A Guide to Implementing ISO 45001

ISO 45001:2018 is an essential international standard designed to manage and improve Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) across diverse organisations and industries, promoting safer workplaces globally. 

By integrating OH&S into business processes and promoting worker participation, the standard aims to prevent accidents and improve long-term worker health. It establishes a framework for developing a positive safety culture, promotes wellbeing, and ensures organisational commitment through policy frameworks, audits, and continual improvement.

In the upcoming sections, we will delve into the essential components of the ISO 45001 Implementation Guide and outline its key aspects to assist you in achieving certification.

Why ISO 45001 matters

ISO 45001 sets a global benchmark for OH&S, helping organisations create safer work environments. This standard majorly contributes towards a proactive safety culture, promoting long-term health and safety outcomes while supporting business continuity and sustainability.

A brief history of ISO 45001

ISO 45001 was developed to address the global need for a consistent standard in OH&S. The project began in 2013, driven by a committee of OH&S experts from over 70 countries. It aimed to replace the British standard OHSAS 18001, using the Annex SL structure to align with other ISO management systems like ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. 

After extensive consultations and multiple drafts, ISO 45001 was officially published on March 12, 2018. This standard introduced a risk-based approach and emphasised worker participation, aiming to reduce workplace incidents and strengthen safety culture worldwide. 

Benefits of implementing ISO 45001

ISO 45001 offers numerous benefits by providing a comprehensive framework for managing workplace health and safety; here are some of its key advantages:

• Integration with other standards: reducing complexity and saving resources.

• Systematic risk management: provides a framework for senior leadership to assess OH&S risks, set objectives, and monitor performance.

• Leadership commitment: demonstrates senior leadership's commitment to protecting workers, reducing downtime, and minimising legal risks.

• Assurance to stakeholders: offers assurance to boards and owners about effective OH&S risk management controls.

• Worker participation: encourages worker involvement in hazard identification and risk reduction.

• Procurement and contractor management: ensures OH&S risks in procurement and contractor management are controlled, promoting a positive safety culture.

• Legal compliance: helps organisations monitor and review compliance obligations.

• Enhanced reputation: leading to better opportunities, staff retention, motivation, and productivity.

What’s inside the ISO 45001 Implementation Guide?

The PDF guide for implementing ISO 45001 is valuable for organisations seeking certification. Here's an overview of its key sections:

PDCA cycle 

ISO 45001 is structured around the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle, also known as the Deming Wheel or Shewhart Cycle. This model can be applied to the entire OH&S, promoting continuous improvement by guiding organisations through the stages of planning, implementing, reviewing, and improving their OH&S processes.

See the PDCA model here:

Risk– based thinking / audits 

Risk- Based Thinking is pivotal within ISO 45001 as it requires organisations to continuously evaluate Occupational Health and Safety risks. This approach ensures that management targets, resources, and controls are aligned with identified risks, enabling dynamic adjustments while maintaining preparedness for unforeseen circumstances. This approach extends beyond internal operations to encompass external factors like procurement and services, emphasising comprehensive safety management. 

Key aspects include defining risk methodologies considering compliance obligations, involving workers in hazard identification, and implementing controls collaboratively. 

Audits, such as internal and external assessments, validate adherence to these standards, identifying both compliance and improvement opportunities. 'Walk through' audits complement formal inspections, fostering worker engagement and a positive safety culture. 

Certification audits by accredited bodies like NQA validate compliance with ISO 45001, affirming robust OH&S systems that continually improve through performance evaluation. 

Ultimately, the Risk-Based Thinking not only ensures regulatory compliance but also enhances workplace safety, worker participation, and organisational resilience against risks, crucial for achieving and maintaining ISO 45001 certification.

Annex SL

Annex SL, formerly known as ISO Guide 83, is a framework designed to simplify the integration of various ISO management system standards, such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 27001. Its primary purpose is to standardise the structure, terminology, and core clauses of these standards, thus facilitating easier and more efficient implementation and integration of multiple management systems within an organisation. This harmonisation helps reduce potential gaps and resource burdens by adopting a unified high-level structure for different management standards.

Core clauses of Annex SL:

1. Scope: defines the boundaries of the management system.

2. Normative references: lists standards referenced in the document.

3. Terms of definition: provides definitions for terms used.

4. Context of the organisation: understanding the organisation and its environment.

5. Leadership: commitment and responsibilities of top management.

6. Planning: identifying risks and opportunities, setting objectives.

7. Support: resources, competence, and communication.

8. Emergency preparedness: planning for potential emergencies.

9. Performance evaluation: monitoring, measurement, and audits.

10. Improvement: continuous improvement and corrective actions.

Get the most out of your management systems

This section of the Implementation Guide provides practical advice for maximising the effectiveness of an OH&S management system. Its purpose is to ensure that organisations not only comply with standards but also genuinely improve worker safety and business performance. 

Key recommendations include securing commitment from top management, integrating the OH&S system with existing processes and standards, and fostering a positive safety culture through clear communication and worker involvement. 

The guidelines emphasise the importance of contextual relevance, simplicity, and risk-based thinking to create a sustainable and effective safety management environment.

Next steps once implemented

The journey isn't over once you complete your ISO 45001 implementation. This section looks at the next steps, such as conducting awareness training across management levels, developing integrated policies and objectives, and performing comprehensive internal gap analysis and more to get you ready for your final certification audit. 

Take a look at some of the steps below and explore the complete guide for the full list (link to guide here).  

NQAs Final Thoughts 

Reading our Implementation Guide can better prepare you for ISO 45001 implementation and certification. The complete PDF guide offers detailed information, making it an indispensable resource for those committed to achieving and maintaining high occupational health and safety standards.
 

Download the full ISO 45001:2018 Implementation Guide here

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