Study of Occupational Health & Safety Management System (OHSMS) in Universities’ Context and Possibilities for its Implementation : A case study of University of Gavle

Abstract:

Healthier and safer working environment is always appreciated. Almost 2 million people at work die every year due to accidents or work-related diseases(source: ILO). Concept of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) has significant importance in industrial sector as compare to universities. Therefore it is common among industries to have standardized Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) than universities. Management systems for OHS provide a systematic way of managing health and safety with continual improvement. It is generally considered that management system of health and safety not only reduces loss and cost of accidents and ill-health, but it also improves the performance and efficiency of employees. Universities and colleges are meant to deliver education which is considered their core objective. Risksrelated to health and safety may weaken their aims and objectives.There are few studies of OHSMS in the context of university. This study aims to contribute to knowledge pool by studying OHS work in universities and explorepossibilities for the implementation of OHSMS. This study is based on literature,Standard and Guidelines of occupational health and safety management systems.In addition, study was performed on OHS work among different universities and acase study of University of Gävle (HiG), for possibilities of implementing OHSMS in universities. HiG has a good history of environmental work with ISO14001 certified Environmental Management system (EMS). SWOT analysis was performed for the possibilities of OHSMS implementation at HiG. There are several standards and guidelines which are based on OHSMS and most of them have compatibility with EMS standards. Most of the universities work for OHS of their employees and students without any management system. Selection of suitable OHSMS standard or guideline is dependent on the university structure and its present OHS work. Existing OHS works of Universities have capability to fulfill few OHSMS requirements defined in several standards and guidelineswhich is positive sign for possibilities of OHSMS implementation at Universities.Healthier and safer working environment is always appreciated. Almost 2 millionpeople at work die every year due to accidents or work-related diseases(source: ILO). Concept of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) has significantimportance in industrial sector as compare to Universities. Therefor it is commonamong industries to have standardized Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) than universities. Management systems for OHS provide a systematic way of managing health and safety with continual improvement. It is generally considered that management system of health and safety not only reduces loss and cost of accidents and ill-health, but it alsoimproves the performance and efficiency of employees. Universities and collegesare meant to deliver education which is considered their core objective. Risksrelated to health and safety may weaken their aims and objectives.There are few studies of OHSMS in the context of university. This study aims to contribute to knowledge pool by studying OHS work in universities and explore possibilities for the implementation of OHSMS. This study is based on literature,Standard and Guidelines of occupational health and safety management systems.In addition, study was performed on OHS work among different universities and acase study of University of Gävle (HiG), for possibilities of implementing OHSMS in universities. HiG has a good history of environmental work with ISO14001 certified Environmental Management system (EMS). SWOT analysis was performed for the possibilities of OHSMS implementation at HiG. There are several standards and guidelines which are based on OHSMS and most of them have compatibility with EMS standards. Most of the universities work for OHS of their employees and students without any management system. Selection of suitable OHSMS standard or guideline is dependent on the university structure and its present OHS work. Existing OHS works of universities have capability to fulfill few OHSMS requirements defined in several standards and guidelines which is positive sign for possibilities of OHSMS implementation at Universities.