What is the purpose of an Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS)?

The purpose of an Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) is fundamentally to integrate safety into workplace culture. This system establishes a framework for managing and improving occupational health and safety, fostering an environment where safety is a shared value among all employees. By emphasizing a culture of safety, the OHSMS encourages proactive risk management, compliance with safety laws and regulations, and continuous improvement of safety practices, thereby enhancing overall workplace safety and employee well-being.

Promoting individual employee health is an important aspect of occupational health; however, it is not the primary purpose of the OHSMS. While reducing costs associated with workers' compensation may be a beneficial outcome of effective safety management, it is not the main focus of the system itself. Enhancing product quality control, although valuable in its own right, does not align with the specific objectives of an occupational health and safety management system, which centers on workplace safety and health practices.