ISO 45001, the minimum standard of practice to protect employees worldwide

Health and safety in the workplace are the number one concern of most businesses, yet still deaths and injuries occur. The new ISO 45001 sets the minimum standard of practice to protect employees worldwide. ISO 45001, Occupational health and safety management systems– Requirements with guidance for use, is the world’s first International Standard for occupational health and safety (OH&S).

This ISO provides a framework to increase safety, reduce workplace risks and enhance health and well-being at work, enabling an organization to proactively improve its OH&S performance.

ISO 45001 is applicable to all organizations, regardless of size, industry or nature of business. It is designed to be integrated into an organization’s existing management processes and follows the same high-level structure as other ISO management system standards, such as ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 14001 (environmental management).

ISO 45001 enables organizations to put in place an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system. This will help them manage their OH&S risks and improve their OH&S performance by developing and implementing effective policies and objectives.

Key potential benefits from use of the standard include:

• Reduction of workplace incidents

• Reduced absenteeism and staff turnover, leading to increased productivity

• Reduced cost of insurance premiums

• Creation of a health and safety culture, whereby employees are encouraged to take an active role in their own OH&S

• Reinforced leadership commitment to proactively improve OH&S performance

• Ability to meet legal and regulatory requirements

• Enhanced reputation

• Improved staff morale

ISO 45001 was developed with consideration of other related standards, such as OHSAS 18001, Occupational health and safety management, the International Labour Organization’s ILO -OSH 2001 guidelines and various national standards, and is consistent with the ILO’s international labour standards and conventions.

Developed under the ISO system, with the input of experts from more than 70 countries, it provides an international framework that takes into account the interaction between an organization

and its business environment. ISO 45001 adopts a risk-based approach that ensures it is effective and undergoes continual improvement to meet an organization’s ever-changing context.

More information can be provided ISO45001.