by central government, but there is nothing to stop them doing it, only market forces. There is at least one of these "fake" ABs in the UK which I won't name here.
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#5 Posted : 27 November 2007 18:54:00(UTC)
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Posted By Mike
Ooops. I meant to say such certification bodies won't be accredited to ISO 17021. Even quality pedants get it wrong.
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