The economic reasons for implementing a robust health and safety management system have historically been generally well known. Protecting the company’s physical and human assets ensures financial benefits to the company.

Some of those economic dimensions are outlined below:

• Injury Costs: Treatment, hospitals, insurance
• Legal Costs: Compensation claims, judicial prosecutions, penalties issued by enforcing authorities
• Productivity Costs: Business disruptions, delays, production loss/man-days loss
• Asset Costs: Property, machinery, equipment, structure, vehicles – repairs and/or replacements
• Personnel Costs: Reduction in absenteeism, increased motivation/productiveness of workforce
• Incident Scene / Area Restoration Costs: Arrangements for making safe, clean-ups

With an agreed consensus in place that significant savings in cost can be achieved through the effective prevention and control of workplace incidents. Taking the next step to achieve certification of your health and safety, or indeed, environmental and/or quality systems proves that you follow best international practice and can be trusted to do business with.

Let’s now look further at how the investment in 3 of the accredited ISO systems could yield even greater economic benefits:

• ISO standards improve a company’s credibility and image – As an internationally recognized standard, the attainment of an ISO. Such as, ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management, ISO 14001 Environmental Management and ISO 9001 Quality Management. Conveys a powerful message that not only is a company serious about protecting it’s own brand. It is also serious about protecting it’s clients and their brands too
• ISO standards improve the engagement of employees– The maintenance of an ISO system will engage and positively motivate the workforce. Reducing staff complaints, staff turnover and improving staff morale. A positive health, safety and quality image will drive potential employees to want to work for a company and aid in the attraction of high quality staff. Then help to keep them for longer. Clients also like to deal with the same staff that they know and like again and again. They don’t want to work with companies who have unhappy staff or a high staff turnover
• ISO standards demand continual Improvement: One integral feature of ISO systems is continual improvement. A company that can demonstrate it’s ability to improve also demonstrates a general willingness to listen and take action. Valuable traits to show off
• ISO standards set out areas of responsibility across the organization: Having ISO standards in place ensures greater involvement and commitment from employees and the management team, resulting in an improved company culture and increased performance
• ISO standards aid legal compliance: Via their demand for periodic evaluation

Direct Financial Benefits:

• ISO standards give companies the ability to tender for contracts: Having ISO systems in place provides proof of independent audit and demonstrates the companies commitment to operating at a certain level. Many tenders now consider the attainment of the 3 aforementioned ISO standards as an essential requirement to bid
• ISO standards give companies the ability to trade with larger businesses: Many international organisations will not engage with organisations that do not have ISO accreditations in place. Attaining ISO certification shows credibility and commitment to customer satisfaction

• ISO standards reduce the risk of stressing companies finances: Having robust systems in place mitigates the risk of an accident or incident occurring and the associated direct and indirect costs outlined at the start of this blog

In conclusion, the attainment and maintenance of ISO standards communicates a positive message to both staff and clients

Creating powerful marketing and PR opportunities. The attainment and maintenance of ISO certifications will enhance the companies ability to attract and retain clients, new business and staff, giving the company a competitive advantage over challengers.

Corporate OHS are UAE based Health and Safety Consultancy whose HSE Consultants offer expert resources and superior performance.

We specialize in creating workable, user friendly HSE systems specifically aligned to business activities and operations.

Our range of health and safety consultancy services includes;

• Health, safety and fire risk assessments
• Hazard identification and control measures
• HSE management system development, implementation and review
• Locally compliant systems such as OSHAD
• Accredited standards such as ISO 45001, ISO 14001 and ISO 9001
• HSE legal compliance reviews and audit
• Accident investigations
• Crisis management and business continuity
• Long term or project based HSE outsourcing

In addition to project work and to aid companies in need of HSE resource but without a full time headcount, Corporate OHS also offers the option of a flexible contract and a monthly retainer, giving  access to HSE services without the burden of permanent cost. For enquiries or to find out more about our services, please visit our website or send an email to enquiries@corporateohs.com