These hazards may present an immediate risk, such as unguarded machinery, or the risk may be longer term through exposure to toxic chemical substances.

An OHS management system is an important tool in ensuring legislative compliance, demonstrating due diligence and developing best practice OHS solutions.

The following steps are required to develop an OHS management system that will integrate with an existing operational framework and quality system and satisfy objectives ranging from compliance to best practice.

• Establish your objectives in health and safety.
  
• Assign responsibilities for OHS to management and employees in the organisation to carry out the established objectives.
  
• Provide necessary resources and training.

• Are regular safety inspections carried out in the workplace? Are there any records? Are there existing systems for the reporting of hazards?
  
• Have the users of the material been trained in the correct procedures?
  
• Are there safe systems of work? Are employees trained in safe working procedures for high risk activities, documented?
  
• Identify areas where further assessment may be needed.
  

• As improvements to your OHS management system are identified, changes will be required. In general, the most effective improvements are those which have been developed in consultation with employees.
  
• Update the existing OHS management system as improvements and new work practices are introduced.

• The effectiveness of an OHS management system needs to be evaluated and measured periodically against agreed performance indicators.

Hibbs & Associates Pty Ltd offers the following comprehensive range of OHS management services to assist clients to make informed decisions regarding their environmental risks and commercial exposure.

OHS Auditing