Several companies at the moment are applying ISO requirements to enhance the quality of their procedures. Each ISO standard includes a portion on document or records management, which, if not utilized when implementing the ISO process, would make the accreditation unacceptable.
Appropriate chapters of Australian requirements to construction projects are:
Clause 4.2.4 of AS/NZS ISO 9001:2008 Quality management systems requirements;
Clause 4.5.3 of AS/NZS 4801:2001 Occupational health and safety management systems; and
Clause 4.5.3 of AS/NZS 14001:2004 Environmental management systems requirements
In addition complying to Work Health and Safety (WHS) and ecological legislations necessitates the need to maintain suitable records so the corporation could defend against litigations.
So what exactly is record management and exactly how can it be put to use in compliance with ISO standards?
AS 4390 Part 1 describes record management (RM) as the discipline and organizational purpose of controlling records in order to satisfy operational company needs, responsibility specifications and community requirements.
An archive is recorded information, in all forms, consisting of info in computer systems, made or acquired and maintained by a company or person in the contract or the conduct of matters and saved as evidence of such action. It is recommended to control your papers and digital info simultaneously, not as separated entities. It’s still information no matter how is kept.
Inadequate documents and record-keeping can add up to, or maybe be critical in, responsibility problems, lost litigations cases on account of unavailability of data and lack of certification to Australian principles.
Regarding building undertakings a records management program is the whole process of determining, collecting, indexing, filing, storing and disposing of records. Records must present evidence of complying to specifications and efficient operation of management methods. Precise and well-kept records prove that an organisation is successfully handling the management systems.
On construction undertakings Project Managers are accountable for:
organising and looking after a record program for the project to comprise all records which may be utilized to provide goal evidence of conforming work and the efficiency of the management system
making sure documents are filed in locations that lower degeneration or damage and prevent loss
making certain documents are readable
making sure records are easily retrievable
making files available to the clients representative when expected.
Deciding what data to retain
Your management systems would detail what data are required to comply with the requirements, legislations and commitment paperwork; on the other hand perform the subsequent to determine what documents you have to keep:
Assess whatever requirements, which apply to your company and check out the record management aspect to determine how you have to comply;
Evaluate any WHS and environmental legislation, which connect with your organization and look at the records management component; and
Analyze your actual plan demands in regards to record-keeping specifications
Record storage intervals
Record maintenance durations for a variety of records depend on contract prerequisites and legal necessities.
The following pinpoints record maintenance periods of most of OHS records essential to legal prerequisites:
risk evaluations, if a written examination is needed:
– work in limited locations (5 years)
– Getting exposed to deadly components (5 years
potential issues needing atmospheric tracking or health surveillance (30 years).
restricted location entrance permit (for one month after entry)
announcements to WorkCover of the intention to use work connected with:
– lead risk work (30 years)
– prohibited or notifiable cancer causing materials (30 years)
staff exposed to forbidden or notifiable carcinogens (30 years)
outcome of atmospheric monitoring and health surveillance (30 years)
medical removing of staff members from lead risk function (5 years from the date of last entry)
notices of damages or ailments to WorkCover (5 years; 30 years when incidents involve deadly compounds)
Things to consider when choosing if distinct OHS documents and data ought to be kept (where there is no legal requirement to accomplish this) include:
the meaning of the related danger or situation
the complexity of the methods expected to manage pitfalls
precise project or plan requirements.
Carrying out records management in virtually any business, no mater how big or tiny, will enhance your quality management system. Your documents are the most essential section of your company and without these records you might disappear. Managing records will enhance not simply quality but will give you peace of mind knowing that you can protect on any litigation on relation to WHS and environmental legislation breaches.