There appear to be an ever growing number of "clubs" that do not accept qualifying to OHSAS 18001:2007 as being sufficient to be a member. A point in question is when completing a recent requalification for exor, I was informed that our scheme was not listed on Safety Schemes in Procurement. I now have to answer the 20 or so health and safety questions.

SSIP require an additional payment and another set of questions answered, which have already been answered as part of our external audit.

OHSAS 18001:2007 and its replacement ISO 45001:2018 should be the pinnacle of a companies health and safety compliance. If this is no longer the case, is their any point in submitting to audit, when other "clubs" do not recognise it.

Is this unique or are other practionners having the same issues?

Sadly, I have to agree with you Mark and its not just SSIP. A growing number of Principle Contractors are joining health and safety "clubs" that state they will ensure suppliers are "fit for purpose" in some way and often charge the supplier for the privilage.

I have had to submit to as many as 5 different companies, who all ask the same questions, which are set out in PAS 91 and all covered by OHSAS 18001. 

The only reason for them not accepting it is,they are their to make money, not to further the cause of health and safety.

Agree with others - such schemes are nothing more than a money making scam that do little in terms of achieving good h&s standards.

See the recent thread about FRAC  -another h&s scam to do with fire risk assessment.

Originally Posted by: pseudonym

I believe that HSE are going to introduce guidance on what compliance to ISO 45001 looks like later this year ..

Pretty sure that I read that somewhere or other. But yes, HSE have frowned on the old OHSAS 18001 as they always said compliance to the standard doesn't mean that everything is 'safe'.

Perhaps someone can find the reference in the HSE website confirming (or otherwise) my recollection above?

P.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/foi/internalops/fod/inspect/mast/comparison.htm

"Perhaps someone can find the reference in the HSE website confirming (or otherwise) my recollection above?"

Try Page 7 of the following link:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/strategiesandplans/businessplans/plan1819.pdf

Guys, lets not be naive and believe that companies like SafeContractor are anything else but con artists and the only reason people sign up is so they can bid / win projects with companies stupid enough to believe their hype.

I work with a client who was told directly by Safecontractor to simply add there logo to documents sent by safecontractor such as policies, Risk assessments etc and send back to them and they will issue a certificate.

Let us be real, sadly a lot of companies are happy with this as they just want to look as if they care, when really they just want to cover their backsides from the law.

18001 and 45001 as someone mentioned is the ultimate and it has stood the test of time globally. of course their are bad apples who will do some dodgy audits but it is the only standard i trust.

Just me two pence

Originally Posted by: DaveBridle

"Perhaps someone can find the reference in the HSE website confirming (or otherwise) my recollection above?"

Try Page 7 of the following link:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/strategiesandplans/businessplans/plan1819.pdf

In case nobody wants to read through the annual report the section that is relevant to the HSE and ISO 45001 is

“Share learning on blue tape issues (new one for me) and identify ways to promote proportionality in the system

• Help dutyholders better navigate blue tape (where businesses and others place excessive and disproportionate health and safety burdens upon each other, in particular on SMEs)
• Publish guidance from HSE to show what proportionate implementation of ISO 45001 looks like, and set out sensible use of accreditation scheme”

Which in effect means that:

1. Possessing ISO 45001 is no guarantee that you totally compliant with  the law but  it’s a good start
2. There is no need to overdo it: simple legal compliance is all that you need to keep the HSE happy. Anything else is a bonus

If you have ISO 45001 it should make legal compliance easier and demonstrates that you are an organisation that knows its arse from its elbow and can get things done or it should in theory. In practice, there ways to get around this and any other system and reduce them to a glorified tick box exercise if that is what you want.