Towards occupational health and safety systems in the construction industry of China

Occupational health and safety (OHS) in the construction industry are of grave concern around the world. Some construction firms have implemented their own safety management systems attempting to improve construction safety; however, the implementation of a new international standard: Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series (OHSAS) 18001 is not commonly adopted in the industry. This paper examines the implementation of OHS management systems and the OHSAS 18001 in the construction industry. Questionnaire surveys and structured interviews were conducted. It is found that the OHS status in the construction industry is not satisfactory based on data of recorded accidents from construction activities over the past three years. With regard to the operation of the OHSAS 18001 standard, it is suggested to integrate it with the ISO 9001 quality management system to streamline the process. Based on the similarity and compatibility of the ISO 9001 and the OHSAS 18001, it is believed that an integrated management system could avoid duplication of effort and reduce resource inputs.