ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System

ISO 45001 is the international management system standard for occupational health and safety (OH&S). It provides a framework for an organisation to manage both risks and opportunities to help prevent work-related injury and ill health. For organisations who achieve certification, the intended outcome is continuous improvement in the provision of a safe and healthy workplace.

The standard was first published in 2018 when it replaced OHSAS 18001. While OHSAS 18001 focused more on managing hazards, ISO 45001 takes a more proactive approach to managing occupational health and safety across an organisation. This includes psychosocial risks such as mental health and wellbeing.

ISO 45001 is intended to help organisations, regardless of size or industry, to design systems that proactively prevent injury and ill health. All requirements of the standard are designed to be integrated into an organisation’s management and business processes.

ISO 45001 is the international management system standard for occupational health and safety (OH&S). It provides a framework for an organisation to manage both risks and opportunities to help prevent work-related injury and ill health. For organisations who achieve certification, the intended outcome is continuous improvement in the provision of a safe and healthy workplace.

The standard was first published in 2018 when it replaced OHSAS 18001. While OHSAS 18001 focused more on managing hazards, ISO 45001 takes a more proactive approach to managing occupational health and safety across an organisation. This includes psychosocial risks such as mental health and wellbeing.

ISO 45001 is intended to help organisations, regardless of size or industry, to design systems that proactively prevent injury and ill health. All requirements of the standard are designed to be integrated into an organisation’s management and business processes.

ISO 45001 can help organisations, through their OH&S management system, to integrate other aspects of health and safety, such as worker wellness or wellbeing. The standard calls for the organisation’s management and leadership to integrate responsibility for health and safety issues as part of the organisation’s overall plan rather than shift responsibility to, for example, a safety manager.

Organisations certified to ISO 45001 claim the following benefits:

• Employees feel their needs and safety are being taken into account.
• Reduced injuries and illness in the workplace.
• It can help avoid legal costs and reduce insurance costs.
• Better risk management.
• A corporate culture that positively supports the prevention of workplace injury and illness.

While ISO 45001 certification can benefit any organisation, it can be especially beneficial for higher risk industries, for example, manufacturing, construction, agriculture and healthcare.

ISO 45001 comprises ten sections, known as clauses, that enable an organisation to establish a framework for occupational health and safety. To achieve certification, organisations must be able to demonstrate that they meet all the requirements of each clause.

As with the many management systems standards, ISO 45001 requires organisations to consider the context of the organisation in relation to occupational health and safety. This means organisations need to determine the needs of the people, organisations or stakeholders relevant to the OH&S management system. These groups are referred to as interested parties.

It’s important to note that leadership commitment and worker participation is vital if the requirements of the OH&S management system are to be met.

Risks, opportunities and hazards must be identified and legal compliance met. The organisation must be able to demonstrate its ability to investigate accidents and incidents as well as identify root causes and implement corrective actions.

It must also demonstrate through emergency preparedness its ability to manage emergencies effectively in order to protect itself and its people.

Priority must also be given to communication and competence across the workforce. For example, safety policies must be clearly communicated to and understood by everyone within the organisation.

Performance against defined health and safety objectives is monitored through documented procedures and regular reviews.

Like many other management systems, one of the goals of ISO 45001 is continual improvement. In achieving – and maintaining – the standard, organisations will be well placed to ensure improvements in occupational health and safety are ongoing.

ISO 45001 can help organisations, through their OH&S management system, to integrate other aspects of health and safety, such as worker wellness or wellbeing. The standard calls for the organisation’s management and leadership to integrate responsibility for health and safety issues as part of the organisation’s overall plan rather than shift responsibility to, for example, a safety manager.

Organisations certified to ISO 45001 claim the following benefits:

• Employees feel their needs and safety are being taken into account.
• Reduced injuries and illness in the workplace.
• It can help avoid legal costs and reduce insurance costs.
• Better risk management.
• A corporate culture that positively supports the prevention of workplace injury and illness.

While ISO 45001 certification can benefit any organisation, it can be especially beneficial for higher risk industries, for example, manufacturing, construction, agriculture and healthcare.

ISO 45001 comprises ten sections, known as clauses, that enable an organisation to establish a framework for occupational health and safety. To achieve certification, organisations must be able to demonstrate that they meet all the requirements of each clause.

As with the many management systems standards, ISO 45001 requires organisations to consider the context of the organisation in relation to occupational health and safety. This means organisations need to determine the needs of the people, organisations or stakeholders relevant to the OH&S management system. These groups are referred to as interested parties.

It’s important to note that leadership commitment and worker participation is vital if the requirements of the OH&S management system are to be met.

Risks, opportunities and hazards must be identified and legal compliance met. The organisation must be able to demonstrate its ability to investigate accidents and incidents as well as identify root causes and implement corrective actions.

It must also demonstrate through emergency preparedness its ability to manage emergencies effectively in order to protect itself and its people.

Priority must also be given to communication and competence across the workforce. For example, safety policies must be clearly communicated to and understood by everyone within the organisation.

Performance against defined health and safety objectives is monitored through documented procedures and regular reviews.

Like many other management systems, one of the goals of ISO 45001 is continual improvement. In achieving – and maintaining – the standard, organisations will be well placed to ensure improvements in occupational health and safety are ongoing.

For any organisation looking to earn certification, you should start by buying a copy of the standard. This can be bought direct from ISO or from other organisations.

There are, in essence, five steps to follow:

For any organisation looking to earn certification, you should start by buying a copy of the standard. This can be bought direct from ISO or from other organisations.

There are, in essence, five steps to follow:

Receiving your certificate is not the end. ISO 45001 certification is intended to promote continual improvement. Over a three-year certification cycle, you will be audited in years one and two to ensure you remain compliant with the requirements of the standard. In the third and final year of each cycle, a recertification audit will take place. If successful, certification will be granted for another three years and the accompanying annual audit cycle will recommence. (Should the scope of your certification or the size of your location change, your audit cycle might need to be changed.)

As an ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) accredited third-party certification body, NSF issues thousands of certificates. Our lead auditors have many years of direct industry experience and can apply deep, relevant industry knowledge. Our mission at NSF is to improve global human and planet health, a goal which aligns strongly with ISO 45001’s intention of reducing workplace injuries, illnesses and incidents.

We work hard to provide outstanding customer service and take pride in the high scores we receive in our client satisfaction survey.

Receiving your certificate is not the end. ISO 45001 certification is intended to promote continual improvement. Over a three-year certification cycle, you will be audited in years one and two to ensure you remain compliant with the requirements of the standard. In the third and final year of each cycle, a recertification audit will take place. If successful, certification will be granted for another three years and the accompanying annual audit cycle will recommence. (Should the scope of your certification or the size of your location change, your audit cycle might need to be changed.)

As an ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) accredited third-party certification body, NSF issues thousands of certificates. Our lead auditors have many years of direct industry experience and can apply deep, relevant industry knowledge. Our mission at NSF is to improve global human and planet health, a goal which aligns strongly with ISO 45001’s intention of reducing workplace injuries, illnesses and incidents.

We work hard to provide outstanding customer service and take pride in the high scores we receive in our client satisfaction survey.

Today, most commonly adopted management system standards, such as ISO 45001 or ISO 9001, follow the same structure. It is known as Annex SL. The benefit of this consistent structure is that management systems can be more closely aligned and integrated. This can help deliver efficiencies in an organisation when integrating two or more management system standards. NSF is well placed to support organisations to do this. Contact us for more information about the benefits of an integrated management system.

Our engaging and interactive training sessions delve into core principles of the ISO 45001:2018 occupational health and safety management system, providing learners with an understanding of its requirements and application in real-world scenarios.

Learn more about our ISO 45001:2018 Internal Auditor training course that’s delivered virtually for your convenience and can be booked online. If you are looking to train a team or have more than five delegates, contact our team about private training.

Today, most commonly adopted management system standards, such as ISO 45001 or ISO 9001, follow the same structure. It is known as Annex SL. The benefit of this consistent structure is that management systems can be more closely aligned and integrated. This can help deliver efficiencies in an organisation when integrating two or more management system standards. NSF is well placed to support organisations to do this. Contact us for more information about the benefits of an integrated management system.

Our engaging and interactive training sessions delve into core principles of the ISO 45001:2018 occupational health and safety management system, providing learners with an understanding of its requirements and application in real-world scenarios.

Learn more about our ISO 45001:2018 Internal Auditor training course that’s delivered virtually for your convenience and can be booked online. If you are looking to train a team or have more than five delegates, contact our team about private training.