The Caribbean Safety Standard is a standard developed in the Caribbean area. The standard is not yet an international standard, like the EN or ISO standards, but is accepted in the Caribbean area as a certifiable standard for safety management systems. The Caribbean Safety Standard is managed by the Caribbean Health & Safety Foundation in Curacao, and represents a safety management system that complies with the criteria accepted in the Caribbean area and is relevant to its safety and society. Thus organizations can control and improve upon the safety risks pertinent to their activities.
A strategic company policy of the organization propagates that it will attempt in any possible way to observe legislation and regulations and the specific agreements. In this respect, it will also see to a safe working environment by adequately trained employees and provide them with the proper facilities and work equipment.
The quality of the organization can be recognized from a constantly improving company culture. The policy supported by the management imposes the obligation to develop an annual improvement plan, from which actions arise that are necessary to increase the safety and welfare of employees and the environment.
Employees also have to contribute to a safe working environment at all times; training and supervision are required for this purpose. By providing information and exchanging experiences based on relevant trainings, awareness will be stimulated.
By demonstrably distinguishing itself and by taking socially relevant initiatives, such as information, promotion, and training, the image of each individual company will be promoted by the certification, and it will also contribute to a better image of the entire sector in which work is performed with an increased risk in a high-risk environment.
A standard such as the Caribbean Safety Standard, CSS2009 is suitable within this framework for certification of safety control systems of companies. These control systems as used by the certificate holders meet the criteria accepted in the Caribbean and relevant to safety and society. They have been recorded in the standard document laying down requirements, prepared by experts and approved by the Caribbean Health & Safety Foundation.
By issuing a Caribbean Safety Standard, CSS2009 certificate it has been proven and also recorded that the certificate holder is able to perform work in the specific sector in a safe and responsible manner. Furthermore, the conditions subject to which a Caribbean Safety Standard, CSS 2009 certificate is issued to applicants are described in regulations. These regulations are accessible and verifiable to everyone.