What Is ISO 45001? The Ultimate Guide to ISO 45001

If you’re looking to improve workplace safety and health, ISO 45001 might be the solution. An international standard for OH&S (Occupational Health and Safety), ISO 45001 provides a benchmark for employee welfare that’s recognized worldwide. It provides a framework for implementing an OH&S Management System, helping organizations identify workplace risks and improve employee well-being.

Workplace safety matters for every business, not just in high-risk industries. Health and safety statistics tell a shocking story—nearly 2.8 million people die from work accidents each year worldwide, and another 374 million suffer non-fatal injuries.

In the U.S. alone, companies pay almost $1 billion every week just for workers’ compensation. That doesn’t include medical bills, legal fees, lost work time, equipment damage, training replacement workers, or sick days.

With so much at stake, it’s no surprise that businesses are using ISO 45001 to protect their people and their bottom line. Keep reading to learn more about ISO 45001 and how to implement it in your business.

Occupational health and safety focuses on how organizations protect employees from accidents, injuries, and long-term health problems.

It involves identifying hazards, implementing preventive measures, and creating safe working environments to prevent injuries, illnesses, and accidents while promoting employee welfare.

Some of the common risks that OH&S addresses are:

• Physical: including trip hazards and exposure to harmful materials.
• Environmental: including poor air quality and asbestos exposure.
• Biological: such as exposure to viruses and bacteria.
• Ergonomic: including lifting heavy objects and repetitive strain.
• Mental health risks: such as stress and burnout.

ISO 45001 is an international management system standard that sets out the requirements for occupational health and safety management systems.

It provides organizations with a framework to identify workplace hazards, reduce risks, prevent injuries, and create safer working conditions, ultimately protecting employees while improving organizational performance and compliance with regulations.

ISO 45001 was developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and was first published in 2018, replacing OHSAS 18001 as the global standard for OH&S Management Systems.

It aligns with other standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

Learn more about ISO 45001 and occupational health and safety with our free ISO 45001 training course.

ISO 45001 can benefit organizations of all sizes and in all industries, particularly those with:

• High-risk workplaces such as manufacturing, construction, healthcare, and mining.
• Legal obligations to maintain rigorous safety standards.
• Complex operational environments with multiple hazards.
• International operations requiring consistent safety practices.
• Government or large corporate contracts requiring safety certifications.
• Desire to demonstrate commitment to worker welfare.
• Need to align with other management systems such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

What does this look like in practical terms? Here’s how ISO 45001 could help businesses across various industries:

The standard offers flexibility rather than rigid instructions, providing a framework for evaluating your specific operations and developing tailored solutions. This adaptability makes ISO 45001 suitable for businesses across all sectors, with requirements that can be scaled to fit organizations of any size.

Implementing ISO 45001 offers many benefits, including:

1. Better workplace safety

ISO 45001 helps businesses identify and mitigate workplace hazards, reducing the risk of accidents and injuries.

2. Regulatory compliance

ISO 45001 can help organizations comply with national health and safety regulations and industry requirements.

3. Reduced costs

Fewer accidents mean less sick leave, higher productivity, and lower insurance and compensation costs.

4. A competitive advantage

Many companies only work with ISO 45001-certified partners and suppliers. Getting certified can open doors to new contracts.

5. Improved reputation

Showing you care about safety improves your reputation with customers, partners, and the public.

6. Better internal collaboration

ISO 45001 improves communication across your organization, helping everyone work together to create safer conditions.

7. Improved employee well-being

When staff help create safety policies, they can feel valued and become more engaged and productive.

8. Simplified management

ISO 45001 works well with other standards like ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, letting you create one efficient system that addresses your specific needs.

Read more about the benefits of an ISO 45001-Certified Occupational Health and Safety Management System.

ISO 45001 is structured into 10 clauses, with the main requirements contained in clauses 4-10. Here’s a breakdown of these key requirements:

• Clause 1 defines the scope of the standard. It outlines the purpose of the management system, how it applies to OH&S, and its applicability to organizations of all sizes and types.
• Clauses 2 and 3 identify the various terms and definitions used in ISO 45001.
• Clause 4 explains the context of your operations and the needs of interested parties. It covers internal issues, such as the competence and commitment of your workforce, and external issues, such as relevant legislation and any relevant union expectations.
• Clause 5 describes the responsibilities of top management and employees.
• Clause 6 documents the objectives of the OH&S management system and the ways you can achieve them.
• Clause 7 explains how you’ll support your OH&S efforts. This includes communication strategies, staff awareness training, documentation, and other resources.
• Clause 8 outlines operational controls and the steps required to eliminate hazards. It also covers change management, procurement actions, emergency preparedness, and response procedures.
• Clause 9 addresses performance evaluation and the steps you’ll take to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of your OH&S management system.
• Clause 10 contains the requirements for continual improvement, in which you take the results from your performance evaluation and make necessary changes to your OH&S.

Download our ISO 45001 Key Requirements document.

Implementing ISO 45001 is a structured process that requires careful planning and execution. Follow these steps to establish an effective Occupational Health and Safety Management System:

1. Gain leadership commitment

Top management must understand the benefits, resource requirements, and their role in the implementation process. Their commitment and support is essential for organization-wide buy-in.

2. Conduct gap analysis

Conduct a gap analysis to compare your existing processes against ISO 45001 requirements. This will help identify areas that need development or improvement.

3. Create an implementation plan

Based on the gap analysis, create a detailed plan that includes:

• Implementation timeline.
• Resource requirements.
• Responsibilities.
• Training needs.
• Milestones and checkpoints.

4. Train your team

Ensure your employee understand ISO 45001 requirements and their roles in supporting workplace health and safety.

Explore our ISO 45001 training courses.

5. Collect documentation

These documents are evidence of your organization’s commitment to health and safety goals.

Important documents to include:

• The scope of your OH&S Management System.
• Health and safety policies.
• Risk assessments and action plans.
• Defined roles and responsibilities.
• OH&S goals.

6. Implement the OH&S Management System

Now it’s time to launch your documented OH&S Management System. Clear communication is essential during this phase to ensure employees are aware of their responsibilities and adhere to the new procedures.

7. Conduct an internal audit

Once the system has been operating for a period (typically at least three months), conduct internal audits to verify that processes are working as intended and identify opportunities for improvement.

8. Management review

Hold a formal management review to evaluate the effectiveness of the QHSMS, address any issues identified during audits, and make decisions about resource allocation and improvement initiatives.

9. External audit

Engage an accredited certification body to perform an external certification audit. This audit verifies the effectiveness and compliance of your OH&S Management System, leading to certification if successful.

10. Continual improvement

Implement improvements to the OH&S Management System and organisational processes.

ISO 45001 certification is formal recognition from an independent, accredited third-party organization that your Occupational Health and Safety Management System meets the requirements of the ISO 45001 standard.

This certification validates that your organization has implemented a systematic approach to reducing occupational injuries and diseases, eliminating hazards, and minimizing OH&S risks. It demonstrates your commitment to providing safe and healthy workplaces through a proactive risk management framework.

The certification process involves comprehensive audits conducted by a certification body, which examines your management system documentation, implementation, and effectiveness. Auditors verify that your organization has:

• Identified workplace hazards and assessed associated risks.
• Established appropriate controls to mitigate risks.
• Implemented processes for worker consultation and participation.
• Created procedures for emergency preparedness and response.
• Developed methods to monitor and measure OH&S performance.
• Established processes for continual improvement.

Once certified, your OH&S Management System will need annual surveillance audits to ensure ongoing compliance, with a complete recertification audit every three years.

The timeline for ISO 45001 certification varies based on several factors, including your organization’s size and complexity, the resources you can dedicate to the process, and the systems you already have in place.

While most businesses take about 3-6 months to achieve certification, some complete it in just a few weeks, while others might need up to a year.

The cost of ISO 45001 certification can vary depending on:

• The size of your organisation and the number of employees you have.
• The resources and systems you already have in place.
• Your industry and its specific regulatory requirements.
• The certification body you choose to work with.

If you’d like to know more about what it might cost for your specific business, contact us for a personalized certification quote.

When selecting a certification body for ISO 45001:

• Ensure they are properly accredited by a recognised organisation such as the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB). This means the certification body adheres to international standards.
• Examine their experience and reputation in your industry.
• Consider both the initial certification costs and the ongoing audit expenses.
• Read reviews from their past customers to understand their service quality.

Amtivo is an ANAB-accredited certification body. We provide end-to-end audit and certification services in accordance with ISO 45001. We can provide expertise, a transparent process, and ongoing support throughout the certification lifecycle.

We also provide specialist ISO 45001 training courses to help your team understand and implement quality management principles effectively.

Discover more about our training courses.

While many organizations achieve certification independently, some may need additional resources or face time constraints when building their management system. In these cases, ISO consultants can provide assistance.

We do not provide consultancy services ourselves, but we can provide information about independent consultants that some of our clients have chosen to work with.

Find an ISO consultant to help you in your certification journey.

ISO 45001 represents a significant step forward in workplace health and safety management. Begin your certification journey today and join thousands of businesses worldwide that have transformed their approach to OH&S.

Amtivo can provide your business with reliable expert support throughout the ISO 45001 certification process. We’ll be there from the initial audit to your recertification audit three years later. We promise no hidden costs and transparent pricing at each step.

Get started on your journey to ISO 45001 certification—get a quote today or contact our team to discuss your needs.