ANSI Z10-2012 Standard Provides the Blueprint to Create an EHS Management System

The newly revised ANSI Z10-2012 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems Standard (OHSMS) provides an overall blueprint for widespread benefits in occupational safety and health, as well as in productivity, financial performance, quality and other organizational and business objectives.

The Z-10-2012 standard’s seven section topics are on management leadership; employee participation; planning; implementation and operation; evaluation and corrective action; and, management review. Roles and responsibilities, policy statements, assessment and prioritization, audit information and much more also are included. The standard defines minimum requirements for an occupational safety and health management system and applies to organizations of all sizes and types. It also includes risk assessment components not previously included.

“This standard provides critical management system requirements and guidelines for improvement of occupational safety and health,” siad ASSE Standards Development Committee Chair Gary Lopez, CSP. “Experts from labor, government, professional organizations and industry formulated this significant standard after extensive examination of current national and international standards, guidelines and practices. From large to small businesses, this standard provides a simple blueprint for creating safer workplaces while contributing positively to the bottom line through reduced health care and workers’ compensation costs, production delays and more.”

To help EHS professionals, organizations and businesses implement the revised standard, ANSI/AIHA/ASSE Z10-2012 - Standard for Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems, ASSE will hold a 90-minute webinar on Nov. 20 at noon EST. Webinar attendees receive a free copy of the standard, access to the webcast for 30 days after the origination date, slides from the session and 0.2 continuing education units (CEUs).  ASSE President-Elect Kathy A. Seabrook, CSP, CMIOSH, with more than 30 years of diverse safety, health and environmental management experience in both the U.S. and global sectors, and James Howe, CSP, president of Safety Solutions and chair of the Z-10 Committee, will lead the webinar.