{"id":14354,"date":"2021-02-23T15:53:58","date_gmt":"2021-02-23T14:53:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.red-on-line-ehs.co.uk\/ehs\/?p=6585"},"modified":"2022-07-07T04:43:30","modified_gmt":"2022-07-07T02:43:30","slug":"iso-450012018-clause-7-support","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.red-on-line.com\/gb\/blog\/iso-450012018-clause-7-support\/","title":{"rendered":"ISO 45001:2018 Clause 7 \u2018Support\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Support Mechanisms for the Health and Safety Systems<\/h3>\nISO 45001:2018 Clause 7 focuses on supporting an effective occupational health and safety management<\/a> system (OHSMS) via the provision of adequate resources, competent personnel, awareness of OH&S risks, good communication, and documented information.\n\nResources to implement, maintain, and improve your OHSMS need to be determined, and then provided. Work out how exactly you intend to supply these resources. This does not come without a cost. Building and improving an OHSMS takes time and effort and will require a budget that is sanctioned by top management. Work out the shape of the resources you need. This can take the form of human resource for instance. Perhaps additional staffing, competence and consultancy will be needed. There might be a need for upgrades of work equipment, safety equipment, and information software. You will need to identify the financial costs of these resources and then source them.\n\nA significant resource involves training workers to ensure their competence in the roles that are asked of them. There is an overarching requirement for everyone in the organisation to have OH&S competence proportionate to their role. This will require evaluation of current standards of competence and an assessment of additional training required to help embed the new OHSMS. And this is at all levels in the organisation. The 45001 standard holistically places workers at the heart of risk identification and makes them active participants. So worker competence should be developed by providing training, coaching, or mentoring, by reassigning employees where necessary and perhaps by hiring new talent. Also, competence criteria should be included in a review of contractor selection, and outsourcing arrangements.\n\nThe support clause also requires a general awareness of occupational health and safety (OH&S) risks throughout the various functions and levels of the organisation. Develop a mechanism to inform employees and contractors about workplace safety, hazards, and risks. This requires a decision on what media to use, when to do so, and to whom. The provision of information is different to \u2018worker participation\u2019 and to consultation, but there is a synergy between them . Be mindful of diversity (e.g. gender, language, culture, literacy, disability) when considering communication methods and make sure information is consistent, reliable, and documented.\n\nIn addition to regular employees, temporary workers, contractors, and visitors should be aware of the OH&S risks to which they are exposed. Communicate relevant information to workers, ensure communication is received, and assess whether it is effective. Ask yourself these questions:\n