Last year, we at NPT Management Systems decided to sponsor Junior Sailing at the local Hamble River Sailing Club. As a show of support for this great local youth group, we very proudly provided the club with a number of high-visibility jackets for the instructors and other helpers to wear while in action.

As you can see, our branded hi-vis jackets (as modelled in the image above by our Principal Consultant Neil Peattie) are still in use almost a year later. The above photograph was taken a couple of weeks ago, when the club's youth section sailed up the River Hamble to nearby Bursledon Beach.

It was great to catch up with the HRSC, and we were very happy to learn that the jackets are still benefiting the club!

Why do we sponsor the Hamble River Sailing Club?

As we've mentioned many times before on this blog, we at NPT Management Systems have close ties to the marine sector here in the South of England. Many of our ISO certification clients come from the marine industry, and we have proven again and again that we are the best company for these jobs.

Furthermore, we love supporting the local community, and we felt that this would be a great way to do so. Neil is the parent of children who sail on the River Hamble, and so this particular cause is very close to his heart!

Visit www.hrsc.org.uk to learn more about the Hamble River Sailing Club.

At present, the recognised standard for occupational health and safety in the UK is BS OHSAS 18001, sometimes referred to as ISO 18001. However, while the British Standard OHSAS 18001 is used internationally, it was not developed by ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) as ISO 9001 and other internationally-recognised standards were.

ISO are currently in the process of developing a new health and safety standard - ISO 45001 - that, when it is published, will replace OHSAS 18001 as the primary international standard for occupational health and safety.

When will ISO 45001 be published?

According to the ISO website, ISO 45001 is currently in the 'Enquiry Stage'. A final draft will move to the 'Approval Stage' in late 2017, and the new standard is currently scheduled for publication in February 2018.

What to expect from ISO 45001

ISO 45001 will provide employers with a framework to:

• Improve worker safety
• Minimise risks and hazards
• Provide a safer working environment

It will take the existing OHSAS 18001 standard into account, but the system will be closer in structure to existing ISO standards like ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

If you need OHSAS 18001 certification for your business, or if you'd like to make sure you're ready for the new ISO 45001 standard, please contact NPT Management Systems for more information.

Located on the south coast and operating in the marine sector, NPT Management Systems are always delighted to give something back to the community, by showing their support for local clubs and events. Recently, we were delighted to become a sponsor for Junior Sailing at the Hamble River Sailing Club, by supplying their helpers and instructors with a selection of Hi Visibility Jackets. Thanks to the bright colours and luminous strips adorning the jackets, this simple use of visual management will help children and parents to identify who to turn to when help is needed, allowing them to take action quickly and efficiently.

While we are fortunate to have offered our professional services to a multitude of businesses and organisations in the South of England over the years, it remains important for us to offer our continued assistance to local organisations on a non-profit basis. Thanks to the practical addition of their new hi vis jackets, the Youth Sailing team will be able to demonstrate and uphold a high level of health and safety for years to come, while also providing parents with further peace of mind regarding the well-being of their children.

"Our sponsorship of local events and clubs such as the Hamble River Games and Hamble River Sailing Club, is a real sign of our passion for supporting the marine sector as a whole, and not just for business. As the owner of a local business which helps companies to achieve ISO certification, and a parent to children who sail on the River Hamble, it was important for me to show my support to the club in a way which will provide a useful and lasting solution to their members."

- Managing Director, Neil Peattie 

Since donating the hi vis jackets to the sailing club, we are pleased to report that the team are already making good use of their new safety garments. As well as providing an efficient means of upholding health and safety standards, the jackets also help to brighten up the club's activities, particularly on grey, overcast days like the one photographed above!

If you are a local company that requires support with ISO certification or ISO consultancy, NPT Management can provide you with everything you need to implement a range of quality management systems, and become an ISO certified business. To learn more about our services, browse the range of available options on our homepage, or get in touch with us today for more information.