OHSMS Health & Safety Management Systems: Which Is Best?

Occupational Health and Safety Systems (OHSMS): Which One Wins on Management of Change (MOC)?

Welcome to another Mighty Line Minute! In Episode S2 E36 (OHSMS), Host Dave Tabar introduced a long-anticipated podcast topic: a “shoot-out” between three of the most widely used Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS) in workplaces today—ANSI/ASSP Z10, ISO 45001, and OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP).

But this isn’t just a general OHSMS comparison. Dave, the mastermind behind the episode, raises the stakes with a deeper question: Which of these systems best supports the integration of Management of Change (MOC), as required by Process Safety Management (PSM) and others?

Let’s explore each OHSMS framework and how it supports (or doesn’t fully support) MOC—an essential practice for organizations that want to maintain safe, compliant, and adaptive operations.

Why Focus on Management of Change (MOC)?

Firstly, it’s important to understand why Management of Change deserves the spotlight.

MOC is a core element of process safety and operational risk management. It ensures that changes—whether to equipment, personnel, procedures, or technology—are evaluated for their safety and health implications before they’re implemented. In industries such as chemical processing, energy, or manufacturing, poor change management can lead to serious incidents, regulatory violations, environmental releases, or operational failure.

Therefore, selecting a health and safety management system (OHSMS) that supports MOC structurally and culturally can greatly enhance an organization’s ability to navigate change safely and sustainably.

ANSI/ASSP Z10: Risk-Based, Scalable, and MOC-Ready

The OHSMS shoot-out begins with ANSI/ASSP Z10, a U.S.-based health and management systems standard first released in 2005, and most recently updated in 2019. “Z10” is designed to help organizations of all sizes and sectors build a proactive, continuously improving safety and health culture.

Z10 aligns particularly well with MOC requirements in the following ways:

1. Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
    Z10 requires continuous evaluation of hazards and risks—especially when changes are introduced. This ensures that new or modified risks are addressed before incidents can occur.
2. Employee Participation
    The standard promotes worker engagement throughout the MOC process. Employees play a key role in identifying practical risks and gaps during change evaluations.
3. Operational Control and Documentation
    Z10 mandates that procedural and operational changes be reviewed and revised in a structured way. Controls must be updated, documented, and communicated effectively.
4. Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) Framework
    The PDCA cycle enables organizations to embed MOC into an iterative system of improvement, ensuring lessons learned from each change are used to refine future actions.

What makes Z10 even more appealing as an OHSMS is that it’s highly compatible with ISO 45001—a benefit for organizations that may eventually seek international certification.

ISO 45001: Globally Harmonized, Leadership-Driven

The follow-up looks at ISO 45001 (2018)—the first internationally recognized OHSMS standard. ISO 45001 places MOC in the broader context of organizational change and leadership accountability. This standard is especially suitable for high-risk, process-heavy industries or multinational operations.

ISO 45001 strengthens MOC through:

• Leadership Commitment
   Top management is responsible for ensuring that change management is adequately resourced, monitored, and aligned with organizational safety objectives.
• Risk-Based Planning
   Changes are anticipated and addressed during strategic planning, reducing the likelihood of introducing latent risks.
• Hazard and Risk Evaluation
   All changes—whether to personnel, equipment, procedures, or structure—must be evaluated for potential health and safety impacts.
• Operational Control and Training
   ISO 45001 mandates updated documentation, training, and communication as part of managing change.
• Continuous Improvement
   Post-change reviews, audits, and corrective actions feed into ongoing safety performance improvements.

ISO 45001 excels in providing a comprehensive, structured approach to MOC that aligns well with PSM standards and suits organizations seeking a global safety framework.

OSHA VPP: Cultural Strength, Less Structure

The OHSMS spotlight then turns to OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP). VPP is a recognition-based program that emphasizes strong safety culture, employee involvement, and management commitment.

While VPP is not a formal management system and doesn’t provide a structured MOC process, it supports elements of change management through:

• Employee Engagement
   Workers are actively involved in safety decisions, including identifying risks during change.
• Hazard Identification
   Pre-change hazard analysis is encouraged, though not specifically required.
• Leadership Support
   Management is expected to support risk mitigation efforts and engage in communication during all operational shifts.

However, VPP falls short in key MOC areas:

1. No Formal MOC Structure
    Unlike ANSI Z10 or ISO 45001, VPP lacks a documented, systematic framework for evaluating and controlling change.
2. Resource and Approval Limitations
    Because OSHA relies on volunteer experts and limited staffing, VPP approvals and recertifications may be delayed—posing a challenge for dynamic organizations with frequent operational changes.

Strategic Takeaways: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing the right OHSMS depends on your organization’s size, risk profile, industry, and goals. Here's a breakdown to help guide the decision:

• Start with Z10 if you're seeking ISO 45001 down the road.
   Z10 is a great foundation that’s practical, scalable, and compatible with ISO requirements.
• Stick with VPP for its culture benefits, but enhance it.
   VPP is excellent for employee involvement and leadership culture, especially in lower-to-moderate risk facilities. However, in high-risk or complex environments, it should be supplemented with Z10 or ISO 45001 to provide the structured MOC coverage needed.
• Combine strengths across frameworks.
   For multi-site or PSM-regulated operations, blend VPP’s culture strengths with the robust change management structures of Z10 or ISO 45001.
• Looking for sustainability and industry reputation?
  Consider the Responsible Care program from the American Chemistry Council. While not covered in this episode, it offers a strong safety and sustainability framework respected across the chemical industry.
• Finally, some international companies have developed their own proprietary management systemsthat are very comprehensive, designed to achieve a wide range of Operational, EHS, PSM, MOC, Security and Sustainability excellence. Examples:
  • BP – Operating Management System (OMS)
  • Chevron – Operational Excellence Management System (OEMS)
  • ExxonMobil – Operations Integrity Management System (OIMS)
  • Shell – Health, Safety, Security, Environment & Social Performance (HSSE & SP) Control Framework

Final Thoughts: Align Systems With Risk and Growth

No single health and safety management system is a one-size-fits-all solution. The key is to align your health and safety framework with your organization’s risk level, operational complexity, and compliance goals. By doing so, you ensure not just regulatory compliance—but a safer, more resilient, and more adaptable workplace.

Whether you're just beginning your journey with ANSI/ASSP Z10, working toward ISO 45001 certification, or already part of the VPP “STAR” community, integrating structured Management of Change practices into your system is essential for long-term success. And if you’re an organization that would like to consider your own operational, EHS, security and sustainability management system—be sure to seek counsel from those organizations who have spent years (and some—decades) developing theirs! 

Learn More

To further support your journey toward operational health and safety excellence, visit MightyLineTape.com. Discover how durable floor tape and floor safety signs, symbols and clear labels can enhance your health and safety management systems and programs.

Stay safe!