Starting the summer of 2018, the ASSE will launch its own fee based independent accreditation service. Any organization looking to have their occupational safety and health products or services certified by the ASSE, according to voluntary national and international consensus standards, will be able to apply.
In an article on the ASSE website Jim Smith, the president of the ASSE, states that “As the market for workplace safety and health products and services becomes more global, certifications become more valuable and are more frequently pursued. It makes sense to leverage our (the ASSE’s) experience and create a seal of approval that identifies a strong commitment to safety and health.” They believe that an accreditation from the ASSE will give a company a competitive advantage over a company that does not have one. Consumers and investors will see that compliance to health, safety and injury prevention standards are important which will increase their confidence in the accredited organization.
According to the article, the ASSE will partner with 3rd party auditors to carry out the actual assessments. The ASSE will then review the audits, verify the results, and issue the certificate if all requirements are met. ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System will be what the first available ASSE certification is based on. This standard provides a layout that helps companies improve business outcomes, increase employee safety, and reduce workplace safety risks. When looking into this accreditation service, the ASSE surveyed over 500 companies and found out that over 80% said they’d be interested in having their ISO 45001 efforts accredited. If you are looking for more information on this new service offered by the ASSE the article says to contact ASSE Standards Development Manager Ovidiu Munteanu at OMunteanu@asse.org.
http://www.asse.org/asse-forming-accreditation-institute-to-recognize-quality-safety-programs/
