Global Community

QHSE with Al Nosa,(week 2)

B.Sc. (Economics & Statistics)

QHSE Lead Auditor & Consultant

Certifications: NEBOSH IGC | Exemplar Global Lead Auditor

Expertise: ISO 9001 | ISO 14001 | ISO 45001

"Driving Excellence through Quality, Safety, and Data" 

Last week, we discussed the evolution of health and safety practices and how the NEBOSH IGC and Exemplar Global Lead Auditor courses can serve as a springboard for a career in the industry. 

This leads to a pertinent question: what is the purpose of a management system? This week, we shall examine the primary drivers for implementing these systems within the industry. 

Management systems are developed and implemented to help organizations meet industry standards and identify relevant legal requirements. These systems allow businesses to apply and evaluate those requirements, track progress, and drive continuous improvement. 

Organizations achieve compliance by establishing robust policies, procedures, and work instructions. Whether the goal is meeting customer needs (ISO 9001), reducing environmental footprints (ISO 14001), or ensuring occupational health and safety (ISO 45001), these frameworks drive consistent results across all standards.

Starting next week, we'll dive deep into international standards, beginning with ISO 45001. Save the date and follow along as we journey into the world of QHSE!

I am glad to see someone talking about the integration of management systems.  I was a member of the ANAB Accreditation Council from 2000 - 2020 and worked with all of the ISO Management Systems during that period.  I was a certification body auditor with DQS from 2013 - 2022 and was in an audit group of 55 auditors certified to at least two of the following management systems: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 50001, and RC 14001.  I was certified to all of these other than ISO 50001 and for a short time near the end of my career, I was manager of this group.  During this period, I had the opportunity to work with two corporate global clients as both their Lead Auditor and Client Manager.  The first corporation had 150 facilities across 40 countries.  Those facilities had everything from no management systems, ISO 9001 management systems, ISO 14001 management systems, and a few with combined ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 management systems.  The management system department started a process of establishing an integrated management system which would be implemented over time in all facilities.  Early in that process in 2018, they decided that they wanted to add ISO 45001:2015 to the other two.  When we sat down to decide if we would call it a Quality, Environmental, Occupational Health & Safety Management System, I suggested calling it a Business Management System (BMS) and make it a true single BMS.  They agreed and off they went in that direction.  I planned to retire in 2018 and passed that client over to one of my experienced lead auditors.  The story would have ended there but in June of 2018, I was asked to to take part in a meeting with a brand new DQS Client.  At the end of the meeting, the CEO who was in the meeting said he wanted meeting me to be his lead auditor.  I explained that I was retiring at the end of the year, but he insisted.  Since the corporate headquarters was 35 minutes from my house and facilities in nice locations throughout the United States and Canada, I went back to my boss and asked if I could stick around and become the new client's Lead Auditor and Client Manager.  He agreed and I went back to this company in that capacity.  They were in the same place as the company above and we started talks on integrating the two standards and adding ISO 45001.  I started the audit of the Corporate Headquarters to an integrated ISO 9001/ISO 14001 Management System, and we talked about adding ISO 45001 and calling it a Business Management System.  They went further and made it their true integrated Business Management System.  The Clause 4 Context of the Organization was performed by the top management team.  Each member of the top management team was responsible for at least one of the risks & opportunities/objectives developed during the Clause 4 and 6 process.  When I audited the Corporate Headquarters, I conducted individual audits with each member of top management on these two clauses regardless of what department they led.  I performed this role until June 2022 when I retired in 2022 at 80 years old.  It was then that I started writing a book on ISO management Systems which I hope to publish in late 2027.  The last three chapters are on the integration of ISO Management Systems particularly the three mentioned above.

Hello Chris,

What an insightful rendition. i guess writing a book is the best way to go given your vast experience in management systems.