As a Self Storage business owner, it’s important to understand the objective of the AS/NZ 4801:2001 – OHS Management Systems – Specifications With Guidelines for Use. This is one of the most relevant of the currently available Australian and New Zealand standards in relation to the development and implementation of a workplace safety management system.
The objective of the AS/NZS 4801:2001 standard is to set auditable criteria for an Occupational Health & Safety Management System (OHSMS). Under the nationally harmonised workplace safety legislation (which has been adopted and implemented across most states in Australia) these systems are known as a Work Health & Safety Management System (WHSMS).
This standard has been written to be applicable to all types and sizes of organisations and to be generic enough to accommodate diverse geographical, cultural, and social conditions, as well as the multiplicity of OHS legal jurisdictions. The AS/NZS 4801:2001 standard should not be relied upon entirely to ensure compliance with all legal and other obligations within a business structure or operations.
Several Approved Codes Of Practice are included in the WHS legislative package, essentially making them mandatory for compliance. These Codes of Practice are important to consider when developing your OHS/WHS Management System for your business.
The AS/NZS 4801:2001 standard does not state specific OHS performance outcomes. The extent of the application of the standard will depend on such factors as the OHS/WHS policy of the organisation, the nature of its activities, and the conditions in which it operates.
Therefore, due to the diverse organisational structures, internal operational functions and workplace activities of individual businesses, it would require a full audit against both the relevant State OHS/WHS legislation, and the AS/NZS 4801:2001 standard, to determine exactly what OHSMS/WHSMS systems and documentation an individual business requires to benchmark the business level of compliance.
The OHS/WHS Management Systems produced by Safety Makers are designed to meet the requirements of the AS/NZS 4801:2001 standard in so far as to provide sets of documents which can be implemented within a business to address each of the key elements of the AS/NZS 4801:2001 standard. Individual policies, procedures, tools, and forms supplied within the Safety Makers WHS Toolkits can be identified against each of the key elements of the standard.
Safety Makers have developed a Storage Facility WHS Toolkit in consultation with industry experts and business owners.
The key requirements of the AS/NZS 4801:2001 standard are:
- General Requirements
- OHS Policy
- Planning
- Implementation
- Measurement & Evaluation
- Management Review
Safety Makers has developed an audit tool specifically designed for conducting audits against the AS/NZS 4801:2001 standard to assist businesses assess their level of compliance with this important standard.
Remember – To assist with OHS/WHS legislation compliance, it is necessary for individual businesses to benchmark their OHS or WHS Management System against the relevant workplace safety legislation in their state.
Further information regarding compliance requirements can be obtained from your State Government’s workplace safety regulator or authority.
Safety Makers is an official partner of Self Storage Startup. To learn more about our partners, click here.
