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The ISO 45001 standard is an occupational health and safety management system developed by the International Organization for Standardization in 2018. Although it is the first ISO standard on this subject, it is based on proven standards that have been in use for years, including the British OHSAS 18001:2007. The new ISO 45001:2018 standard also owes its status as an effective, globally recognized system to the fact that it adopts the structure and framework used in all ISO standards. It can be easily integrated with systems such as ISO 9001 or ISO 14001.
ISO 45001 was developed to be applicable to any organization—regardless of its size, legal form, or industry. Its guidelines also take into account geographical, social, and cultural differences. After all, occupational health and safety is essential in every business.
Contrary to appearances, ISO 45001 is not intended solely for manufacturing or construction companies, where work involves an increased risk of injury or death. Every employee—even office workers or those working remotely from home—should be provided by their employer with safety measures ensuring that work does not negatively impact their health. ISO 45001:2018 helps achieve this goal efficiently.
The ISO 45001 standard is a tool that facilitates the implementation and promotion of best practices in occupational health and safety within a company, without harming—and in fact benefiting—the organization’s economic objectives. The guidelines of ISO 45001:2018 address risks related to occupational health and safety. They take into account the context in which the company operates, as well as the occupational health and safety needs and expectations that all interested parties may have (not only employees, but also, for example, customers).
ISO 45001 is primarily designed to create safe workplaces. It facilitates, among other things:
ISO 45001 enables the establishment of transparent, monitorable, and above all effective processes that serve to achieve the aforementioned objectives.
The benefits mentioned above are realised simply by implementing ISO 45001. The standard can be implemented in full or in part, opening up the possibility for the organisation to systematically improve its occupational health and safety management system. The exception is when a company wishes to apply for ISO 45001 certification. This is only possible if the organisation meets all the requirements of ISO 45001:2018 without exception.
Is it worth pursuing ISO 45001 certification if simply implementing the standard’s principles allows for effective health and safety management? Absolutely! ISO 45001 certification brings a range of reputational benefits, which translates into increased competitiveness in the market and higher revenue.
Both during the multi-stage process of ISO 45001 certification and after the certificate has been obtained, an organisation requires the support of an ISO 45001 auditor. An ISO 45000:2018 specialist provides the expertise necessary to implement an occupational health and safety management system and monitors its effectiveness on an ongoing basis. An ISO 45001 auditor is able to identify non-conformities with the standard’s guidelines and assist in rectifying them – not only to ensure that the company meets the requirements for holding an ISO 45001 certificate, but above all so that it derives tangible benefits from the implementation.
An ISO 45001 auditor also visits the company during the certification audit (representing an accredited certification body). The decision to grant ISO 45001 certification depends on their opinion. Such a person also monitors the compliance of the OHS system with the standard during the period in which the company holds the certificate. An ISO 45001 audit takes place at least once a year. Finally, an auditor may be engaged by a client or a potential contractor of the organisation in question, in order to verify whether OHS management is carried out in accordance with ISO 45001.
Contrary to common concerns among business owners, an ISO 45001 auditor is not someone who turns up at a company unannounced and could harm its interests with a negative assessment. All audits are scheduled, and the auditor’s role is not to look for faults, but to demonstrate that the health and safety management system complies with the standard. If an ISO 45001 audit reveals any gaps in the system, the company faces no consequences. It has time, and above all, the opportunity to improve its occupational health and safety management procedures.
An organisation wishing to achieve successful outcomes in external ISO 45001 audits, and above all to maintain an effectively functioning occupational health and safety management system, should establish an ongoing partnership with a firm that employs specialists holding lead auditor qualifications. Such a consultant can handle both the monitoring of the system and the resolution of related issues, as well as its prior development and implementation. They can also conduct training on ISO requirements for the company’s staff.
When applying for ISO 45001 certification, one may also consider training an in-house OHS management system specialist. The advantage of this approach is that an ISO 45001 auditor selected from within the company’s staff is thoroughly familiar with its situation. Of course, such a person must demonstrate high qualifications, a range of so-called soft skills, and impartiality in assessing the company’s operations. Nevertheless, a trusted employee can make a significant contribution to achieving the objectives set out in the ISO 45001 standard. It is also worth entrusting the training of an internal ISO 45001 auditor to a company that specialises in management systems.
DJB DORADZTWO
Marcin Chorąży
