ST standardises health and safety
The Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series (OHSAS 18001) specification gives requirements for implementing an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system through a set of widely adopted safety and health standards. It aims to control OH&S risks, improve safety performance and, finally, to reduce work-related risks and accidents, protect company assets and provide employees with a safe and healthy work environment. OHSAS 18001 is the most widely adopted international specification for OHS management systems.
ST launched its OHSAS program in July 2001 with the aggressive target of gaining OHSAS 18001 certification for all of its manufacturing sites by the end of 2003. Although all of ST's manufacturing sites already had strong OHS systems in place, the sites are spread over four continents - Africa (Morocco), Asia (China, Malaysia, Singapore), Europe (France, Italy, Malta) and America (USA) - and each site is subject to a different set of local regulations. The main task was therefore to harmonise the existing systems, consolidate data, results and targets, and integrate a culture of continuous improvement. Two sites (Agrate, Italy, and Kirkop, Malta) were selected as pilot sites to test the newly developed OHS management system.
OHSAS 18001 was designed to be compatible with the two key international standards for environmental management (ISO 14001) and quality management (ISO 9001). ST now intends to align its OHS, environment and quality management systems, as well as extending its OHSAS 18001 certifications to some selected major non-manufacturing sites.
The company is also hoping that its success will stimulate other companies to follow its example.
