Occupational health and safety management systems: Comparison between BS OHSAS 18001: 2007 and Italian Decree 81/2008

Abstract

Organizations of all kinds are increasingly concerned with demonstrating occupational health and safety (OH&S) performance by controlling their OH&S risks, consistent with their policy and objectives. The OHSAS Standard is intended to provide organizations with the elements of an effective OH&S management system that help organizations themselves achieve OH&S objectives. As well known, they do so in the context of increasingly stringent legislation as introduced in Italy by Government Decree No 81/2008 (D. Lgs. Gov. 81/08). Aim of the present work is that of comparing these two different approaches aimed to the same objective that is represented by a deep respect of OH&S conditions at work. In particular the OHSAS 18001:07 Standard specifies requirements for an OH&S management system to enable an organization to develop and implement a Policy and pursuing Objectives taking into account all applicable legal requirements and information about OH&S risks. It is intended to apply to all types of Organizations and to accommodate diverse geographical, cultural and social conditions. Moreover it is based on the methodology known as Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA). This system model managing is based on four phases aimed to develop a continual improvement: the first step is that of establishing Objectives and Processes necessary to deliver results in accordance with the organization's OH&S Policy. The following step is that of implementing the processes, then they are measured and monitored against policy objectives and legal requirements. Finally, actions to continually improve OH&S performance are taken. According with this model, the present work is aimed to study and underline differences between BS OHSAS 18001 and D. Lgs. Gov. 81/08: moreover a comparison will be taken into account in order to point out how the adoption of a such defined OH&S management system satisfies legal requirements defined by Italian laws. © 2009 WIT Press.