John Nolan
November 30, 2016
With the population living longer than ever before, and rapidly improving advancements in medical technology, hospitals are busier than they have ever been. With the unique mix of employees, patients, and the public, there is also a duty to provide a safe and healthy environment for all interested parties. Given all these elements, having an OH&SMS (Operational Health and Safety Management System) certified according to OHSAS 18001 is an even more common requirement for many hospitals than ever before. But, with many variables and unique sets of circumstances, this can be very challenging. So, what do we have to consider when establishing an OH&SMS in a hospital?
The fundamentals of establishing an OHSAS 18001-certified OH&SMS in a hospital are the same as in any other organization. In the previous article: A case study for applying OHSAS 18001 in an office environment, we examined how an OH&SMS could be set up in an office, and in terms of the OHSAS standard and its principles, a hospital requires the same basics. All terms of the OHSAS 18001 standard will need to be examined and met, but the following topics may take on special significance in a hospital environment:
So, while all these elements and their respective clauses in OHSAS 18001 are vital to establishing an OHSAS 18001-certified OH&SMS, there is one fundamental part of the OHSAS 18001 standard that needs special attention when it comes to hospitals – risks, and how they are assessed and dealt with.
The assessment and mitigation of risk is the fundamental basis of OHSAS 18001, and dealing with this key element in a hospital environment will require special considerations. With patients, visitors, and employees all requiring consideration as interested parties, what examples can we consider in terms of potential hazards? Let us examine this in detail:
So, as you can see from these examples, hazards and dangers in a hospital can range from the ordinary to the unique, but all require the use of an effective risk management and mitigation process. So, is there any other advice that can help us with an OH&SMS implementation in a hospital?
When you work on establishing your OH&SMS in a hospital, you must comply with the standard and assess risks diligently at the same time. Ensuring you consult the correct people and authorities, in terms of contagious disease protection and good practice to stop germs spreading, is critical – these may not be facts known to the people administrating your OH&SMS. Secondly, ensure your plans to guarantee competence and awareness can harness this knowledge, with maximum risk removal being the end result. This mixture of expertise and fundamental OHSAS 18001 principles can ensure that your hospital can establish and maintain an OHSAS 18001-certified OH&SMS, and all the stakeholders will benefit.
Why not use our free OHSAS 18001 Gap Analysis Tool to compare your health & safety practices with standard requirements?