Implementing the ISO 45001 standard can help your organization set up a strong system for managing occupational health and safety (OH&S). It also helps ensure you meet the legal safety requirements for your industry.
While you aren’t legally required to use ISO 45001 or any similar OH&S Management System standard, doing so can offer many advantages for your business. Understanding what ISO 45001 involves and how to use it is important to take advantage of these benefits – here’s why.
What Is ISO 45001?
ISO 45001 is a set of guidelines that helps organizations establish a system for managing workplace health and safety.
It outlines the steps needed to identify risks, implement safety measures, and continually improve safety practices, to protect employees and reduce workplace hazards.
In 2018, ISO 45001 replaced OHSAS 18001 as the global standard for OH&S Management Systems. It offers a more detailed framework, encourages a proactive safety approach, and aligns with other standards like ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.
Who Needs ISO 45001?
ISO 45001 certification can benefit any business or organization, no matter how big or small, the industry it’s in, or the level of risk it faces. Whether you need a clear health and safety system, want to improve safety, or need a method to assess and reduce risks, ISO 45001 can help.
Even if your organization already uses some of these health and safety strategies, gaining ISO 45001 certification can improve your current system. While complying with government legislation is mandatory, achieving ISO 45001 certification is voluntary.
Workplace incidents related to health and safety cost US businesses billions annually in medical and legal expenses.
By implementing ISO 45001, organizations can proactively set measures to prevent incidents, reduce costs, and improve workplace safety. The standard can also help demonstrate compliance with legal requirements specific to various sectors, such as construction, manufacturing, and transportation.
What Are the Benefits of ISO 45001?
Implementing a certified OH&S Management System under ISO 45001 offers many advantages for your organization.
Reduce Workplace Accidents
A key benefit is the potential to reduce workplace accidents and injuries. ISO 45001 provides a structured approach to identifying and addressing hazards, thereby minimizing risks.
Improve Regulatory Compliance
ISO 45001 helps your business comply with health and safety regulations, reducing legal risks and helping you avoid penalties or legal costs from potential lawsuits.
Save Money
There are also financial benefits. Enhanced OH&S performance can lead to lower costs, such as reduced insurance premiums and decreased expenses related to disruptions and downtime from workplace hazards.
Improve Internal Collaboration
By adopting ISO 45001, you also foster clearer communication within your organization. This encourages collaboration across various levels, helping everyone work together towards safer and healthier conditions and making your safety initiatives more widely accepted.
Show Your Commitment to OH&S
Another significant advantage is that ISO 45001 certification showcases your commitment to health and safety, which can boost trust among stakeholders and clients and increase your chances of securing new business.
Help Employees Feel Involved
Employee engagement can also see a boost. Involving staff in the development of OH&S policies makes them feel valued, potentially increasing their engagement and productivity.
Create Joined-Up Management Systems
ISO 45001 aligns with other management systems, such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, enabling you to create a cohesive and efficient health and safety management system tailored to your specific risks and organizational needs.
Read more about the benefits of an ISO 45001-Certified Occupational Health and Safety Management System.
How to Gain ISO 45001 Certification
Achieving ISO 45001 certification for your OH&S Management System requires two audits.
The first assessment examines your current OH&S Management System. It identifies areas that do not meet ISO 45001 standards along with areas that can be improved.
The second assessment happens after areas of non-compliance have been resolved. An auditor checks if your OH&S management system now meets the certification requirements. Passing this assessment means you successfully achieve certification.
ISO 45001 works well with other standards like ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 27001, so you can integrate your OH&S Management System with these standards simultaneously. This integration can be part of our certification process.
Learn more about what ISO 45001 involves and how to become certified.
The Road to Certification
1. Conduct a Gap Analysis
Start by understanding what ISO 45001 requires so you can effectively organize your OH&S Management System. Conduct a gap analysis to pinpoint where your current system falls short and where you can make improvements to align with ISO 45001 standards.
Next, create a plan to address these gaps, train your employees on health and safety procedures, and set up the necessary documentation to comply with the requirements of the standard.
Consider buying the official documentation from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
2. Collect Your Documentation
Preparing the correct documentation is crucial for a successful OH&S Management System that meets ISO standards. These documents serve as evidence of your organization’s health and safety goals, procedures, progress toward certification, and the outcomes achieved. Ensure that all these documents are easy to access and available for anyone who needs to review them.
Important documents to include:
- The scope of your OH&S
- Health and safety policies
- Risk assessments and action plans
- Defined roles and responsibilities
- OH&S goals
3. Implement Your 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. Address any issues or concerns from employees quickly, and ensure they have all the resources they need to adapt to the changes.
4. Conduct an internal audit
An internal audit is crucial for an integrated OH&S Management System’s success. This must be conducted before your Stage 2 assessment.
This detailed internal audit of your OH&S Management System can be conducted by a qualified in-house or external auditor. The auditor will identify areas that do not meet the requirements of ISO 45001.
Use the internal audit’s findings to assess your system and make necessary improvements and adjustments. This should take place before proceeding to your Stage 2 assessment to verify that your management system meets ISO 45001’s requirements.
Consider creating a checklist and audit schedule—these can help you maintain the efficiency of your system.
5. Finalise the Certification
After resolving any issues found during the Stage 1 Audit, it’s time to book the Stage 2 Audit with your selected certification body. This comprehensive audit assesses your OH&S Management System to check whether it meets ISO 45001 standards.
Successfully completing this audit shows your organization’s dedication to managing risks and ensuring a safe workplace, which can boost your reputation with stakeholders and attract new clients.
Once certified, it’s important to focus on continual improvement. To keep your ISO 45001 certification valid, plan for an annual assessment to verify ongoing compliance.
How Long Does It Take to Get ISO 45001 Certified?
The timeline for achieving ISO 45001 certification varies and depends on factors such as your organization’s size and complexity and the resources you can dedicate to developing your management system. It can also depend on what systems and processes you already have in place, as this will determine the extent of the work that’s needed.
While the certification process typically takes between 3-6 months, some organizations complete it in just a few weeks, while others may take up to a year. Every organization’s journey is different! To speed up the process, choose an employee to oversee the certification efforts and prepare for assessments.
How Long Is ISO 45001 Certification Valid?
ISO 45001 certification is valid for three years. To maintain it, your organization must undergo a recertification audit every three years. Expert auditors will conduct annual visits to ensure your OH&S Management System continues to meet ISO 45001 requirements.
How Much Does ISO 45001 Certification Cost?
The cost of ISO 45001 certification can vary depending on the size of your organization and the number of employees.
It will also depend on your existing resources and systems – are you simply adjusting your system or building a new one from scratch?
Your costs can also vary according to your industry and whether you must comply with specific regulations.
Your choice of certification body also dictates the costs of achieving ISO 45001 certification. When making your decision, be mindful of any hidden fees that could impact your budget.
For a detailed estimate tailored to your organization, contact us for a quote.
Choosing the Right ISO Certification Body
There are several important factors to keep in mind when selecting a certification body for ISO 45001.
Start by verifying that the certification body is accredited by a recognized organization. Accreditation ensures that the body adheres to international standards. For instance, Amtivo is accredited by ANAB.
Next, investigate their expertise and reputation within your industry to confirm that they are familiar with the specific challenges your sector faces.
Consider the costs associated with both the initial certification audit and the ongoing surveillance audits. Ensure these align with your budget, and be wary of quotes that are unusually low, as they might come with short or inflexible contracts.
Also, check past customer reviews to see their experiences with the certification body. Look for feedback on customer service, communication, reliability, and overall client satisfaction.
How Amtivo can help you achieve ISO 45001 certification
Starting an ISO 45001 certification journey for your organization can seem daunting, but with the right support, it’s achievable for businesses of any size.
Amtivo is experienced in guiding organizations to overcome or avoid common challenges. We have also developed various resources to simplify the process for you.
Try Our Training
Our skilled auditing team offers a comprehensive range of training programmes, available both online and in person, to support everyone from beginners to seasoned ISO experts.
Discover more about our training courses.
Use Our Software
We provide industry-leading ISO management software packages, complete with all the tools and templates you need to develop your OH&S Management System.
Discover more about our ISO certification management software.
Third-party Consultant Support
While we have successfully certified thousands of organizations without the aid of a consultant, we recognize that some may need additional resources or face time constraints when building their management system. In these cases, ISO consultants can offer significant value.
As an ANAB-accredited certification body, we do not provide consultancy services ourselves, but we can connect you to consultants that our clients have successfully worked with.
Find an ISO consultant to help you in your certification journey.
Understand what ISO 45001 is – and get started with Amtivo
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.
