STANDARDS : ISO 45001
ISO 45001 All you need to know
Every day , thousands of lives are lost due to work accidents or fatal diseases linked to work activities . These are deaths that could and should have been prevented , and must be in the future . ISO 45001 aims to help organisations do just that . Kristian Glaesel and Charles Corrie discuss how the new standard will bring safety to the front line .
What are the major differences between OHSAS 18001 and ISO 45001 ?
There are many differences , but the main change is that ISO 45001 concentrates on the interaction between an organisation and its business environment while OHSAS 18001 was focused on managing OH & S hazards and other internal issues . But the standards also diverge in many other ways :
Whether you are an employee , a manager or a business owner , you share a common goal – you don ’ t want anyone to get hurt on the job . Improved productivity stems from ensuring people operate in workplaces that provide transparency and build trust throughout their operation and supply chain . In addition , responsible practices are becoming increasingly important to brands and reputations .
ISO 45001 is the new ISO standard for occupational health and safety ( OH & S ). It has become one of the most eagerly awaited standards in the world , and is set to drastically improve levels of workplace safety .
Given that ISO 45001 will become part of the business norm , regardless of whether organisations choose to adopt it or not , it ’ s important for companies to stay abreast of the latest developments . ISOfocus spoke to Kristian Glaesel , Convenor of the working group that developed the new standard , and Charles Corrie , Secretary of ISO / PC 283 , to get the low-down on this highly anticipated standard .
What is ISO 45001 ?
ISO 45001 is a milestone ! As the world ’ s first International Standard dealing with health and safety at work , ISO 45001 , Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use , offers a single , clear framework for all organizations wishing to improve their OH & S performance . Directed at the top management of an organisation , it aims to provide a safe and healthy workplace for employees and visitors . To achieve this , it is crucial to control all factors that might result in illness , injury , and in extreme cases death , by mitigating adverse effects on the physical , mental and cognitive condition of a person – and ISO 45001 covers all of those aspects .
While ISO 45001 draws on OHSAS 18001 – the former benchmark for OH & S – it is a new and distinct standard , not a revision or update , and is due to be phased in gradually over the next three years . Organisations will therefore need to revise their current thinking and work practices in order to maintain organizational compliance .
• ISO 45001 is process-based – OHSAS 18001 is procedure-based
• ISO 45001 is dynamic in all clauses – OHSAS 18001 is not
• ISO 45001 considers both risk and opportunities – OHSAS 18001 deals exclusively with risk
• ISO 45001 includes the views of interested parties – OHSAS 18001 does not
These points represent a significant shift in the way health and safety management is perceived . OH & S is no longer treated as a “ stand alone ”, but must be viewed within the perspective of running a sound and sustainable organization . That being said , although the two standards differ in their approach , a management system established in accordance with OHSAS 18001 will be a solid platform for migrating to ISO 45001 .
I am certified to OHSAS 18001 . How do I begin the migration ?
When migrating from OHSAS 18001 , several steps must be taken to “ prepare the ground ”, so to speak , before the new management system itself can be established . If you follow the sequence below , you will be well on your way :
1 . Perform the analysis of interested parties ( i . e . those individuals or organisations that can affect your organisation ’ s activities ) as well as internal and external factors that might impact your organization ’ s business , then ask yourself how these risks can be controlled through your management system .
2 . Establish the scope of the system , while considering what your management system is set to achieve .
3 . Use this information to establish your processes , your risk evaluation / assessment and , most importantly , to set the key performance indicators ( KPIs ) for the processes .
Once you have adapted all the data to the tools of OHSAS 18001 , you can reuse most of what you already have in your new management system . So , while the approach is quite different , the basic tools are the same .
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HSE INTERNATIONAL