Integrated management systems, International Standards, Auditing – it’s enough to put you off before you’ve even started, right? Wrong! If you’re serious about doing business – and doing it well – it’s time you got with the program and consulted the experts!
You might not realise, but International Standards have been around for a very long time and smart businesses understand just how powerful accreditation can be, when it comes to increasing your customer base and winning major contracts.
Early on in the game, many businesses chose one specific management system to suit their needs, such as environmental management or workplace safety management. But as the global market expands and becomes increasingly competitive, it’s clear the boundaries have changed.
But rather than bogging businesses down with multiple, separate management systems, the integrated system was introduced, and it’s winning a lot of fans!
Less Duplication, Less Documentation
As you would expect, an integrated management system blends several different systems into one, easy to manage system. That means less duplication, less documentation, less work and less cost.
And some International Standards blend very well together, such as ISO 9001 Quality Management, ISO 14001 Environmental Management, OHSAS 18001 Safety Management, and AS/NZS 4801 Safety Management.
By integrating ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 you can create a model that ensures a safe, healthy and environmentally friendly business. And this has many advantages. It will help you meet your legal requirements in these crucial areas, as well as boosting your reputation and attracting more customers.
Risk Mitigation
It is also an integrated management system that can be used across practically any business or industry, as workplace safety, environmental management and risk mitigation are central to them all.
The first step to take is to talk to Integrated Management System Training Consultants. There are a few to choose from in Queensland, including SC Training Centre in Brisbane.
The secret is to put environmental and workplace safety and responsibility at the heart of the organisation, and ensure that is forms part of the day-to-day management of the business.
Existing Management Strategies
Your consultant will discuss with you the nature of your business, how it currently operates, your goals and long-term plans, and existing management strategies. He or she can then develop the most beneficial integrated management system for your needs, help implement it and organise training.
This might take several different forms, depending on the size and nature of your organisation. For example, as far as workplace health and safety is concerned, that would most likely involve OHSAS 18001 Training and even an OHSAS 18001 Lead Auditor Course.
Environmental management training should be provided throughout the organisation, and it may also be recommended that ISO 14001 Lead Auditor Training also be considered.
ISO Accreditation
One area that forms an important part of both OHSAS 18001 Safety Management and ISO 14001 Environmental Management, is risk analysis. Clearly these are both areas where, when something goes wrong, it can go very wrong.
In order to achieve ISO accreditation, an organisation must show that it meets all legal and regulatory requirements in those fields.
In short, it’s about reducing an organisation’s impact on both the environment, and on employee health and safety. While the reasons for doing this are practical, there are many benefits to be had. For example, a workforce that feels appreciated and cared for will be more productive. You will find that employees work more enthusiastically, and downtime is generally reduced.
Boost Business, Motivate Employees
Caring for the workforce and the environment will also help you attract and retain quality staff, and will most likely boost your customer base. Research shows that consumers will favour businesses that display sound environmental and social ethics, and will even pay more for the product.
In addition, meeting statutory requirements will better qualify an organisation to bid for Government tenders and work with major corporations.
Earlier we mentioned AS/NZS 4801, so some clarification should be given. It doesn’t really matter whether an organisation uses OHSAS 18001 or AS/NZS 4801. OHSAS 18001 is an international applied British Standard for workplace health and safety, while AS/NZS 4801 is an Australian/New Zealand Standard.
Choosing The Right Standard
Your consultant can best advise on which Standard you choose. OHSAS 18001 provides an excellent framework in which an organisation can assess risks and maintain health and safety standards. And, perhaps more than AS/NZS 4801, it clearly defines the different roles within the management system, such as risk assessment, compliance, corrective action, and so on.
AS/NZS 4801 is often preferred by Australian and New Zealand businesses, and is also excellent for assessment, evaluation and reporting.
International Standards are regularly reviewed and revised, and several new versions came out in 2015. It is important to remain up-to-date, as the revisions reflect important changes in how we do business globally, as well as meeting specific legal and regulatory requirements.
With both environmental management and workplace safety this is important, as both areas have seen recent changes in the law, with very high penalties for those who break it.