20.07.2012

OSHAS 18001 for Nationwide

Nationwide Platforms has attained OHSAS 18001 accreditation for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems for all its UK operations.

The OHSAS 18001:2007 Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Standard is an International Standard Designed to promote a safe and healthy working environment. While not an ISO standard, it has been adopted by over 40 countries and is apparently in use now in 116.

It requires businesses to establish frameworks to identify and reduce health and safety risks, diminish the potential for accidents, comply with legislation and improve overall business performance through enhanced safety systems.

In addition to the OHSAS 18001 accreditation, Nationwide Platforms has also obtained ISO 14001 for all of its new business locations, including the new London East, London West, Bristol and Birmingham ‘super depots’.

Nationwide Platforms’ quality health & safety manager, Mark Keily, said: “The OHSAS 18001 is regarded as the world’s most recognised marker of occupational health and safety management. As such, it’s been an accreditation we’ve worked hard to attain by introducing, enhancing and continually improving our health and safety management systems.”

Managing director Mike Potts added: “Attaining the OHSAS 18001 accreditation has been central to our business aims as we’ve looked to build upon our other major accreditations and awards that relate to quality, health, safety and the environment.”

“As a business, we pride ourselves on being able to deliver safe and effective working at height solutions, and as such, it is essential that we always challenge ourselves to continually improve our own approaches to creating safe and healthy working environments for our employees.”

Vertikal Comment

There are so many quality and safety accreditation schemes and awards floating around these days, particularly in the UK, that it blurs one’s mind, however the OSHAS is a very practical standard which aims to reduce the proliferation of conflicting national standards and draw on the best of existing standards and schemes.

Over 100,000 certificates had been issued in 116 countries, the fact that it is compatible with ISO9001 and follows the format of ISO 14001 has helped make it into truly international standard. That is beginning to have an impact on reducing accidents among those who have adopted it.