BAS OHSAS 18001:2010 (BS OHSAS 18001:2007) specifies requirements for an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system, to enable an organization to control its OH&S risks and improve its OH&S performance. It does not state specific OH&S performance criteria, nor does it give detailed specifications for the design of a management system.

This OHSAS standard is applicable to any organization that wishes to:

• establish an OH&S management system to eliminate or minimize risks to personnel and other interested parties who could be exposed to OH&S hazards associated with its activities;
• implement, maintain and continually improve an OH&S management system;
• assure itself of its conformity with its stated OH&S policy;
• demonstrate conformity with this OHSAS standard;
• seek certification/registration of its OH&S management system by an external organization, or
• make a self-determination and self-declaration with OHSAS specification.

All the requirements in this OHSAS standard are intended to be incorporated into any OH&S management system. The extent of the application will depend on such factors as the OH&S policy of the
organization, the nature of its activities and the risks and complexity of its operations.
.
BAS OHSAS 18002:2010 (BS OHSAS 18002:2008) is a guideline on the application of BAS OHSAS 18001:2010.