1. Key changes and transition process
OHSAS 18001:2007
Key changes and transition process
DNV Industry, Global Products Products and Solutions
July 2007

2. Overview
OHSAS Project Group established early 2006 to perform strategic review to revise OHSAS
DNV represented in the Project group
Revised OHSAS published early July 2007.
OHSAS 18001:2007 refers to itself as a standard and not a specification, or document, as in the earlier edition.
Reflects the increasing adoption of OHSAS as the basis for national standards on occupational health and safety management systems.
Process to revise OHSAS (the guideline) started July 2007
2 years transition period determined by the OHSAS Project Group (Final date: July 1st 2009)
© Det Norske Veritas AS. All rights reserved
20 April 2017

3. Some highlighted changes
Major alignment with ISO 14001
Health is more clearly addressed and emphasized, as this was more diminshed in the ’99-edition. Clearer focus on health is mainly substantaited by:
the new definition of “Ill health” and revised definitions for “incident” and “risk”
new clause b) in ch. 4.2 OH&S policy
new clause c) in ch Performance measurement and monitoring
Management of Change clearly addressed as part of and 4.4.6
© Det Norske Veritas AS. All rights reserved
20 April 2017

4. Key Changes: Scope and Definitions
Property damage and damage to the workplace environment are no longer part of the scope for OHSAS (also reflected in revised definition of “Hazard”).
Definitions (3)
Related to OH&S these changes in Definitions are considered most substantial :
New definitions for “Ill health” and “workplace”.
Revised definitions for “hazard”, “incident” and “risk”
6 new terms are defined in OHSAS:2007 to harmonise with common terminology in ISO and ISO 9001: Document, procedure, record, correcive action, preventive action and OH&S policy.
“Tolerable risk” replaced by “acceptable risk” in new edition.
© Det Norske Veritas AS. All rights reserved
20 April 2017

5. Key Changes: General Requirements and OH&S policy
OHSAS:2007 more explicit on:
Continual improvement of the OHSMS.
Need for the organization to define and document the scope for the OHSMS.
OH&S Policy (4.2):
OH&S Policy (4.2) more explicit to require communication of policy to “all persons working under the control of the organization” and not only to “employees” as in previous edition.
New clause b) to include a “commitment to prevention of injury and ill health and …”.
© Det Norske Veritas AS. All rights reserved
20 April 2017

6. Key Changes: Planning
Hazard identification, risk assessment and determining controls (4.3.1)
OHSAS:2007 improved to clarify the process steps: Hazard Identification → Risk assessment → Determination of controls
OHSAS:2007 more explicitly addresses Management of change
Introduced new paragraph considering the hierarchy of controls as part of OH&S plannng
Legal and other requirements (4.3.2)
OHSAS:2007 explicit to require that applicable legal requirements and other requirements to which the organization subscribes are taken into account in establishing, implementing and maintaining its OH&S management system
Objectives and programme(s) (4.3.3)
Former merged into this clause
© Det Norske Veritas AS. All rights reserved
20 April 2017

7. Key Changes: Implementation and operation
Resources, roles, responsibility, accountability and authority (4.4.1)
OHSAS:2007 more explicit to require:
Ensurance by the organisation that persons in the workplace in general take responsibility for aspects of OH&S over which they have control and adhers to applicable OH&S requirements.
Commitment from top management on OH&S management.
Competence, training and awareness (4.4.2)
OHSAS:2007 more explicit on:
Addressing awareness training for “persons working under its control” and not limited to employees as in previous edition.
Retaining records of relevant training, education and experience
© Det Norske Veritas AS. All rights reserved
20 April 2017

8. Key Changes: Implementation and operation, continued ….
Communication, participation and consultation (4.4.3)
OHSAS:2007 more explicit on addressing communication to contractors and other visitors to the workplace with regard to the OH&S hazards and consultation with contractors when there are changes affecting their OH&S
New ch requires appropriate involvement from workers in hazard identification, risk assessment and derermination of controls and within incident investigation and development of OH&S policies and objectives.
Control of documents (4.4.5)
OHSAS:2007 explicitly requires control of documents of external origin.
Operational control (4.4.6)
OHSAS:2007 explicitly refers that operations and activities related to management of change shall be considered for needed operational controls.
© Det Norske Veritas AS. All rights reserved
20 April 2017

9. Key Changes: Checking Performance measurement and monitoring (4.5.1)
OHSAS:2007 includes new clause c) for monitoring the effectiveness of controls and stating explicitly that this shall be done for health as well as for safety.
Evaluation of compliance (4.5.2)
New clause in OHSAS:2007, requirements fully aligned to ISO 14001
Incident investigation, nonconformity, corrective action and preventive action (4.5.3)
OHSAS:2007 includes new ch on Incident investigation. Although partly covered in previous edtion more emphasis have been put on this issue.
© Det Norske Veritas AS. All rights reserved
20 April 2017

10. Key Changes: Management review
OHSAS:2007 largely aligned with ISO Compared to previous edition OHSAS:2007 lists the following required input to Management review:
results of internal audits and evaluations of compliance with applicable legal requirements and with other requirements to which the organization subscribes,
the results of participation and consultation (see 4.4.3)
relevant communication(s) from external interested parties, including complaints,
the OH&S performance of the organization,
the extent to which objectives have been met,
status of incident investigations, corrective actions and preventive actions,
follow-up actions from previous management reviews,
changing circumstances, including developments in legal and other requirements related to OH&S, and
recommendations for improvement.
© Det Norske Veritas AS. All rights reserved
20 April 2017

11. Transition process - Timetable
A transition period of 2 years have been decided by the OHSAS Project Group. No certificates according to OHSAS 18001:1999 will be valid after July 1st 2009.
DNV has established an OHSAS 18001:2007 Tansition policy for a consistent transition process. A a two phase transition has been decided:
Phase 1 (10 months) (July – May ): This period is intended for preparation. During this period audits and certification can be performed to either old or new versions of the standard. However, a certificate issued against OHSAS 18001:1999 for the standard three year period will need to be transitioned to OHSAS 18001:2007 not later than July
Phase 2 (14 months) (May – July ): All audits shall be carried out according to the new standard and all existing certificates must be transitioned to new standard.
© Det Norske Veritas AS. All rights reserved
20 April 2017

12. © Det Norske Veritas AS. All rights reserved
20 April 2017