Occupational Safety and Health Recognition System for the Construction Industry Based on ILO-OSH 2001 Guidelines

摘要

The systematic implementation of management systems by companies started to undergo a great change by the end of the 1980s following the publication of the ISO 9000 family of standards (quality) by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO). By the middle of the 1990s, environmental management systems started also to be implemented by companies as a result of the publication of the ISO 14000 family of standards. Meanwhile, the need to strengthen the improvement of the working conditions of employees led to the creation of specific models for the implementation of occupational safety and heath management systems (OSH-MS). By 2000/2001, about 50 models had been created in different countries around the world. In 1996/1997 and again in 1999/2000, ISO was asked to discuss the need to establish an international standard on OSH-MS. On both occasions, the result was negative. Actually, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), while the adequate forum for this subject matter, started the preparation of a guide on this issue in 1996/97 based on international and tripartite consensus and reflecting the ILO values included in the ILO Conventions, Recommendations and Codes of Practice. It is the "Guidelines on Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems - ILO-OSH 2001" adopted in a tripartite meeting in April 2001. It provides guidance on the implementation of these systems at national and organisation levels, as well as for the development of tailored guidelines for specific groups and/or sectors of activity. Moreover, the companies that implement OSH-MS based on these ILO guidelines have been expressing interest on the recognition of their systems. This document discusses an approach for the practical implementation of a possible OSH Recognition System for the construction industry based on the ILO-OSH 2001 guidelines and on technical audits, in view to stimulate and encourage the implementation of an effective OSH-MS by the construction companies.