Benefits and Limitations of Integrating Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems

Benefits and Limitation of Integrating Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems

Or

Merits and Demerits of Integrating Occupational Health and Safety Management System
Advantages and Disadvantages of Integrating Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems

These are 3 different headings that are asked by the examiner during the exam and lead the student towards confusion because he doesn't know how to answer these questions. Surprisingly, the answer to these all 3 heading is the same.

Every system has advantages and disadvantages when they are integrated with other systems to construct a system. For example, an organization has 3 different systems ISO 9001 QMS, ISO 14001 EMS, ISO 45001 OHSMS as a stand-alone system. If they are integrated, their merits and demerits will be the same, and sometimes these merits and demerits will be countering each other. 

Few Benefits and Limitations of Integrating Management Systems (IMS) are listed below; 

Benefits

• A well-planned Integrated Management System is expected to work more cost-effectively than stand-alone systems.
• Facilitates decision-making that reflects the actual need of the organization.
• IMS provides more rewarding opportunities for specialists in each discipline.
• objectives and processes are essentially the same - no difference.
• No duplication - recordkeeping, auditing, software, meetings are the same.
• A positive culture in one system may be carried over to others.
• Timely system review.

Limitations

• Integration may threaten the coherence and consistency of the current system that is supported by everyone. The existing system may be working very well already.
• Specialists may continue to focus on their area of specialty and further training may not be required.
• Uncertainty regarding key terms. 
• System requirements may vary regarding to topics cover. e.g., Quality Management System (QMS) will be simple, but the HSE Management system can be complex. 
• Quality Management System Requirements are determined by Customer Satisfaction while the OHSMS requirements are underpinned by national legislation and standards.
• Single topic auditors may have difficulty in evaluating their part of the IMS.
•  A Negative culture in one topic may be carried over to others. 

Key Terms

OHSMS - Occupational Health and Safety Management System

IMS - Integrated Management System

QMS - Quality Management System

EMS - Environment Management System