Bowater Windows & Doors achieves
OHSAS 18001

Following the successful implementation of the OHSAS 18001 international health and safety management system specification in WHS Halo and The Prime Connection, Bowater Building Products Ltd is now very proud to announce that all three of its divisions have obtained the certification, with Bowater Windows & Doors, the installation division of the company, acquiring the specification in March 2007.  This incredible achievement has clearly set the benchmark within the industry.

Bowater Building Products Ltd has always been very aware of how important health and safety is, and that is why achieving this certification is so vital. And when it comes to Bowater Windows & Doors, the acquisition of the specification means more than just a focus on health and safety, but it takes into consideration the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations as well.

The reason for implementing OHSAS 18001 in Bowater Windows was the same as implementing it in WHS Halo, as Bob Wolstenholme, Health and Safety Coordinator, explains. "It just makes good commercial sense to formalise any existing health and safety management systems and opt for independent third-party certification to the occupational health and safety specification, OHSAS 18001."

Although it sounds simple, the final piece of Bowater Building Products Ltd's jigsaw was the most challenging yet for Bob. "I worked on the assessment with Jayne Proud, BSI auditor, and we both found this particular assessment to be quite unique.  On the one hand we had an established detailed health and safety policy within our manufacturing sectors, and on the other hand we had a detailed policy within our installation division, which took into account the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994, both of which meet legal and practical requirements."

Bob knew that they had to find a way of integrating both policies, but it had to cause minimal disruption. "After much thought, we realised that the best way forward was to bring the office administration side of Bowater Windows & Doors under the umbrella of the Bowater Building Products Ltd policy manual, and to make reference to the site policy manual for all site activities," Bob explains. 

Part of the process Bob went through was to do an internal audit to examine how procedures were taking place currently within the business. Doing this revealed more than anyone first thought. "During my internal audits," he continues, "it became apparent that the office administration facilities and associated satellite offices had been overlooked in a number of areas." This gave the company the chance to make several improvements and all the issues could be remedied very quickly with the co-operation of all the Contracts Managers, Office Managers and Health and Safety Representatives.

The accreditation is vitally important to Bowater Windows & Doors in making sure all the key priorities of the company are met; that is the environment, quality, productivity, costs and the welfare of employees. But more than just making sure things run smoothly internally, the key priorities are a stepping stone in giving the company a competitive advantage, and ensuring that the best possible service is provided at all times. Bob details, "In a competitive marketplace our customers are looking for more than just keen pricing from us.  We need to demonstrate that our business is managed efficiently and responsibly and that we can provide a reliable service without excessive downtime caused by work-related accidents and incidents."

Bob knows that the implementation of the OHSAS 18001 is a great step forward for Bowater Windows & Doors in itself and Bowater Building Products Ltd as a group. "Those involved in the construction and property services sector are all too aware of the need to demonstrate commitment to safe working practices and care in minimising their impact on the environment. The health and safety of people, the need to meet legislation, and the need to maintain the excellent reputation of our business are three very good reasons why we decided to integrate both the office and installation sectors of our business under the umbrella of the OHSAS 18001 Management system."

The accreditation has brought a number of positive changes to the procedures of the company.  It's only once a company starts looking into how things work at present that they realise how things can be improved.  And even though the assessment has brought great enhancements to the way things are working now for Bowater Windows, there is always room for improvement. "We will be continually assessing all procedures both with internal and external audits, and will make sure that we review the health and safety management system at every opportunity," Bob concludes.

WHS Halo is officially the third largest PVC-U window extruder in the UK, designing and supplying window profile to fabricators and installers within the UK and Ireland. Through its System 10 and Eclipse brands WHS Halo provides fenestration solutions for the consumer, housebuilding and public sectors.

Bowater Windows & Doors was created in 1996 to focus on the supply and fit of windows and doors to the social housing sector. The division can install timber and aluminium product as well as PVC-U.

Bowater Building Products is one of Britain’s leading vertically integrated players in PVC-U windows and doors. The company also markets roofline products as well as composite doors.

Information on key personnel at Bowater Building Products Limited