In January this year, the construction company HOCHTIEF VSB submitted a request for certification of the Management System of Safety and Health Protection at Work (BOZP) and on May 2nd, 2005 the company received a certificate issued by the certification body STAVCERT Prague, which confirms that HOCHTIEF VSB has an implemented and maintained the Management System of Safety and Health Protection at Work, which corresponds to the requirements of OHSAS 18001:1999.

The very short period that had passed from submission of the request to the actual reception of the certificate was preconditioned by a high demand on the entire execution team, existence of the Safe Enterprise certificate and most of all by the ability of management employees to react to the comments of the certification body arising from the pre-audit. Revision of all steering documentation in the sphere of the BOZP was executed, technical and organizational procedures vital for safety management systems were newly elaborated. Working regulations, emergency plans, machinery and mechanization maintenance plans were newly incorporated or elaborated.

The certification audit itself took place on two levels. Within the first level (pre-audit) the auditors acquainted themselves with the implementation of the BOZP Management System and formulated their findings, which were to be removed. Within the second level (certification audit), auditors verified, besides the removal of findings, also the entire BOZP Management System. Within the final discussion the auditors appreciated the high level of BOZP in our company, helpful and professional approach of all employees and stated that the BOZP Management System in our company corresponds with requirements of OHSAS 18001:1999 and it is possible to issue a certificate.

The OHSAS 18001:1999 Standard is fully compatible with the Quality Management System according to ČSN EN ISO 9001:2001 and with the Environmental Management System according to ČSN EN ISO 14001, which are also held by the company. By gaining of the certificate according to the OHSAS 18001:1999, the company clearly expressed that working conditions, working environment and health protection for employees are not merely an obligation stipulated by the law, but also a reality which the company perceives as given.