ISO 45001

In order to meet ISO 45001 requirements for certification, your organisation must adhere to the following 10 clauses:

• Clause 1: Scope – Define the scope of your Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OH&S Management System).
• Clauses 2-3: Terminology – Understand and use the specified terminology correctly throughout your OH&S Management System documentation and processes.
• Clause 4: Context of the organisation – Identify the problems inside and outside your organisation, know what your employees need and expect, and clearly outline the scope and relevance of your Occupational Health (OH) program.
• Clause 5: Leadership and worker participation – Stakeholders must demonstrate leadership and commitment and establish an appropriate OH&S policy. Responsibilities must be assigned and communicated. Active worker participation must be encouraged.
• Clause 6: Planning – Identify and address health and safety risks, set objectives and plan actions to achieve them. This also includes systematically planning for changes.
• Clause 7: Support – Provide necessary resources and help employees improve their skills through education and training. Maintain awareness of the OH&S policy and its objectives. Organisations must establish effective communication processes and control documented information.
• Clause 8: Operation – Implement and control processes to meet OH&S requirements and prepare for potential emergencies with appropriate plans and procedures.
• Clause 9: Performance evaluation – Monitor, measure, analyse and evaluate OH&S performance. Conduct regular internal audits and have stakeholders review the OH&S Management System periodically.
• Clause 10: Improvement – Handle incidents and nonconformities, take corrective actions and strive for continual improvement in the OH&S Management System.

Adhering to these clauses demonstrates that your organisation is committed to a safer workplace and meeting compliance with the ISO 45001 standard.

Achieving ISO 45001 certification can benefit organisations of all sizes and industries. Whether you are a small business, a medium-sized enterprise or a large multinational corporation, implementing ISO 45001 can significantly improve your occupational health and safety measures.

• Small businesses: The standard helps small businesses create a solid foundation for managing health and safety risks. This helps organisations meet compliance obligations and create a safe work environment with limited resources.
• Medium-sized enterprises (MSEs): MSEs can use this ISO standard to streamline their OH&S processes, reduce workplace incidents and improve overall employee wellbeing. This can lead to increased productivity and reduced costs related to accidents and ill health.
• Large corporations: Large organisations often have complex operations and multiple sites, which can present challenges when implementing health and safety policies. ISO certification provides a unified framework for managing health and safety across different locations, supporting consistency, compliance and a strong safety culture throughout the organisation.

No matter your organisation’s size, pursuing ISO 45001 certification will actively demonstrate your commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy workplace. This can boost your reputation, help lower insurance premiums and provide a competitive edge in the market.

If your employees feel safe on the job, you should see improved productivity and trust throughout your organisation. Responsible practices have become increasingly important to your brand and reputation. ISO 45001 helps reduce the risk of accidents, claims and costs, which can help you keep your workforce safe and boost profits.

ISO 45001 certification can also:

• Increase employee morale and productivity: Employees feel safe and more valued, leading to higher morale, improved productivity and a lower turnover rate.
• Demonstrate health and safety credentials: It showcases your commitment to maintaining a high standard of workplace safety.
• Highlight a caring and compliant organisation: Boost trust and reliability by emphasising that your organisation cares for its employees and complies with safety standards.
• Increase business opportunities: Open the door to new market opportunities and increase your chances of winning contracts that demand international health and safety standard compliance.
• Save costs from public liability premiums: A reduced risk of accidents and claims can lead to significant savings on insurance premiums.
• Promote a culture of continual improvement: Encourages regular monitoring and evaluation, for continual improvement of your OH&S Management System.
• Increase government contract opportunities: Make your organisation more attractive for government contracts that require stringent health and safety standards.

Implementing ISO 45001 involves several structured steps that help organisations systematically manage and improve their occupational health and safety practices, supporting compliance and creating a safer, more productive workplace.

• Start by thoroughly understanding the ISO standard, its requirements and guidelines. Secure buy-in from stakeholders, as their support is essential for allocating resources and driving implementation forward.
• Next, establish a cross-functional project team with representatives from various departments – such as HR, operations and safety – to oversee the implementation. Conduct a gap analysis to assess your current occupational health and safety practices against ISO 45001 requirements. This will help you to identify areas that need improvement.
• Develop a detailed implementation plan that outlines tasks, responsibilities, timelines and necessary resources. Engage and train employees by raising awareness about ISO 45001 and providing the necessary training to ensure everyone understands their roles and responsibilities.
• Create an occupational health and safety policy aligned with ISO 45001 and set clear objectives to drive continual improvement. Implement the required processes and controls, such as risk management and emergency preparedness, and ensure that all relevant procedures, policies and records are documented and organised.
• Monitor and measure the performance of your OH&S Management System regularly. Conduct internal audits to achieve compliance with ISO 45001 and address any non-conformities promptly. Have stakeholders periodically review your OH&S Management System to assess its effectiveness and alignment with strategic objectives.
• When you feel ready, contact an accredited certification body to schedule an external audit to assess your system’s compliance with the standard.
• Finally, continue to monitor, review and improve your OH&S Management System to adapt to changing conditions and feedback for ongoing compliance and improvement.

ISO 45001 certification typically lasts three years. It is maintained through a cycle of regular surveillance audits, usually conducted annually by the certification body. These audits ensure that your organisation continues to comply with the ISO 45001 standard.

At the end of the three-year period, a recertification audit is required to renew the certification for another three years. This process involves a comprehensive review to confirm that the Occupational Health and Safety Management System remains effective and meets the standard’s requirements.

Regular monitoring and continual improvement of your OH&S Management System are essential to maintain the certification and verify ongoing compliance.

ISO 45001 differs from OHSAS 18001 (Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series 18001) by adopting a more proactive and comprehensive approach to workplace health and safety. It specifically emphasises leadership involvement, increased employee engagement and awareness and a strong focus on overall health, including mental wellbeing. ISO 45001 prioritises the identification and management of both risks and opportunities, supporting a thorough and forward-looking OH&S Management System.

The main differences between the two certifications are:

1. Development and structure

Developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO 45001 is an international standard designed for global recognition and implementation. OHSAS 18001 was an international standard (not published by ISO) that originated from a British Standard.

2. High-level structure

ISO 45001 follows the Annex SL high-level structure, facilitating easier integration with other ISO management system standards. OHSAS 18001 does not follow the Annex SL high-level structure, making integration with other management systems (such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001) more challenging.

3. Focus on context and stakeholders

ISO 45001 requires consideration of the organisational context plus an understanding of the needs and expectations of all interested parties for a comprehensive OH&S approach. OHSAS 18001 requires less emphasis on understanding the organisation’s context and the needs and expectations of employees and stakeholders.

4. Risk and opportunity management

ISO 45001 emphasises both risk and opportunity management, encouraging businesses to manage risks and identify improvement opportunities. Hazard identification and risk assessment are the primary focuses of OHSAS 18001.

5. Leadership and employee participation

A greater emphasis on leadership and commitment from stakeholders is required for ISO 45001, as well as active participation from your workforce. OHSAS 18001 focuses on the responsibilities of OH&S management representatives.

6. Preventive actions

To achieve ISO 45001 certification, you are required to integrate a proactive approach to identifying improvement opportunities and preventing incidents through risk management. OHSAS 18001 requires preventive actions, but these are not as systematically integrated.

7. Continual improvement

ISO 45001 offers a more structured approach to continual improvement through regular monitoring, measurement, analysis and evaluation of OH&S performance. On the other hand, OHSAS 18001 encourages continual improvement but provides less structured guidance.

What Occupational Health & Safety Management training can I do?

Our ISO 45001 training courses can support you at every stage of your learning journey. Whether you’re looking to understand the certification process or learn the systems, tools and techniques for implementation or auditing, we have a course for you.

Explore our ISO 45001 training courses.