Rob, without knowing numbers of personnel, number of locations etc.

An OHSMS has six elements, documents, records, internal audits, non-conformance, corrective action and preventive action.

The first step of gaining 18001 certification is Stage 1, where you provide/make available, your OHSMS documentation for the external audit body to review and approve/advise as suitable and applicable.

Stage 2, is when they visit to assess your records....etc.

In my opinion, it is best to have the external body conduct the whole process.

You can carry out your own gap analysis (GA) against the requirements of the standard - this will give you the basis infomation on how advanced or not your system is.

Alternatively ask the accrediation body to carry out a pre-certification assessment. Basically a 3rd party GA.

This is an optional assessment, not part of the certification process Stage 1 and 2), requested by the client to audit elements of their management system prior to a certification audit (stage 2).

This type of assessment may be used as a gap analysis to enable you to ascertain progress in implementing a management system.

The scope of the audit is as identified by the client, the audit days required would be in addition to the days quoted for the initial assessment stage 1 and 2. The findings of the 'GA' audit must be clearly defined as not having an impact on the findings of the initial audit (Stage 1).

To avoid any potential issues relating to the findings of the pre-certification assessment (in terms of being interpreted as directing the client in any specific area), nonconformities are raised, only observations i.e. treat them as you would NCRs)

The number of Pre-certification audits is normally one per client location.


G