ISO 45001:2018 - OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
In March 2018, the International Organization for Standardization published ISO 45001:2018 – Occupational Health and Safety Management System Requirements. This international standard will give organizations a framework to improve employee safety, reduce workplace risks and create better, safer working conditions, all over the world. It follows other management system approaches such as ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 and considers other International Standards in this area such as OHSAS 18001, the International Labour Organization’s ILO-OSH Guidelines, various national standards and the ILO’s international labour standards and conventions.
ISO 45001:2018 Highlights
- New Annex SL Structure like other ISO standards
- Internal and external Context of the Organization
- Understanding the expectations and needs of both internal and external Interested Parties
- Emphasis on leadership to ensure support and on-going commitment from top management down
- Representation and participation from non-managerial workers
- Assessment of risks and opportunities including hazard identification as it relates to the context of the organization
- A more robust planning process for achieving objectives
- Improved access, control, and adequacy of documented information
- Ensure the supply chain, including outsourcing, procurement, and contractors affecting the OH&S management system are controlled using the Hierarchy of Controls
- On-going, thorough OH&S performance evaluation
ISO 45001:2018 Benefits
ISO brought together experts from nearly 170 countries to create an internationally recognized standard that easily integrates with other ISO standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, IATF 16949, and AS9100, as they all use the Annex SL structure. The benefits of implementing an effective health and safety management system can include:
- Improving management commitment and employee involvement
- Providing ways to measure the effectiveness of a health and safety program
- Opportunity to introduce other health and safety aspects such as worker wellness/wellbeing
- Improving worker protection by eliminating serious hazards
- Reducing worker risk of death, injury and illness on the job
- Reducing workers’ compensation rates and other costs, lowering absenteeism, and increasing productivity and morale
- Reducing damage to company property and costs associated with idle periods
- Helping keep turnover down and attract new employees
- Stimulating employees to continually improve systems
- Improving relationship with OSHA
Migrating to ISO 45001:2018 from OHSAS 18001:2007?
The migration period for ISO 45001:2018 began on March 12, 2018 and will end on March 11, 2021, when OHSAS 18001:2007 will be withdrawn.
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