OHSAS is an international occupational health and safety management system specification. It comprises two parts, 18001 and 18002 and embraces BS8800 and a number of other publications. It has been developed to be compatible with the ISO 9001:1994 (Quality) and ISO 14001:1996 (Environmental) management system standards, in order to facilitate the integration of quality, environmental and occupational health and safety management systems by organizations, should they wish to do so.

Prevention of labour accidents and occupational disease has traditionally been seen as an employer's legal and ethical obligation. However, nowadays it is generally accepted that the costs related to injury and ill-health significantly reduce profits of organizations and entire economies.

This standard is applicable to any organization that wishes to:

• Establish an OH&S management system to eliminate or minimize risk to employees and other interested parties.
• Implement, maintain and continually improve an OH&S management system.
• Assure itself of its conformance with its own stated OH&S policy.
• Ensure compliance with OH&S laws and regulation.
• Demonstrate such conformance to others.
• Seek certification of its environmental management system by an external third party organization.
• Make a self-determination of conformance