title: Health and safety management systems: liability or asset?
abstract: Health and safety management systems have a background in theory and in various interests among employers and workplace health and safety professionals. These have resulted in a number of national systems emanating from national standard-writing centres and from employers' organizations. In some cases these systems have been recognized as national standards. The contenders for an international standard have been the International Organization of Standardization (ISO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO). The quality and environmental management systems of ISO indicate what an ISO health and safety management standard would look like. The ILO Guidelines on Safety and Health Management Systems, by contrast, are stringent, specific and potentially effective in improving health and safety performance in the workplace.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Safety and Environment, Canadian Labour Congress, 2841 Riverside Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Kiv 867, Canada.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bennett
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D016272:Occupational Health; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012952:Societies; D014481:United States