ISO 45001:2018

Abstract

ISO 45001:2018 specifies requirements for an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system, and gives guidance for its use, to enable organizations to provide safe and healthy workplaces by preventing work-related injury and ill health, as well as by proactively improving its OH&S performance.

ISO 45001:2018 is applicable to any organization that wishes to establish, implement and maintain an OH&S management system to improve occupational health and safety, eliminate hazards and minimize OH&S risks (including system deficiencies), take advantage of OH&S opportunities, and address OH&S management system nonconformities associated with its activities.

ISO 45001:2018 helps an organization to achieve the intended outcomes of its OH&S management system. Consistent with the organization's OH&S policy, the intended outcomes of an OH&S management system include:

a) continual improvement of OH&S performance;

b) fulfilment of legal requirements and other requirements;

c) achievement of OH&S objectives.

ISO 45001:2018 is applicable to any organization regardless of its size, type and activities. It is applicable to the OH&S risks under the organization's control, taking into account factors such as the context in which the organization operates and the needs and expectations of its workers and other interested parties.

ISO 45001:2018 does not state specific criteria for OH&S performance, nor is it prescriptive about the design of an OH&S management system.

ISO 45001:2018 enables an organization, through its OH&S management system, to integrate other aspects of health and safety, such as worker wellness/wellbeing.

ISO 45001:2018 does not address issues such as product safety, property damage or environmental impacts, beyond the risks to workers and other relevant interested parties.

ISO 45001:2018 can be used in whole or in part to systematically improve occupational health and safety management. However, claims of conformity to this document are not acceptable unless all its requirements are incorporated into an organization's OH&S management system and fulfilled without exclusion.

WHAT IS ISO 45001:2018 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY (OH&S)?

ISO 45001:2018 is an international standard that specifies requirements for an Occupational Health and Safety Management System OHSMS, which is intended to improve the safety and health of both employees and other personnel.

Introduced in March 2018, ISO 45001 standard marks a significant step forward in the overall effort to improve occupational health and safety (OH&S) worldwide. Published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the standard enables organisations to proactively improve injury prevention and reduce ill-health, while protecting their longevity.

ISO 45001:2018 supersedes previous occupational health and safety (OHS) standards, including OHSAS 18001. Organisations that currently hold OHSAS 18001 certification will need to transition to the ISO 45001 standard by March 2021. Download our complimentary whitepaper to learn more about ISO 45001:2018 certification and transition requirements.

BUSINESS BENEFITS OF ISO 45001 OHSMS CERTIFICATION

To survive in today’s competitive global marketplace, organisations must proactively manage all types of risk to the business, including occupational health and safety. ISO 45001 Certification provides new impetus for occupational health and safety practices in organisations and helps improve safety for employees and contractors. This translates into additional opportunities for protecting and promoting worker’s health and performance and a sustainable improvement in employee satisfaction.

The benefits of ISO 45001 certification are:

1. Employee safety, risk reduction and injury prevention
2. Improve an organisation’s capability to respond to regulatory compliance issues
3. Reduce overall cost of health and safety-related incidents
4. Reduce the downtime and cost of disruption in operations
5. Lower the cost of insurance premiums
6. Ensure high employee attendance and loyalty
7. Achieve international recognition for health and operational safety

KEY FEATURES OF THE ISO 45001:2008 OH&S STANDARD

Although ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health & Safety constitutes an entirely new standard, its foundations already exist and are formulated in OHSAS 18001. Companies that have already implemented an occupational health and safety management system OHSMS in accordance with OHSAS 18001, and actively apply it in everyday company practice, can expect a smooth transition to ISO 45001 certification.

Key improvements:

• ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health & Safety Management System implements the ‘high level structure’, giving it a common framework with other management systems, such as ISO 9001 Quality Management System and ISO 14001 Environmental Management System.
• ISO 45001:2018 OHSMS places great emphasis on the responsibility of senior management. This aspect has already been implemented in the revised ISO 9001 QMS and ISO 14001 EMS standards.
• ISO 45001:2018 OHSMS explicitly includes persons who are not permanently employed, but are in other ways working under the responsibility of the organisation/company, such as subcontractors, as well as processes that have been outsourced in their entirety. In this way it incorporates elements of the SCC certificate.
• The ISO 45001:2018 standard also introduces the term “opportunities”, as a new aspect in the field of occupational health and safety OHS. This covers issues that go beyond the mere elimination or minimisation of OHS risks and hazards.

HOW IS ISO 45001 ADVANTAGEOUS FOR YOUR ORGANISATION? OR WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF ISO 45001? 

With an ISO 45001 Certification for Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OH&S), you can –

1. Increase the resilience of the organisation with proactive risk prevention and control.
2. Strengthen legal and regulatory compliance.
3. Demonstrate brand responsibility towards a safe work environment.
4. Associate with a single global occupational health and safety system.

HOW TO GET AN ISO 45001 CERTIFICATION?

Once the management system has matured enough with proven outcomes, you can initiate the ISO 45001:2018 audit. But, before the ISO 45001 Certification process can commence, you need the commitment of the organisation’s top management followed by the steps mentioned below.

1. Upskill – Become familiar with the objectives and requirements of the ISO 45001 standard.
2. Gap analysis – Identify the gaps that the certification can fill up.
3. Implementation – Outline and implement measures to comply with the ISO 45001 requirements.
4. Documentation – Record the measures and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to document the effectiveness and compliance achieved with the ISO 45001 certification.