Integrating ISO 9001 and OHSAS 18001 for construction

Previous studies comparing OHSAS 18001: 1999 (Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Standard) with the old ISO 9001: 1994 (Quality Assurance Standard) have found compatible requirements that warrant their integration. This study examines the compatibility of the recently released ISO 9001: 2000 (Quality Management Standard) with OHSAS 18001: 1999 for the purpose of integration. A survey of 96 construction firms in Singapore was conducted for this study. Among those who are considering or are already OHSAS 18001: 1999 certified, findings were obtained on the possibility/difficulty and benefits/costs of integration of OHSAS 18001: 1999 and ISO 9001: 2000. Industry concerns relating to potential problems and implementation challenges were discussed. The study concludes that the newly introduced ISO 9001: 2000 standard serves as an opportune platform for construction firms to consider certification to OHSAS 18001: 1999 through an integration exercise.