All about ISO 45001 Requirements
ISO 45001 Requirements
ISO 45001 -Occupational Health and Safety Management System is the new version released by ISO (International Organization for Standardization) in March 2018. It replaces the first version ISO 45001 that was released in 2015, and is to be implemented by all organizations, small or large depending on their risk profile. The standard specifies requirements for an effective health and safety management system (HSSMS), which include planning, implementation, maintenance and improvement of the system.
The current version ISO 45001:2018 was developed by ISO member bodies around the world through a consensus-based process with many key organizations involved in the development of the standard. This process took over 12 years to complete, involving input from some 300 experts and 70 countries.
Who can Apply ISO 45001
ISO 45001 is written for HSE Management with concepts that are general enough to be applied to all organizations in all industry sectors, provided the organization has an obligation to protect workers’ safety and health. This may include public or private industry, commercial, not-for-profit, self-employed persons or others. It can also be applied to all types of work systems such as services, manufacturing, construction and so on.
The scope of ISO 45001 includes:
- The organization itself and the workplace where it carries out its activities;
- All people who carry out work activities on behalf of the organization;
- Subcontractors and suppliers of services, products or work equipment.
ISO 45001 is based on the requirements of international standards for occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMS), including OHSAS 18001.
What are the requirements of ISO 45001:2018?
ISO 45001:2018 specifies requirements for developing, implementing, maintaining and continually improving a health and safety management system. It also details the requirements for each step in this process.
ISO 45001:2018 is aligned as per Annex SL. Annex SL is common clause that provides guidance for organizations seeking to adopt an OHSMS from the management systems family, including ISO 45001.
The six key elements of a health and safety management system specified in ISO 45001:2018 are:
- Leadership – The organization has a suitable top level commitment to occupational health and safety (OH&S), including accountability for results.
- Planning – The organization plans for effective OH&S management, including the allocation of resources and its financial implications. It also ensures that there are specific OH&S objectives at relevant levels in the organization and that risks arising out of the work carried out by the organization have been identified and necessary risk control measures put in place to eliminate or minimize them.
- Support – The organization provides a suitable environment, which includes resources and information for effective OH&S management. It also ensures that its people are trained and competent to carry out their responsibilities in OH&S, and includes this in its induction training program.
- Operation – The daily work is planned, managed and carried out in a manner that meets the OH&S requirements identified.
- Performance assessment – The organization monitors, measures and reviews its progress towards achieving identified OH&S outcomes to ensure it remains effective. It also revises its approach as necessary to meet changing conditions or needs of the organization.
- Improvement – The organization continually seeks to improve its OH&S management performance through the use of appropriate methodology, including action plans.
What are the benefits of ISO 45001?
The business case for an effective HSE Management system is strong. Organizations can protect themselves by doing things right – and this includes having a sound safety and health management system in place.
An effective OH&S Management System can provide significant benefits to organizations including:
- Enhanced worker, customer and community confidence;
- Increased credibility with customers, regulators and other stakeholders;
- Improved workforce engagement, better staff retention and competence;
- Enhanced management of risks affecting the organization’s ability to operate.
What are the challenges of implementing ISO 45001?
Effective implementation is key to the success of an OH&S Management System. The process should be viewed as a journey rather than a one-off activity. This requires time and the commitment of people who will be involved in, or affected by, the development and implementation of an OH&S Management System.
Implementation is best achieved with a phased approach to organizational change where there is evidence that new behaviors are being introduced as part of the management system’s activities. It is therefore important that senior management has committed to the benefits of an OH&S Management System, which is well-understood by all levels in the organization.
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