Analysis of Safety Management System Standards

8/12/2019 Analysis of Safety Management System Standards

1/5

Ikhwan Muhammad. Safety Management System: Analysis of Standards

Page 1

Adherence to Occupational Health & Safety Management System Standard

The adherence to Occupational Health & Safety Management System (OHSMS) standard

is proven to bring numerous benefits for the company. This essay will discuss about the benefit

of OHSMS standard (in health & safety area and in other related areas) and review the

effectiveness of OHSMS standard from three literatures.

Benefits in enhancing safety

To begin with, OHSMS standards apparent benefit is as a constant protection measures

to prevent work-related accident and ill health. As an example, by using the ANSI/AIHA Z10-

2005 as a benchmark, health & safety in a company will be continually assessed and measured

(Manuele, 2006). While OHSAS 18001, according to O'Connell (2004), provide umbrella

protection, which extensively approach accident prevention, health and safety plan maintenance,

and emergency responses the three essential areas of OHSMS. He further outlines that theseextensive approaches can only be designed by a committee of industry experts behind the

standards design.

OHSMS standard not only works as a protective wall but will eventually increase health

& safety awareness among employee and employer by improving everyones perceptions of the

physical-psychosocial environment (Robson et al., 2007). This awareness will keep people

staying behind the safety line and protect them from work-related accident and ill health.

In practice, the implementation of OHSMS standard will be followed by subsequent

frequent hazard reports which is a sign of increased awareness (Robson et al., 2007). As

highlighted byReason (1997), a reporting culture is one of the essential components of safety

culture.Adherence to OHSMS standard will also be beneficial by establishing safety culture in

the company in a wider point of view (Robson et al., 2007). Considering the broad area to cover,

it is impossible for OHSMS managers to directly inspect and monitor every work practice at the

same time. Therefore, standard is needed to replace the managers sole role by giving everyone

the same responsibility. As mentioned bySeabrook (2001), the OHSMS standard will provide a

tool for everyone in the company to proactively take part in enhancing health & safety; instead of

being the duty of the managers only. By the involvement of everyone, organizational accidents

can be prevented in each of its stages (i.e. unsafe act, local workplace factor, organizational

factors) (Reason, 1997). Health & safety will eventually be established as an integrated part of

the company system; where business process and planning activities will take them into account.

Other benefit that a company will gain by adhering to OHSMS standard is the support

from third party companies. By being registered to the standard, the implementation of OHSMS,

will be audited, monitored and evaluated by third party registrar (e.g. BSI management system)

(O'Connell, 2004). The assessment will be done by experts of health & safety who will

independently have a thorough inspection and outline the areas that can be improved; ensuring


2/5


3/5


Page 3

consideration different aspects from different countries thus provide an open path for business

across national borders.

Literatures with respect to the effectiveness of systematic safety management processes

There are numerous studies attempt to discuss the effectiveness of systematic safety

management processes. This essay will review three literatures: 1.) Safety management systems:

performance differences between adopters and non-adopters, 2.) The effectiveness of

occupational health and safety management system: a systematic review, and 3.) Occupational

health and safety management systems: a review of their effectiveness in securing healthy and

safe workplace

1. Safety management systems: performance differences between adopters and non-adopters

In this paper, Bottani, Monica, and Vignali (2009)aim to conduct an assessment to

determine the performance difference resulted from adopting Safety Management Systems

(SMSs).Bottani et al. (2009)collect data sample from 116 companies perform hypotheses

testing and determine their performance level. As a conclusion,Bottani et al. (2009)outline

that against four identified topics (definition of safety and security goals and their

communication to employees, risk data updating and risk analysis, identification of risks and

definition of corrective actions, and employees training), companies adopting SMSs are

proven to have higher performance compared to non-adopters.

2. The effectiveness of occupational health and safety management system: a systematicreview

In this study, Robson et al. (2007) attempt to draw a conclusion in regards to the

effectiveness of OHSMS interventions on establishing healthy and safe working environment

by systematically reviewing relevant articles. For this purpose, they search through eight

bibliographical databases and collect thirteen original studies that suffice the studys relevant

criteria and the methodological quality criteria. Result show positive findings in general and

no negative findings. However, Robson et al. (2007) suggest that these evidences are not

sufficient to give a definite answer in respect to OHSMS interventions. They argue that the

several differences between the studies make it hard to generalize the findings.


4/5


Page 4

3. Occupational health and safety management systems: a review of their effectiveness insecuring healthy and safe workplace

In this report prepared for the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission

(NOHSC),Gallagher, Rimmer, and Underhill (2001)attempt to review the effectiveness and

the barriers of OHSMS in Australia. From the reviews of research and consultation, they

suggest that OHSMS success is conditional and certain appropriate circumstances are

required to achieve healthy and safe workplace (Gallagher et al., 2001).

The report further outlines several barriers to OHSMS success, including failure to

meet necessary conditions for OHSMS success, the inappropriate use of audit tools, and

application in hostile contexts (Gallagher et al., 2001). According toGallagher et al. (2001),

these barriers relate to actual implementation practice of OHSMS in Australian companies.


5/5


Page 5

References

Abrams, A. L. (2006). Legal Perspectives on ANSI Z1O-2005: Significant implications for

SH&E practitioners and employers. [Article].Professional Safety, 51(6), 41-43.Bottani, E., Monica, L., & Vignali, G. (2009). Safety management systems: performance

differences between adopters and non-adopters. Safety Science, 47(2), 155-162.Fernndez-Muiz, B., Montes-Pen, J. M., & Vzquez-Ords, C. J. (2011). Occupational risk

management under the OHSAS 18001 standard: analysis of perceptions and attitudes of

certified firms.Journal of Cleaner Production.

Gallagher, C., Rimmer, M., & Underhill, E. (2001). Occupational Health and SafetyManagement Systems [electronic Resource]: A Review of Their Effectiveness in Securing

Healthy and Safe Workplaces: National Occupational Health and Safety Commission.

Manuele, F. A. (2006). ANSI/AIHA Z10-2005. (Cover story). [Article]. Professional Safety,

51(2), 25-33.Matias, J. C. D. O., & Coelho, D. A. (2002). The integration of the standards systems of quality

management, environmental management and occupational health and safety

management.International Journal of Production Research, 40(15), 3857-3866.O'Connell, R. (2004, June 2004). Making the case for OHSAS 18001: a leading registrar argues

that OHSAS 18001 is emerging as the standard of choice for companies seeking to

implement a comprehensive safety management system. Here's why. Occupational

Hazards, 66,32-33.Reason, J. T. (1997). Managing the Risks of Organizational Accidents. Hampshire: Ashgate

Publishing Ltd.

Robson, L. S., Clarke, J. A., Cullen, K., Bielecky, A., Severin, C., Bigelow, P. L., . . . Mahood,Q. (2007). The effectiveness of occupational health and safety management system

interventions: a systematic review. Safety Science, 45(3), 329-353.

Seabrook, K. A. (2001, 10 - 13 June 2001). International Standards Update: Occupational

Safety and Health Management Systems. Paper presented at the ASSE ProfessionalDevelopment Conference and Exposition, Anaheim, California.

Tervonen, P., Haapasalo, H., & Pkkil, J. (2011). Contribution of integrated environment,

safety, security and quality management to business excellence. [Article]. Integruotosaplinkos apsaugos, saugos, saugumo irkokybs vadybos sistem poveikis verslo

tobulumui., 6(1), 53-68. doi: 10.5200/1822-9530.2011.03

Zeng, S., Tam, V. W. Y., & Tam, C. (2008). Towards occupational health and safety systems in

the construction industry of China. Safety Science, 46(8), 1155-1168.

Documents

Analysis of Safety Management System Standards