EMC’s Franklin, MA Manufacturing Plant Achieves OHSAS 18001 Certification

EMC Corporation announced that its Franklin, Mass. manufacturing facility has achieved OHSAS 18001 certification, a prestigious international standard for facilities with world-class safety and health management systems.

EMC Franklin is now one of very few corporate facilities that can claim world-class Quality (9001), Environment (14001), and Occupational Health & Safety (18001) management systems.

"We’re pleased to have achieved OHSAS 18001 certification at our Franklin site," said Kevin Biernacki, EMC’s Director of Global Environmental, Health & Safety. "Our employees’ health, safety and well-being are integral to the company’s core values and sustainability initiatives. This standard reinforces how we continue to adhere to the highest standards for safe and healthy workplace conditions for our employees and visitors worldwide."

According to the British Accreditation Bureau, OHSAS 18001 is an occupational health and safety management system used to promote a safe and healthy working environment by identifying and controlling its health and safety risks, reducing the potential for accidents, aiding legislative compliance and improving overall performance. To increase safety and meet the 18001 standard at its Franklin facility, EMC spent the last two years analyzing and assessing risks associated with every aspect of every job, developing numerous procedures and conducting thousands of training programs. EMC’s Cork, Ireland manufacturing facility has been OHSAS 18001 certified since 2005 and the company is currently pursuing the 18001 standard for its Apex, North Carolina site by 2011.

In addition to this certification, EMC engages employees in regular health and safety improvements and conducts job safety analyses or risk assessments to minimize the potential for injury to its employees. Not only are the company’s environmental health and safety staff Certified Safety Professionals and Chartered Members of the American Society of Safety Engineers, but EMC’s Employee Safety Action Teams regularly review safety issues, perform audits and organize training programs.