Toronto – April 10, 2006 – Canadian Standards Association (CSA), a leading developer of standards and codes, today officially announced the availability of a new Canadian standard intended to help organizations reduce or prevent injuries, illnesses and fatalities in the workplace by providing companies with a model for developing and implementing an occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS). The new standard, titled CSA Z1000-06 Occupational Health and Safety Management, is Canada’s first consensus-based standard for occupational health and safety (OHS) management.
The purpose of the standard is to enable an organization to advance its OHS performance by establishing, maintaining, and improving an OHSMS. By doing so, an organization will be better able to identify, eliminate or control hazards and risks while ensuring conformity with OHS policy.
The standard is structured using the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) approach common to other management system standards. The PDCA approach provides an overall framework for managing preventive and protective measures, emergency preparedness, training, procurement issues, documentation, legal and many other safety-related requirements. All of the requirements of the standard are intended to be incorporated into an OHSMS but the extent of the application will depend on the circumstances particular to each organization, such as the nature and location of its operations and the conditions in which it functions.
Implementing the standard encourages a more systematic approach to meeting defined OHS objectives and helps increase awareness of health and safety in the workplace. It provides motivation for Canadian organizations to implement an occupational health and safety management system that meets the requirements of a recognized standard and forms a framework through which other Canadian OHS standards can be applied.
The standard emphasizes the Canadian approach to OHSMS by addressing the need for worker participation in the operation of the management system to ensure that all workplace parties contribute to the organization’s success. In addition to requirements text, CSA Z1000 also includes extensive guidance material to assist users in implementing the management system.
Demonstrating conformity with the standard can be done by making a self-determination and self-declaration. Organizations may choose to self-declare their conformance to the CSA Z1000 standard through their own resources, through an outside party – independent of the organization –, or by gaining certification/registration of its OHSMS by a management systems registrar.
About CSA
Canadian Standards Association (CSA) is a membership association serving industry, government, consumers and other interested parties in Canada and the global marketplace. A leading developer of standards and codes, CSA aims to enhance public safety, improve quality of life, preserve the environment and facilitate trade. To help people understand and apply standards, CSA offers information products and training. The Canadian Standards Association is a division of CSA Group, which also consists of CSA International for product testing and certification, and QMI for management systems registration. For more information visit www.csa.ca.
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Contact: Anthony Toderian
Senior Media Relations Officer
CSA Group
416-747-2620
anthony.toderian@csagroup.org
Related Links: -Register for a Z1000 seminar or buy the z1000-06 standard at ShopCSA, CSA's online store