Under the BCA OHSMS Certification Scheme, upon receipt of the application for certification, BCA will arrange and conduct a document review. The document review will focus on the planning aspects of the Occupational Health & Safety management system. The objective is to ensure that the scope of analysis covering the entire OHSMS is conducted.

Upon completion of the pre-audit review, the applicant firm will be given a report detailing the findings. The applicant firm will address the findings and notify BCA auditors of their follow-up actions within an agreed time frame before proceeding to Occupational Health & Safety Management System Audit.

The applicant firm shall reflect the scope of certification they seek prior to audits conducted.

The applicant firm shall submit its revised Occupational Health & Safety Manual/Procedures proir to audit.

The objective of the audit is to confirm that the OHSMS of the applicant firm conforms to all requirements of the OHSAS 18001. The applicant firm is required to conduct one internal audit and management review prior to the audit.

During the audit, non-conformity and/or observation reports may be issued. The applicant firm should clarify and understand fully the non-conformities raised before acknowledging them.

All non-conformities shall be closed out within the specified time frame. A recommendation for either the award or non-award of the certificate will then be made.

Should major non-conformities be raised during the audit, the applicant firm will have to go through a re-audit. The lead auditor will determine the number of man days required for the re-audit. The applicant firm shall pay to BCA all costs incurred for the re-audit.

During the three years validity period of the certificate, annual surveillance audits will be conducted to ensure that the certified firm continues to comply with the requirements of OHSAS 18001. BCA reserves the right to conduct additional audits as it deems fit.

Firms certified under the BCA ISO 9000 Certification Scheme can combine both quality and Occupational Health & Safety Management system routine surveillance audits.

A full reassessment for the renewal of certificate shall be conducted every three years. BCA will schedule the reassessment two months before expiry of the certificate.

Upon successful completion of reassessment, BCA will issue a new certificate valid for a further three years.

Click here for the certification flow chart

Firms shall read and understand the terms and conditions governing the operation of the BCA OHSMS Certification Scheme before making any application.

Firms applying for the BCA OHSMS Certification should complete and return the application form, list of projects currently undertaken (if applicable) together with the appropriate fee and two sets of Occupational Health & Safety manual/procedures to BCA

A 5% administrative fee of the audit fees submitted will be charged to applicant firm for withdrawal of application before audit is conducted. All fees are payable to the BCA at the point of application. BCA reserves the right to terminate the processing of application due to insufficient information in the application form.

Click here for the application form.

Firms which are certified to the ISO 9000 Quality Management System will find that the framework for implementation of Occupational Health & Safety Management System has been already set up. These firms may seek to develop an integrated system that addresses the requirements of the ISO 9000 standards and OHSAS 18001 requirements.

Firms can look towards a development of management system that addresses quality, environment; and health and safety within a single management system.

Click here for BCA Integrated Audit