ISO 45001
Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems
ISO 45001 introduces a framework that can be used to create a safety culture for your organisation. Whilst ‘health and safety’ is often derided and joked about, the research into the cost of workplace accidents and illnesses offers some hair-raising numbers – millions of pounds of productivity are lost when staff take time out to recover from incidents that happen while they work.
ISO 45001 replaces the former OHSAS 18001 standard. The main difference between the two is the proactive approach of the new standard. OHSAS 18001 was very reactive, focused on investigating accidents and incidents after they occurred. ISO 45001 looks much more to predict and prevent those accidents and incidents. It looks to foster a whole-company, proactive approach to incorporating a safety culture, and aims to keep your workforce safer than ever before.
Given the increasing focus on health and safety issues, it is likely that there will be considerable demand for the new standard and it may become mandatory in some industries. Brookfields Consultancy can assist you in becoming ISO 45001 certified.
The Benefits of ISO 45001
The numerous benefits of this certification are that it can:
- Demonstrate compliance with relevant legislation
- Assure staff that they will have safe working conditions
- Potentially reduce accidents in the workplace, increasing profitability
- Optimise working conditions
- Proactively identify and manage risks and hazards
- Ensure that all employees take an active role in health and safety matters
The main themes that underpin the Standard are:
Leadership Commitment
Leadership at different levels of management is essential for an effective occupation health and safety management system, as they deliver the message that employee health and safety is a top organisational value. Maintaining health and safety as a top level value creates a foundation for a strong and positive safety culture.
Hazard Identification and Assessment of Risks and Opportunities
Hazards in the workplace will challenge your ability to ensure it is a healthy and safe place to work and it is important to identify and assess those hazards that can lead to ill health or injury. The Standard includes the principle of the hierarchy of controls, with elimination at the top as this is the most effective way to minimise risk.
Consultation and Participation of Workers
Inviting consultation with, and the participation of employees is a very effective method, as often they know most about the hazards. To be productive, consultation and participation must be meaningful, with workers involved from the beginning and throughout. Reassure them that you welcome all input, making it a ‘safe’ process, with good training and great communication.
Legal and Other Requirements
Clear identification of the applicable legal obligations your business is subject to is key. You must know what those obligations are, and have clear strategies for managing them. When planning, it is essential to know the legal requirements, and this will be evaluated through audit.
Contractors
Management of the contractors you take on to work for you, either on or off site, must be well-managed. The health and safety responsibility may well rest with you, with potentially damaging consequences if you do not take the necessary precautions, and there is an incident.
Incident and Accident Investigation
With the best will, and management system, in the world – accidents happen. A system for recording, investigating and analysing accidents and illnesses that originate at work is crucial, along with a process for examining the circumstances and then acting on any recommendations arising.
Integrating Your ISO Standards
ISO 45001 is based on the same High-Level Structure as ISO 9001 (quality management systems) and ISO 14001 (environmental management systems), which makes it easier for companies to implement and integrate into a broader business management system.
