KUCHING: Organisations should adopt an integrated management system (IMS) as it could avoid duplication of works and increased audit costs, time and workload, said National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
He said public agencies or private companies would face problems if they implement different management systems at the same time such as the Environmental Management Systems (ISO 14001) and the Occupational Safety & Health Management Systems (OHSAS 18001).
“Organisations have always tried to find a solution to occupational safety and health (OSH) problem and the emergence of IMS is a good solution as it combines the same elements among the systems.
“IMS is a combination of processes, procedures and practices that will help make an organisation more efficient in achieving its goals and policies, compared with a diverse management system,” he said at a certification handover ceremony here yesterday.
At the function, Lee presented the ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certificates from NIOSH Certification Sdn Bhd to LONGI (Kuching) Sdn Bhd (LKSB).
Present were LKSB chief executive officer Ngieng Sii Jing, NIOSH Certification general manager Syamsul Zahrin Zainudin and Bomba Sarawak director Khirudin Drahman.
Lee said the requirement for OSH Management System in an organisation is stated under Section 15 (2)(a) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) 1994 which require a provision and maintenance of plant and systems of work that are, so far as is practicable, safe and without risks to health.
At the same time, he said the implementation of management systems under ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certifications is a requirement for business continuity and those who implement them will enjoy various benefits such as the reduction in operating costs, image enhancement and competitive advantage.
He also reminded all organisations which have been certified with OHSAS 18001 that they are given until 12 March, 2021 to migrate to ISO 45001.
ISO 45001 is the first global standard for OSH and was developed by a committee of OSH experts from more than 70 countries, and follows other generic management system approaches such as ISO 14001 and ISO 9001. It adopts a risk-based approach that ensures it is effective and undergoes continuous improvement to meet the ever-changing needs of an organisation.
Lee also commended LKSB management for their effort to obtain all three main certifications namely ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001 and ISO 9001.
“Having such important certifications proves that its management is committed to ensure the quality of products and customer satisfaction, which are the main goals of an organisation as required under ISO 9001.
“At the same time, LONGI is also committed to help preserve the environment by obtaining the ISO 14001. This proactive step will ensure that LONGI could fulfil the Occupational Safety and Health requirements for its staff, contractors and other relevant parties.
According to Ngieng, LKSB is a young company with a workforce of 2,600 Malaysian employees.
He said as the company continues to grow, it is important that proper management systems are in place for the company to move forward.
“Meeting all statutory requirements will better enable the company to improve its implementations in a continuous cycle as LKSB is established to accomplish long-term success in Kuching,” he said.
