Occupational health and safety compliance requirements

ISO 45001:2018

You can find more information about this standard and its applications in the ISO 45001 briefing note

What is ISO 45001?

ISO 45001 is an international standard that specifies requirements for an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system. It provides a framework for organizations to manage risks and improve OH&S performance. The standard establishes criteria for an OH&S policy, objectives, planning, implementation, operation, auditing and review. Key elements include leadership commitment, worker participation, hazard identification and risk assessment, legal and regulatory compliance, emergency planning, incident investigation and continual improvement. ISO 45001 utilizes the Plan-Do-Check-Act methodology to systematically manage health and safety risks. It applies to organizations of all sizes and can be integrated with other ISO management system standards.

Why is ISO 45001 important?

• ISO 45001 provides an internationally-recognized framework for managing occupational health and safety risks. It enables organizations to systematically assess hazards and implement risk control measures, leading to reduced workplace injuries, illnesses and incidents.
• Adopting the standard shows employees and external stakeholders that the organization is committed to worker health, safety and wellbeing. This boosts reputation, morale and retention.
• The standard requires complying with OH&S regulations, ensuring legal conformity. It also promotes proactive risk management, potentially lowering insurance premiums.
• By requiring emergency preparedness and response protocols, ISO 45001 strengthens organizational resilience against safety threats and crises.
• The framework of plan, do, check act means the OH&S system can continually improve and evolve, enhancing long-term worker health and safety performance.

In summary, ISO 45001 enables organizations to better protect their workers and manage OH&S risks, making it an essential standard worldwide.

Benefits

• Framework to systematically manage OH&S risks
• Reduced workplace incidents and injuries
• Demonstrated commitment to worker health and safety
• Ensured compliance with OH&S regulations
• Increased organizational resilience
• Continual improvement of OH&S performance

Who needs ISO 45001?

ISO 45001 is applicable to any organization looking to implement an OH&S management system, regardless of size, industry or geographic location. It is especially valuable for higher-risk industries like construction, manufacturing, oil and gas, mining, agriculture, etc.

What is the difference between ISO 45001 and OHSAS 18001?

ISO 45001 is an international standard that replaces the previous British standard OHSAS 18001. Key differences include:

• Stronger emphasis on leadership engagement in ISO 45001
• Addition of context analysis and risk-based thinking
• Greater alignment with other ISO management system standards
• Increased focus on improving OH&S performance

Many organizations with OHSAS 18001 certification transition to ISO 45001 to remain current with latest practices.

Does ISO 45001 involve certification?

Yes, organizations can get certified to ISO 45001 by third-party certification bodies. Certification validates that an organization has implemented the standard properly and has a compliant OH&S management system in place.

However, companies implementing ISO 45001 can choose whether they want to go through a certification process or not. As with other ISO management system standards, some organizations choose to implement the standard in order to benefit from the best practice it contains, while others also want to get certified to reassure customers and clients.

Many certification bodies are accredited, which means that an accreditation body has provided independent confirmation of their competence. This may bring an additional layer of confidence for stakeholders.