Certification of Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems

The employees protection as long as they are at work is not an option. However, there are more options to put into practice this aspect. One of these is the implementation and certification of a Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSAS). Such a system can be perfectly integrated in the management system of the organization that implements it.

RINA SIMTEX, by its experience in the field, may assesses the OHSAS system of an organization in accordance with the reference standard OHSAS 18001.

It is important to mention that where there already is a certified quality/environmental management system, the insertion and integration of a OHSAS type is quite simple, as the organization will eventually benefit from a single integrated management system.

Numerous organizations have already implemented and certified their Occupational Health and Safety Management System. The future integration of Romania in the European Union will most likely introduce the obligation for certification of OHSAS for many companies. The certification of OHSAS already represents a legibility criterion in our country.

What exactly does this certification process consist in and how long does it last?

The stages of the certification body are described systematically in this document.

Which are the procedures based on which RINA SIMTEX the Certification Body for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems functions?

The functioning of this certification body is based on the procedures drafted in accordance with the International Standard ISO 17021.

What is the standard based on which the certification of the OHSAS Management System is performed?

Presently, in Romania, the certification of such a system is carried out in accordance with the standard SR OHSAS 18001:2008.

Which are the requirements of RINA SIMTEX for the staff that form the audit teams?

Each OHSAS auditor of RINA SIMTEX is carefully selected function of his/her qualification, training and experience in the domain and function of the complexity degree of the activity domain in which the OHSAS is to be certified.

Within the certification process of EMS, RINA SIMTEX uses only competent staff, evaluated according to its own assessment procedures, which comply with the requirements of the International Standard ISO 17021 and SR EN ISO 19011:2003.

What is the validity period of a certificate?

For the organization whose OHSAS has been certified, RINA SIMTEX grants a certificate for a 3 years validity period.

Which are the advantages of an organisation that already has implemented a system (e.g. the Quality Management System ISO 9001) when the organisation wishes the certification of the Occupational Health and Safety Management System as well?

Many organizations that already have a certified Quality Management System (in accordance with ISO 9001), may choose to integrate the future Environmental Management System with the existing one. In over 95% of the cases, the advantage of the integration of management systems is that time, work and money are saved. That is why, RINA SIMTEX recommends the integration of the management systems where there is already an implemented system.

Which are the advantages of the OHSAS certification for an organization?

1. Achieving the occupational health and safety by eliminating and/or by reducing the potential causes of professional accidents and sickness.
2. Ensuring the organizations control over the dangers, accidents and risks of the employees at work.
3. Fulfilment of potential auction criteria.
4. Reducing the work incidents and accidents that involve the organizations legal liability.
5. Improvement of employees labour conditions.
6. Effective planning of the activities at the place of work.
7. Increasing the employees awareness regarding the importance of safety at work and of their own physical and mental health.
8. Increasing employees motivation and communication by participating within the process constant improvement and of reducing the risks at the place of work.
9. Improvement of the relations with industry and regulatory bodies.
10. Improvement of business image, marketing and competitiveness by means of a management system acknowledged through certification

Which are the advantages of the certification of the OHSAS Management System with RINA SIMTEX?

1. RINA SIMTEX capability to perform certifications in all the domains of the NACE Code.
2. The vast professional experience of our auditors both in the organizations activity domain and in the assessment domain (auditing).
3. Informing the organisations on the financing programmes and on the participation conditions to these programmes, which reduce significantly the cost of the certification.
4. Publishing the list of the certified societies on the web page of the certification body (the site is visited by thousands of people)
5. Guarantee of free and non discriminating access to certification.
6. Confidentiality of the information obtained in the certification process

Which are the stages to be followed for obtaining the certification of the Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSAS)?

• Initiation of the certification process (contacting RINA SIMTEX for the certification)
• Initial assessment (document review and visit on site)
• Assessment of the OHSAS management system (audit on site)
• Assessment of the certification file within the Certification Operative Committee of RINA SIMTEX, with a view to grant the certification.
• Granting the certification for the OHSAS management system.
  Note: The certificate is granted only if the organization complies with all the requirements regarding the certification specified for each stage of the certification process in accordance with the General Rules for the Certification of the Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems.
• Annual surveillance
• Renewal of certification

Each stage of the certification process is finalised with written documents, based on which the certification decision is made: Initial Assessment Report, Report of audit on site, Summary of Assessment.

How does the certification begin?

In order that the certification process can be initiated, you have to address to RINA SIMTEX, in writing, no.10A, Ramuri Tei Street, sector 2, postal code 020354, PO 13-138, Bucharest or by accessing this document. We are prepared to offer you the documents (the official request and the preliminary assessment questionnaire) for the initiation of the certification process and further information regarding the certification of the Occupational Health and Safety Management System. In order to obtain a price offer as soon as possible, it is necessary for you to send the preliminary questionnaire completed.