Book Reviews

Book 1 - ISO 14000 and ISO9000
Book 2 - ISA2000 - The System for Occupational Health and Safety Management

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Book Title:

ISO14000 and ISO9000

Publisher:

Gower

Author:

Brian Rothery

ISBN:

0-566-07648-9

         Whenever I pick up a book first I open it from the back and scan quickly to the front. I am not looking at the content at this stage rather the presentation style and whether it is likely to grab my attention. Since, no matter how sound the information is, if the book does not grab you it will not suit you.

When I opened ‘ISO14000 and ISO9000’ I was struck with a sense that this was a book that I could read and enjoy. Having now read the book I can confirm that it a well structured book written by an author who is well versed in the subject. Mr. Rothery’s text weaves almost seamlessly between environmental and safety management, confirming what many of us have long held to be true; there is a case for integrating management systems and the time is right for this to happen.

Starting with a ‘how to use this book’ section and an analysis of the state of the market, the book moves on to review the ISO9000 and the ISO14000 standards. There are many excellent illustrative examples of the standards in action interspersed throughout the text. Mr. Rothery offers a lot of practical advice for the would-be developer of a management system and shows at the relevant points how safety management can be integrated into the process. The sample quality and environmental manuals in the appendices should prove to be a good starting point for any organisation.

If I have one criticism it is that the occasional reference to other Gower products within the body of the text became a cause for slight irritation. While I fully understand the publishers reasons for promoting their other related products they could easily have been added as an appendix.

Since writing the book the world has moved on and in many ways the debate as predicted by Mr. Rothery has come to pass. If industry is not yet crying out for integration then the various standards bodies across the globe are certainly doing all they can to stimulate the need and be there, with the appropriately devised standards, when the market ‘wakens up’.

As I have said most of the evolution in EMS standards has happened since the publication of this book and particularly the development of OH&S standards has been on a roll only in the very recent times. If he hasn’t done so already Mr. Rothery would do well to consider a second edition, bringing the text up to date with recent developments, while retaining the excellent practical advice and models for compliance, presented in the current edition.

Mr. Rothery your book has my support. I wish you well and look forward to reading your next edition.

Ciaran McAleenan  
MPhil CEng MICE CMIOSH and Professional Member of ASSE
Engineering Partner - Expert Ease International

Book Title:

ISA 2000: The System for Occupational Health and Safety Management

Publisher:

Gower Publishing Ltd

Authors:

Seaver and O’Mahony

“The traditional approach to health and safety has been to start with the legislation and implement ad hoc controls to meet stated legal requirements”. The introductory paragraph informs us. It goes on to demonstrate that tradition has been broken and that a management approach to dealing with workplace hazards is now the expected norm. In the two volumes that follow Messrs Seaver and O’Mahony embrace the international nature of best practice in H&S management.

The calibre of the authors shows through in the clear and concise presentation of the topics within ISA 2000. Any newcomer to the topic should have no difficulty getting to grips with the topic, starting as it does with a brief insight into the development of health and safety management systems. The nature of the industry is such that these systems are still evolving however the reader will find that they are better placed to follow recent developments with the confidence that comes from knowing the evolutionary process.

The ISA 2000 model associates itself closely with ISO9001 the quality standard and rightly so. If the quality model is good enough to manage one aspect of the business then it should work for all aspects. The authors’ justification for developing and presenting ISA 2000 is that there are practical structures within safety management that need to be identified and addressed. The A-J structure starts the system developer examining the organisation and administration before developing operational analysis and control procedures. The final section, which looks at regulatory compliance, is positioned correctly since if the operation is properly analysed and managed then the statutory requirements should be met. An examination at the final stage to confirm that position is logical and makes sound business sense.

The ISA 2000 system is a continual improvement model and as the authors suggest you use it and the audit protocol as a means to an end. The ‘end’ being the total elimination of hazards which Messrs Seaver and O’Mahony suggest is not practical in the ‘real world’. While I would not agree with their position on that I am not that far removed from their broader thinking. It is my belief that the hazardous nature of the work can and in many cases will remain however through proper management and control the work can proceed, always with a safe outcome. There has to be the will to allow this to succeed. The development and implementation of an ISA 2000 approach to safety management is one way that this can be assured.

The guidance document comes in two volumes with each chapter in a well-structured format. Each of the 10 major aspects is sub-divided into initiatives that may be necessary to complete the system development. Chapters are laid out with;

Each help item is illustrated in the margin with icons that indicate their purpose to the reader.

Volume 1 contains what is described as the mandatory elements while volume 2 contains supplementary elements. Volume 2 is intended for those who have set up their basic system and are now ready to develop it further. They are there as a pick list to be used as required, founded on sound business reasons.

In reviewing this book I have taken the opportunity to use some of the chapters, such as the audit and the accident management initiatives and found them to be first class. I look forward to using other elements when I carry out the next ‘safety management system’ review.

Ciaran McAleenan  
MPhil CEng MICE CMIOSH and Professional Member of ASSE
Engineering Partner - Expert Ease International