Most organizations with OHSMSs (Operational Health and Safety Management Systems) that have received ISO 45001:2018 certification tend to have internal OH&S managers. Only "top management" and the individuals who would be nominated as being "responsible" for tasks within the OHSMS itself are mentioned in the ISO 45001 standard, which makes no specific reference to a position's requirements. A specialist manager with expertise and qualifications will typically be hired for this job by many firms that work in industries that require a high level of operational health and safety (OH&S) skills and knowledge. What abilities and skills should an OH&S Manager possess in this case to guarantee that the company is in compliance with ISO 45001 and that it can provide top-notch OH&S performance?
The OH&S Manager within many organizations may be expected to have certain essential qualifications, as with many management roles. Different countries may require different OH&S qualifications, ranging from college degrees to vocational training. Although having formal qualifications does not ensure success, many large organizations preferred to have a qualified OH&S manager represent the business and interact with stakeholders since it is considered to give the corporation more confidence. What fundamental abilities ought the OH&S manager to possess, qualifications or not? Let's look at:
- Knowledge of legislation: The OHSMS will depend heavily on this, and the OH&S manager will need to know both how to find and comply with legislative requirements. Also, Occupational Health & Safety Manager Training plays a very important role in the knowledge of regulation, which can provide all the required information, technics, regulations, and many more.
- Good assessor of risk: This seems obvious, but is critical. An OH&S manager with a solid risk assessment background and a good eye for detail is critical to ensure a company can develop a culture of hazard identification and accident prevention.
- Good communication skills: Depending on how big the company is, the OH&S department could serve as the intermediary between the top management and the workforce. The ability to successfully communicate both downward and upward also is important.
- Leadership skills: Whether a formal member of “top management” or not, the OH&S manager will have to have the correct leadership skills to ensure the legislative and internal health and safety rules and processes are taken seriously, followed by employees, and improvement is shown.
What exactly should an OH&S manager do now that we are clear on the qualifications and skill set needed for the position? So, once more, the person wonders what responsibility the OH&S manager has. Again, depending on the size of the organization, the answer to this question may vary slightly, but typically, the OH&S manager will be responsible for the following roles:
- Ideal responsibility for the organization's performance in terms of OH&S
- Responsibility for policy choices and a strategic path that the organization may accept in terms of OH&S
- Communication of all relevant information to internal and external stakeholders
- Ensuring that internal consultation occurs to ensure that processes are safe and decisions are as well-informed as appropriate.
- Responsibility for ensuring that the organization complies with all legal requirements
- All delegation and clarification of jobs, roles, and responsibilities to provide clarity in how the OHSMS functions.
- Responsibility for organizing periodic testing and experimenting with emergency concepts
- Organizing a continuous screening of "nearly missed" dangerous circumstances and timely investigation of previously reported incidents
- Ensuring that measurement and review occur for continuous improvement to occur
Therefore, it is clear that the OH&S manager typically takes full responsibility for the OHSMS's performance and delivery of all of its components, which may appear odd considering that the function is completely absent from the ISO 45001 standard. Despite this, the OH&S manager is typically located in the center of the OH&S function of a company. Make sure the OH&S manager possesses the set of abilities outlined above and is aware of the responsibilities that come with the position, and you can go a long way toward ensuring that the right person is in charge of your company's OH&S performance. For the health, safety, and satisfaction of the employees as well as the business, it can only be good news.
