The German Position with Respect to Standardisation of OHS Management Systems

摘要

Since its foundation in 1994. KAN dealt not only with the management systems on quality (ISO 9000 ff.) and environment (ISO 14000) that have already been standardised. It also observed and influenced the beginning consultations on occupational health and safety management systems since there have been a number of attempts to draft international standards for this area as well. KAN just recently confirmed its position that it welcomes OH&S management systems but rejects standardisation thereof. Contrary to quality management that enterprises do or do not introduce and design on a voluntary basis, occupational health and safety is regulated under German and European law. Already for this reason, the German OH&S institutions agreed upon political criteria allowing them to test the management concepts available on the market and advise enterprises. At the same time, these criteria enable enterprises to chose the system suited to their needs and to then tailor the system selected to the specific requirements of the company (branch of industry, company size, risk potential, working conditions).