This article covers everything you need to know about the new ISO 45001 health and safety management system requirements. Read on for a thorough explanation of all things relating to this new health and safety management system.
ISO 45001 will be published as an international standard on the 15th March 2018. The development to finalise an disuse this document has taken a considerable amount of time, it has not been easy to gain agreement across a wide range of interest groups and international representatives. Soon, however, it will become the new standard of workplace health and safety.
What Is ISO 45001?
Essentially, ISO 45001 is a new standard for a management system that addresses occupational health and safety. A management system is simply a description of how any organisation might address key issues or concerns and ensure that there is an expected outcome. For health and safety, the expected outcome is a safe working environment and the reduction in hazard exposure for staff.
It follows the same approaches taken by other management systems such as ISO 14001 and ISO 9001. In its development it has considered and reflected upon other standards such as the British standard OHSAS 18001 and the International Labour Organisation’s ILO-OSH Guidelines.
Why Is ISO 45001 Necessary?
Many thousands of people die every year, directly or indirectly due to their exposure to hazards in the workplace. This can include being involved in incidents or through the development of cancers due to exposure to hazardous materials.
Did you know that more than 6,000 people die every day from accidents or diseases relating to work? That’s more than 2 million people per year!
ISO 45001 is intended to be used by any organisation, no matter its size or the kind of work it entails. Plus, it is easily integrated with other health and safety programs like worker wellness and wellbeing.
What Does ISO 45001 Do?
ISO 45001 will help organisations reduce the burden of occupational hazards. It will provide a framework so that organisations can pursue improving the safety of their employees.
Reducing risks in the workplace and creating more safe working conditions all over the world will be a great threat to a large number of people who are harmed by their working environments.
It includes the following key elements:
- That an organisation has in place a mechanism for the identification of hazards in the workplace
- That it assesses these hazards and develops controls to minimise the likelihood of hazards causing harm (risk assessment)
- That wider internal and external influences are considered in the identification of hazards
- That legal requirements for health and safety are achieved, as a minimum
- To deliver the above, there are clear policies and objectives, led by top management
- Controls and other measures to reduce potential harm are effectively implemented
- That there are systems to monitor performance
- Actions are taken to improve health and safety performance and the management system
Having a new health and safety management system like ISO 45001 in place is important for both employers and the global economy as a whole.
Why become ISO 45001 Certified?
ISO 45001 certification demonstrates that your organisation has an effective health and safety management system in place. Proper training is important in every industry.
Having this certification will demonstrate that your organisation has taken positive steps towards health and safety management and that it will meet legal obligations, as a minimum.
As certification is awarded by independent bodies, this provides assurances to staff and other interested parties that what systems have been developed for health and safety are effective and meet the ISO 45001 standard requirements.
In addition to demonstrating your commitment and providing reassurance to clients, ISO 45001 certification also contributes towards making your organisation a safer place to work in or visit.
Having a safe place of work provides benefits to the workforce, reduces costs through lost time and can make a positive contribution towards productivity and profit.
Additionally, ISO 45001 certification satisfies the core requirements of SSIP. And, for other industry schemes, the certification will qualify as “deemed to satisfy.”
Credible Reputation
Having this certification will demonstrate that your company knows what it’s doing. It will show that steps are being taken proactively to comply with all relevant legislation.
This also proves that your company makes it a point to stay up to date with any changes in legislation that are applicable to you.
In short, this certification will show that your organisation is using a health and safety management system for best practices in your field of work.
Safety and Savings
In addition to giving off a great impression of your company, ISO 45001 certification makes your organisation an overall more safe place to work.
With safety comes savings and an increased peace of mind, which is a priceless gift. The substantial amount of money you will save from the accidents prevented by having this health and safety management system in place is hard to measure.
NEW ISO 45001:2018 and the withdrawal of OHSAS 18001
Our Certification Body, BSI, has advised that the undernoted overview of new and updated concepts in ISO 45001:2018 cover the following:
Why Is ISO 45001 Better Than OHSAS 18001?
This is a natural question when reviewing the details of the ISO 45001 certification.
Though it is a replacement for OHSAS 18001, there are many significant improvements that have been made.
Most obvious, of course, is the fact that ISO 45001 is more up to date. Everything is brought up to current industry standards and takes into account the modern world.
Plus, it can integrate seamlessly with other ISO management systems.
Have Additional Questions?
If you still have questions about the ISO 45001 health and safety management system or any other aspects concerning the protection of your business, we can help.
QCS International is a CQI and IRCA approved training partner and provides ISO and Health and safety training courses within Scotland, across the UK and beyond.
We are here to exceed your expectations and ensure full satisfaction as a customer. Please contact us today if you have any questions for us or simply want to place an order.