scope:

This Standard specifies requirements for an occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS).

This Standard is applicable to an organization of any size or type.

This Standard is intended to address occupational health and safety. It is not intended to address the safety of products an organization produces.

Note: As a fundamental concept, and to identify the inclusiveness of an occupational health and safety management system, this Standard defines "occupational health and safety" as the promotion in the workplace of the physical, mental, and social wellbeing of workers and the protection of workers from, and the prevention of, workplace conditions and factors adverse to their health and safety.

In this Standard, "shall" is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the standard; "should" is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and "may" is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the Standard.

Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material.

Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements.

Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non-mandatory) to define their application.