OHSE compliance management system

We applaud your attempt to acquire an Occupational Health, Safety and Environment (OHSE) management system. These issues are highly pertinent to business expansion, employees, and our environment. However, we understand that you may be confused by the different options available. In this article, we will analyse what an OHSE management system is and offer you advice on the other elements of various systems so that you gain a better understanding of your options.

What is an OHSE management system?

OHSE is an acronym for occupational health, safety and environment. It is a management system that is part of a company and covers occupational health and safety, environmental performance management, the health and safety policy of a company, the planning process for accident and illness prevention, the practises, resources and procedures for developing and implementing a management system that mitigates all these issues and the ongoing practises for reviewing their progress.

Essentially, this system covers the organisation, helping it plan for all OHSE-related tasks. The purpose of this system is to help managers develop unique, relevant, industry, specific and efficient strategies, as well as procedures to analyse data that keep them abreast of any changes or updates.

Types of OHSE management systems

Similar to other management systems, the OHSE management system also comes in various shapes and sizes. Some popular formats include:

• Paper-based OHSE management system: Traditionally, handwritten or printed documents were utilised to store the OHSE policy of the company. In these types of management systems, the preferred software was Excel or MS Word. The problem with this kind of management system is that it is slowly and steadily becoming obsolete because critical information is not accessible to employees across all levels of the organisation.
• Electronic OHSE management systems: Such OHSE management systems were developed in-house or were purchased from a third party, helping managers store the files electronically. A user interface was provided to help managers find, navigate, manage, modify or improve their files. The limitation of such a management system is that it is great for smaller organisations, but for larger organisations, its simplicity cannot match up with the complexities of the company.
• Cloud-based OHSE management systems: Cloud-based OHSE management systems usually involve storing all OHSE-related documents on the system provided by a third party in off-site servers. This management system is becoming increasingly popular because all data is stored in one place, enhancing accessibility. Real-time decisions can be taken as accessibility and usability are both enhanced.
• Hybrid OHSE management system: As the name suggests, hybrid OHSE management systems combine one or more of the abovementioned approaches. This is one of the most popular types of management system as it is customised to the organisation’s unique needs, combining paper-based, off-line or cloud-based solutions to satisfy the distinctive management needs.

Key elements of the OHSE management system

It does not matter what type of management system you choose; it must contain the following elements:

• Policy and commitment.
• Proper planning.
• Implementation of the management system and supporting the operation.
• Measuring performance using key performance metrics.
• Auditing and reviewing management system performance.

First and foremost, your organisation must prepare an occupational safety, health and environment program that fits the purpose. The second element is to create a plan that fulfils this policy. Thirdly, when implementing the policy to meet its objectives and targets, you must ensure that you have adequate resources, including staff motivation, financial resources, training programmes, and awareness. Measuring performance against health, safety and environmental standards will allow you to identify discrepancies. Additionally, reactive or self-monitoring can allow you to respond efficiently to accidents, incidents or ill health. Auditing and reviewing performance will allow you to cover all legal responsibilities, conduct an external comparison with the performance of business competitors and incorporate best practices into your operations.

OHSE management system for small businesses

Most small businesses are low-risk and draw up a safety statement, which is a written document specifying how the organisation will minimise, mitigate and manage all OHSE risks. It outlines the risk assessment and control measures taken in the workplace to minimise all OHSE risks.

How Edara Software can help?

Edara Software helps organisations stay on top of their OHSE issues by focusing on regulatory compliance while lowering costs. Edara Software is a cost-effective cloud-based platform that provides you with the ability to control all your important policy documents. Our staff training templates ensure that you are at par with industry giants. Additionally, key features in our software platform include document and training management, audit and inspection management, incident management and compliance management, helping you save time and money.

Conclusion

Occupational health, safety, and environmental issues negatively impact the health of employees and the environment in which the organisation works and business expansion. Appropriate OHSE management includes building a policy fit for purpose, planning, implementing, measuring performance, auditing and reviewing performance.