ISO 45001 requires organisations to look beyond their immediate health and safety issues and take into account wider society’s expectations. They will have to think about their contractors and suppliers, as well as the effects their activities have on neighbouring communities.
This standard provides requirements for formal, systematic risk analysis and management, regulatory compliance management, promotion of safer work practices, and evaluation of occupational health and safety performance. This approach can help reduce incidents and disruption.
ISO 45001 has adopted the Annex SL structure, which improves compatibility with all Management System Standards.
This shared framework enables organisations to integrate ISO 45001 more seamlessly with multiple other standards, such as ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 14001 (environmental management), fostering a holistic approach to organisational management systems and improving efficiency.
The standard also establishes a stronger role for top management when implementing ISO 45001, improving buy-in and organisation-wide engagement.
Context of the organisation
With ISO 45001 using Annex SL, there is a much stronger focus on the context of an organisation.
Organisations should consider not only what health and safety issues directly impact them, but also take into account wider society and how their work may impact surrounding communities.
Leadership and worker participation
With ISO 45001, health and safety do not become the sole responsibility of the Health and Safety Manager. The standard expects OH&S aspects to be integrated into an organisation’s structure, requiring buy-in from top management and greater employee contribution.
More emphasis on risk management
ISO 45001 places greater emphasis on identifying both risks and opportunities within OH&S management. This supports organisations in enhancing their management system by acting on improvement opportunities identified through hazard identification, risk assessment and other activities.
