Health & Safety Management Standard

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The QG Health & Safety Management Standard, Health & Safety Essentials has been written using the principles of ISO 45001 which helps SMEs understand their health & safety management system and then gives them an opportunity to implement a fit for purpose foundation system into their company. The standards are recognised as an externally accredited health & safety management system and can be used to gain business through PQQ’s and tenders.

The QG system has two levels of assurance; “Health & Safety Management Standard” and “Health & Safety Management Standard PLUS”. You define which level of assurance you require by utilising the risk matrix below, then give QG a call on 01228 631681 and we’ll talk you through the process.

Assurance Levels

Health & Safety Management Standard

To qualify for  your Health & Safety Management Standard Certificate you are required to provide evidence that you meet the Health & Safety Management Standard Requirements. We have made this easy for you by providing a Health & Safety Management Standard Questionnaire that asks you the relevant questions, you’ll need to attach some items such as screen grabs or policy notes to evidence compliance. On completing the questionnaire to our satisfaction you will be awarded your Health & Safety Management Standard Certificate. The successful completion of the QG Health & Safety Management template* meets this requirement.

Health & Safety Management Standard PLUS

You may be required to provide further assurance to your customers that you meet the requirements of the Health & Safety Management Standard programme. This is called Health & Safety Management Standard PLUS and involves a detailed audit of your management systems as well as the completion of your questionnaire.

QG-Health & Safety Management Standard Questionnaire

Risk Matrix

Very Low Risk
Low Risk
Moderate and High
Very Low Risk

Very Low Risk Level

Criteria: For contracts where a H&SMS has no or little affect on the delivery of the product or service. The sort of contracts this will apply to are likely to be those covering commodity purchases or standard service provisions e.e. office supplies, the disposal of non-sensitive waste, cleaning services, accountancy, legal services, taxi and bus hire, hire cars etc

Management Standard: Health & Safety Fundamentals

Low Risk

Low Risk Level

Criteria: For contracts where the H&SMS has some affect on the delivery of products and services. The profile is likely to apply primarily to contracts handling information classified as OFFICIAL and could relate to consultancy, catering, packaging, training, supply of PPE etc.

Management Standard: Health & Safety Fundamentals PLUS

Moderate and High

Moderate & High Risk Level

Criteria: For contracts subject to more advanced health & safety scrutiny. This will Likely apply to contracts that involve the manufacturing of goods, disposal of sensitive information, transport of sensitive goods etc.

Management Standard: OHSAS 45001

QG Health & Safety Management Standard

QG Accredited Practitioner Support

If you require support implementing your Health & Safety Management System there are QG Accredited Practitioners who have been trained by ourselves in the implementation of the QG Health & Safety Management Standard.  They each use the QG Management template to build and document your health & safety management system and will provide a system fully compliant with the QG Health & Safety Management Standard.

It would not be right for Practitioners to do this alone, whilst they’ll give you guidance to produce the documentation you are required to implement the system into your own organisation. When systems are combined such as Quality and Environment only one document will be produced to combine the systems.

QG Accredited Practitioners are independent to QG Business Solutions the operator of the scheme. Practitioner support can be a combination of onsite and offsite support.

QG Management Template

The QG Health & Safety Management Template is a copyrighted document used by QG Accredited Practitioners to implement systems to the QG Health & Safety Standard. Use of the template and practitioners can often be more cost effective than doing it yourself as systems are generally compliant first time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the QG Occupational Health and Safety Management Standard?
How does this help when ‘working towards ISO 45001’?
Why does this work for SME’s?
Why implement an Occupational Health and Safety Management System?
What happens when I grow?
How do I know what to put in my Occupational Health and Safety Policy?
What is the QG Occupational Health and Safety Management Standard?

QG Business Solutions Ltd offer organisations, large and small, the opportunity to obtain external recognition of their Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems prior to them gaining an ISO 45001 accreditation. The standard is recognised as an ‘ externally accredited Occupational Health & Safety Management System, as a great number of organisations ask for in their PQQ’s and Tender documentation. The QG–HSMS sits somewhere between no formal health & safety system and ISO 45001 and is there to ensure that a practical system is in place, fit for purpose, and not over engineered if you are a low risk, low impact business. It also creates a stepping stone if you so wish to progress to a full UKAS ISO 45001 accreditation, where our consultants are there ready to help you on your way.

How does this help when ‘working towards ISO 45001’?

The QG Standard has been written using the principles of ISO 45001 and gives formal recognition to businesses who have implemented an Occupational Health & Safety Management System but have not yet obtained enough evidence to meet the full ISO 45001 Occupational Health & Safety Management Standard. Some businesses currently use a consultants’ letter as evidence of ‘working towards ISO 45001’, this standard gives external recognition to this process.

Why does this work for SME’s?

The QG standards were first developed in 1994 by Cumbria Enterprise Agency to assist SME’s achieve BS5750, 80% of BS5750 for 20% of the cost. In recent years that same policy of assisting SMEs has grown to include the OHSAS 18001 so that large businesses can attract local SME’s break into their supply chain and thus meeting local political and economic targets. This standard works for SME’s because it is specifically designed for SME’s at the same time as meeting larger businesses need for the conformance with an ‘externally accredited Occupational Health & Safety Management Standard’.

Why implement an Occupational Health and Safety Management System?

Large organisations in the public and private sector ask in their tender documents ‘have you an externally accredited Occupational Health & Safety Management System’ Organisations expect these to follow the principles of ISO 45001 therefore we have designed a standard that sits somewhere between no formal; health and safety system and ISO 45001 depending on your circumstances and risk profile.

What happens when I grow?

Some businesses keep to the QG Occupational Health & Safety Management Standard and never go for accreditation to the ISO 45001 standard. However, if you decide you need to progress and achieve the ISO45001 standard we are with you all the way. Our associates are qualified to assist you in achieving the appropriate standard.
How long will it take to achieve the QG standard?

This depends on what you already have in place. Unique to the QG standards is that we look at how you operate the business and document it. Providing what you do meets all ten areas of the QG Occupational Health & Safety Management Standard then you meet the standard. If you don’t then we will tell you what’s required, you implement it for a period of time and then achieve the standard.

How do I know what to put in my Occupational Health and Safety Policy?

At the present time many contractors are just looking for you to provide an Occupational Health & Safety policy, how long this will last is anybody’s guess. What QG is able to offer is for an external Occupational Health & Safety specialist to work with you not only to develop a fit for purpose Occupational Health & Safety Policy but to encapsulate it into an accredited Quality Management System which conforms to the QG Occupational Health & Safety Management Standard. You could of course google ‘Occupational Health & Safety Management Policy’ and copy another companies, but will this actually work for you if something goes wrong?

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