Certification System
1. Unit of Certification
An OSHMS is assessed for each workplace, and a certificate is presented to each qualifying workplace. However, in cases where a small-scale factory or sales office that is located in a different place is included in a larger organization such as a factory, regional headquarters or branch office and where safety and health management is implemented collectively for all such organizations, a certificate may be issued collectively for those organizations.
2. Scope of Certification
In principle, an assessment is conducted for all organizations within a worksite. However, when an OSHMS is being introduced on a phased basis, at the request of the worksite, it is possible to assess some organizations where an OSHMS has been introduced ahead of the others. If only some organizations are assessed, the scope of certification is indicated in the certificate of compliance and the certificate of registration.
3. Assessment
The assessment personnel of the JISHA Management System Accreditation Center assess whether the OSHMS established by an applicant workplace conforms to the JISHA OSHMS standards.
The assessment processes consist of a document inspection (checking the self-evaluation results and related documents submitted by the workplace) and an on-site inspection (conducting interviews with pertinent individuals, on-site confirmation, etc.). In the on-site inspection, the assessment personnel examine how the OSHMS is implemented throughout the entire workplace as well as in preselected sites (generally, two sites). Interviews are conducted with workplace representatives, safety and health staff personnel, the person responsible for the site, etc.
4. Improvement Opportunities
If any minor failure is discovered during the inspection, the assessment personnel give the workplace an opportunity for correction. This opportunity is given once each for the document inspection and for the on-site inspection; the period for improvement is approximately one month. When JISHA receives a report from the workplace that it has completed the suggested correction, such report is reflected in the assessment results.
5. Inspection and Determination
Based on the assessment results submitted by the assessment personnel, the JISHA OSHMS Certification Inspection Committee (Certification Committee) determines whether the assessment has been properly conducted and makes a decision regarding compliance. The Certification Committee consists of outside experts and JISHA personnel competent in the field.
6. Certification
When the Certification Committee confirms compliance of the target OSHMS with JISHA OSHMS standards and the appropriate implementation of such OSHMS through the inspection and review, JISHA issues a certificate to the relevant workplace. The effective term of certification is three years from the date of certification. Together with the certificate of compliance under the name of the JISHA chairman, JISHA also sends a report to the workplace outlining the assessment results including advice and suggestions.
7. Registration
Certified companies are registered in the publicly released list of JISHA OSHMS registered companies, and published on the JISHA website. JISHA also issues certificates of registration in both Japanese and English. Where several worksites belong to a single organization (company) are certified on the same date, a certificate of registration with all of the registered workplaces will be available. In addition, at the request of a company that has been certified for multiple workplaces, a separate certificate indicating all of their names can be issued.
8. Use of Symbol Signifying JISHA OSHMS Certification
Registered workplaces can use the JISHA OSHMS certification symbol.
9. Periodic Reports
During the effective term of certification, certified workplaces are required to submit designated documents such as records indicating the implementation/operation of a safety and health plan and industrial accident reports annually within one month after completion of the safety and health plan period on either a calendar or fiscal year basis.
At the request of a certified workplace, it is also possible for the assessment personnel to visit the workplace to determine whether the OSHMS is being operated appropriately and to provide comments. (A separate on-site inspection fee is required for such a visit.)
In addition, certified workplaces are asked to submit a report whenever a serious industrial accident such as an accident resulting in a fatality occurs.
10. Recertification
JISHA will notify the workplace of the pending renewal of the certificate no later than six months before the expiration of the effective term of certification. Workplaces wishing to renew certification must submit a recertification application no later than five months before the expiration of the effective term to undergo assessment. Through inspection, review and approval by the Certification Committee, the certificate will be renewed.
11. Change of the Scope of Certification
When a workplace for which a certificate was issued for only part of an organization within the workplace wishes to add or remove organizations to or from the scope of the current certificate, it must submit an application for the change in scope. After passing the prescribed procedures such as reassessment by the assessment personnel or confirmation of compliance, the change of scope will be approved.
12. Revocation of Certification
Revocation of Certification disqualification items, or fails to conform to the required standards and does not correct such failure within a reasonable time, certification will be revoked through the prescribed procedures.
13. Objections to Decisions
Those who are dissatisfied with the approval, disapproval or other JISHA decisions concerning certification may object to a decision. If an objection is raised, JISHA will set up an Objection Handling Committee to conduct any necessary inquiries and deliberate the matter in question. Based on the opinion of the committee, JISHA will decide on its response to the objection.
Those who have a complaint about matters other than the above may file a complaint against JISHA. If a complaint is filed, JISHA will investigate the situation and take any measures necessary to resolve the problem.
For the procedures to raise an objection, etc., please see JISHA OSHMS Certification Guidelines（PDF 1,709KB） (Japanese only).