Occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS) and ISO 45001
Also: OHSMS, ISO 45001, Arbeitsschutzmanagementsystem, AMS
Definition
An occupational health and safety management system is the systematic, documented organisation of occupational safety in a company, with objectives, responsibilities, processes and continuous improvement. The international standard is ISO 45001; German employers' liability insurance associations offer an assessment called “Sicher mit System”.
For most companies, an OHS management system is voluntary, but customers, parent companies and tenders increasingly require one. It follows the PDCA cycle: plan (policy, objectives, risk assessment), do (responsibilities, safety instruction, operating instructions), check (inspections, key figures, audits), act (management review). ISO 45001 also requires worker participation and the consideration of opportunities.
The German National Occupational Safety and Health Conference has published a guideline for OHS management systems; software supports record-keeping and makes audits easier.
Legal basis
- ISO 45001:2018
- NLF/ILO-OSH 2001 guideline
- DGUV Principle 311-002 “Sicher mit System”
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Related terms
This glossary entry gives a general overview of German occupational safety law and does not replace legal advice. The regulations in force and the rules of the statutory accident insurance institutions are authoritative.
