Introduction of ISO 45001

On 12 March 2018, ISO 45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management systems was issued by ISO (International organization for standardization).
The adoption of an OH&S management system is intended to enable an organization to provide safe and healthy workplaces, prevent work-related injury and ill health, and continually improve its OH&S performance.
The purpose of an OH&S management system is to provide a framework for managing OH&S risks and opportunities. The aim and intended outcomes of the OH&S management system are to prevent work-related injury and ill health to workers and to provide safe and healthy workplaces; consequently, it is critically important for the organization to eliminate hazards minimize OH&S risks by taking effective preventive and protective measures.

Success factors of ISO 45001

The implementation of an OH&S management system is a strategic and operational decision for an organization. The success of the OH&S management system depends on leadership, commitment and participation from all level and functions of the organization.

The implementation and maintenance of an OH&S management system, its effectiveness and its ability to achieve its intended outcomes are dependent on a number of key factors, which can include:

• - top management leadership, commitment, responsibilities and accountability
• - top management developing, leading and promoting a culture in the organization that supports the intended outcomes of the OH&S management system
• - communication
• - consultation and participation of workers, and, where they exist, worker’s representatives
• - allocation of the necessary resources to maintain it
• - OH&S policies, which are compatible with the overall strategic objectives and direction of the organization
• - effective process(es) for identifying hazards, controlling OH&S risks and taking advantage of OH&S opportunities
• - continual performance evaluation and monitoring of the OH&S management system to improve OH&S performance
• - integration of the OH&S management system into the organization’s business processes
• - OH&S objectives that align with the OH&S policy and take into account the organization’s hazards, OH&S risks and OH&S opportunities
• - compliance with its legal requirements and other requirements

Relationship between PDCA and the framework in ISO 45001

ISO 45001 requirements

4. Context of the organization

• 4.1 Understanding the organization and its context
• 4.2 Understanding the needs and expectations of workers and other interested parties
• 4.3 Determining the scope of the OH&S management system
• 4.4 OH&S management system

5. Leadership and worker participation

• 5.1 Leadership and commitment
• 5.2 OH&S policy
• 5.3 Organizational roles, responsibilities and authorities
• 5.4 Consultation and participation of workers

6. Planning

• 6.1 Actions to address risks and opportunities
• 6.1.1 General
• 6.1.2 Hazard identification and assessment of risks and opportunities
• 6.1.3 Determination of legal requirements and other requirements
• 6.1.4 Planning action
• 6.2 OH&s objectives and planning to achieve them
• 6.2.1 OH&S objectives
• 6.2.2 Planning to achieve OH&S objectives

7. Support

• 7.1 Resources
• 7.2 Competence
• 7.3 Awareness
• 7.4 Communication
• 7.4.1 General
• 7.4.2 Internal communication
• 7.4.3 External communication
• 7.5 Documented information
• 7.5.1 General
• 7.5.2 Creating and updating
• 7.5.3 Control of documented information

8. Operation

• 8.1 Operational planning and control
• 8.1.1 General
• 8.1.2 Eliminating hazards and reducing OH&S risks
• 8.1.3 Management of change
• 8.1.4 Procurement
• 8.2 Emergency preparedness and response

9. Performance evaluation

• 9.1 Monitoring, measurement, analysis and performance evaluation
• 9.1.1 General
• 9.1.2 Evaluation of compliance
• 9.2 Internal audit
• 9.2.1 General
• 9.2.2 Internal audit programme
• 9.3 Management review

10. Improvement

• 10.1 General
• 10.2 Incident, nonconformity and corrective action
• 10.3 Continual improvement