Blackmores ISO Consultancy Service: The creators of isology®

What business benefits are there in implementing ISO45001

Over 6000* people die each day from work-related accidents or diseases – that’s over 2.3 million* every year.

Additionally, there are some 340 million* occupational accidents, many of these resulting in extended absences from work.

• Diseases related to work cause the most deaths among workers. Hazardous substances alone are estimated to cause 651,279 deaths a year.
• The construction industry has a disproportionately high rate of recorded accidents.
• Younger and older workers are particularly vulnerable. The ageing population in developed countries means that an increasing number of older persons are working and need special consideration.

* source: International Labour Organisation

With effective and robust processes in place, many organisations can mitigate and / or prevent such incidents.

ISO 45001:2018 sets the framework for establishing, implementing, and maintaining an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system, managing OH&S risks and opportunities. With ISO45001 being based on the high-level structure for all management systems, an organisation can combine systems with other standards e.g. ISO9001 and ISO14001.

ISO45001 is designed to prevent work-related injury and ill-health and to provide safe and healthy workplaces. Ultimately, its aim is to promote and protect the physical and mental health of workers, a responsibility held by any organisation.

Being an international standard, ISO45001 crosses all boundaries; geographic, political, economic, commercial and social. So, whether large or small, trading locally, nationally or internationally, ISO45001 sets the benchmark.

Good safety and health management systems and cultures help organisation to:

• Prevent injury, illness and death
• Improve reputation, resilience and results

Benefits can include:

• Improve ability to respond to regulatory compliance issues
• Improve identification of hazards and risks
• Reduce the overall costs of incidents
• Reduce downtime and the costs of disruption to operations
• Reducing the cost of insurance premiums
• Reducing absenteeism and employee turnover rates

Contact Blackmores today for more information.

Unfortunately, you can’t acquire a health and safety culture at work at the flick of a switch. A positive safety culture is about having positive values, attitudes, competencies and behaviour from employees and leaders from all levels. It takes commitment and dedication across the entire workforce.

What is a health and safety culture at work? And how do you ‘get’ one?

The new ISO 45001:2018 now includes the requirement ‘Leadership and Commitment’ (5.1), which describes the aims to develop, lead and promote a Health and Safety culture that involves all employees on the following:

• Regular communications concerning health and safety matters – Toolbox talks, intranet and meetings
• Protecting your workers – do you provide PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) i.e. high visibility jacket
• Provide a health and safety induction – make employees aware of your company health and safety controls i.e. first aider and fire drills
• Consider support for mental health issues with healthcare specialists
• Ensure relevant controls are in place i.e. lone worker and DSE Procedures
• Establish a health and safety steering group / committee to take the lead and demonstrate commitment.

Interested in how ISO 45001 can help you further with your workplace health and safety? We have a free webinar available to watch: An Introduction to ISO 45001.

If you would like more information – contact us today!

What is a Risk Assessment?

A Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) is simply a careful examination of what, in your line of work, could cause harm to people so that you may weigh up whether you have taken enough precautions or need to do more to prevent harm.

The aim is to ensure that no one gets hurt or becomes ill, as accidents and sickness can ruin lives and affects your business if output is lost, machinery is damaged, insurance costs increase or result in going to court.

You are legally required to assess the risks present in your workplace.

At Blackmores we are ISO consultants, we help our clients with HIRA on a regular basis as part of their ISO conpliance.

Some assessments of the relationship between hazard and risk are very precise, based on numerical assignments of values which are calculated from detailed considerations of engineering and other disciplines, other risk assessments may be more task orientated such as Display Screen Equipment (DSE) risk assessments.

The important things you need to decide are whether a hazard is significant and whether you have it covered by satisfactory precautions to ensure the risk is minimised. This needs to be checked when you assess the risks. For example, electricity can kill but the risk of it doing so in an office setting is unlikely, provided that ‘live’ components are insulated and metal casings properly earthed.

So how should you assess the risks in your workplace? HSE guidance promoted the following:

5 Step Approach to Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA):

Here’s our 5 step approach to HIRA:

Step 1: Look for Hazards

Walk around your workplace and look for what could reasonably be expected to cause harm, not the trivial things but rather concentrate on significant hazards. Also ask your employees what they think and if they’ve noticed anything that you may not find immediately obvious.

Step 2: Decide who might be harmed, and how

This can include young workers, trainees, non-English speakers, cleaners, visitors, contractors, maintenance workers, members of the public or people you share your workplace with.

Step 3: Evaluate the risks and decide if current precautions are adequate or need improvement

When considering whether current precautions are adequate also consider if the remaining risk is tolerable or intolerable. If it’s intolerable than you need to re-evaluate the precautions and improve until the remaining risk is minimised.

Ask yourself, have you done everything required by law? But don’t stop there – your real aim is to minimise risk and to do so you may need to add further precautions.

Step 4: Record your findings

If you have more than five employees you must record the ‘Significant findings’ of your assessment, this means writing down the significant hazards and conclusions.

An example of this may be: ‘Electrical installations: insulation and earthing regularly checked and working as intended.

Your employees must also be informed of these findings.

Step 5: Review your assessment and revise it if necessary

Your business will inevitably evolve and as new equipment and procedures are introduced so too will new risks. When a significant change has been made, update the Risk Assessment as necessary. Do not do this for every trivial change.

It’s recommended that an annual Risk Assessment is conducted as a minimum to ensure that your business is as up-to-date as possible.

HIRA with Blackmores ISO Consultancy

If you are looking for any assistance with Hazard Identification and Risk Assessments within your organisation, we may be able to help. Contact us on: enquiries@blackmoresuk.com

As an ISO Consultant, we deal with identifying risks and hazards with our clients when building their ISO Management Systems. During this phase, there are often questions about risk vs hazard and what the differences are.

As ISO certifications have evolved over time, it seems like the main emphasis of the newer standards is on identifying the risks and doesn’t focus on the hazards as much.

If you would like some support on identifying the risks and hazards within your organisation for ISO compliance, then contact our team of isologists today.

Risk vs Hazard

From an ISO consultancy perspective, it’s essential to distinguish clearly between hazards and risks, as the two are often confused. A hazard is anything with the inherent potential to cause harm, for example, a process, substance, activity, or condition. In contrast, risk reflects the likelihood that the harm will actually occur, combined with the severity of its potential impact.

When we work with clients, we help them not only identify hazards within their operations but also evaluate and prioritise the associated risks. This ensures resources are directed where they can make the most meaningful difference. Understanding this distinction underpins effective risk-based thinking, a core expectation across modern ISO management system standards.

ISO 45001 – More emphasis on Risk, rather than Hazard?

ISO 45001 is the Occupational Health and Safety Management; within this standard, risks and hazards are particularly prevalent. Following the update in 2018, this standard has more emphasis on risks than hazards.  This can be seen as more proactive. The requirements and structure of ISO 45001 require risks to be evaluated and remedied, rather than being hazard control.

With the inclusion of identifying OH&S (and other) opportunities, addressing the need to act to enhance or improve the management system comes out of the risk identification, hazard identification and other activities within the organisation.

Risks in ISO Standards

Risk is ‘the effect of uncertainty’, and by reducing the effect of uncertainty, we will reduce our organisation’s risk exposure.  ISO 45001 sets out to do this by requiring organisations to be clear on and understand:

• What they have to do (legal requirements).
• What they chose to do (other requirements).
• How they will do it (planning, support, and operations).
• It is being done (performance evaluation).
• How to do it better (Improvement).

Risk-based thinking starts at the very beginning, when organisations are considering their context, the relevant requirements of their interested parties and the scope that the OH&S management system is to cover. Considerations should be made for both internal and external issues, and the potential impact they can have on the systems and processes.

Internal Risk Examples

These originate within the organisation and are influenced by internal processes, culture, or resources. Examples include:

• Inadequate training or competence gaps leading to unsafe work practices.
• Poor safety culture, such as low incident reporting or weak leadership engagement.
• Ageing or poorly maintained equipment increasing the likelihood of failure.
• High staff turnover resulting in inexperienced workers on critical tasks.
• Ineffective communication causing misunderstandings about safety procedures.
• Process changes introduced without proper risk assessment.

External Risk Examples

These arise from outside the organisation and are often less directly controllable, but still need to be considered and assessed.

• Supply chain disruptions, impacting the availability of safe equipment or PPE.
• Changes in legislation requiring rapid adjustment to safety controls.
• Extreme weather events affecting site safety or access.
• Contractor performance issues, where third-party practices don’t meet required standards.
• Economic pressures, leading to reduced budgets for maintenance or safety improvements.
• Technological changes requiring new competencies or introducing new hazards.

When identifying external and internal issues, and needs and expectations of interested parties, there may be a risk source that will require assessment and action as required.

As with all risk-related areas, planning to address should be proportionate to the perceived level of risk identified and the objectives of the organisation.

Hazards in ISO Standards

Whilst considering all potential risks (to OH&S performance), focus should be on those hazards that are most likely to occur or have the most impact.

Hazard Examples include;

Physical Hazards

• Working at height (ladders, scaffolds, roofs)
• Moving or rotating machinery
• Noise, vibration, or extreme temperatures
• Slips, trips, and falls from poor housekeeping or wet floors
• Electrical hazards from damaged cables or faulty equipment

Chemical and Biological Hazards

• Exposure to hazardous substances, fumes, dusts, or solvents
• Poor storage, handling, or mixing of chemicals
• Bacteria, viruses, moulds, or other biological agents
• Contact with waste, bodily fluids, or contaminated materials

Other Hazards

• Excessive workloads, stress, bullying, or poor organisational culture

These examples support a thorough hazard identification process aligned with ISO 45001’s proactive, risk-based approach.

Reduction and/or prevention of undesired effects will help the organisation achieve its goals and objectives and continual improvement.

Risks and Hazards in ISO Certifications

Awareness of these sources of risk, which have the potential to occur or are known actual events and consequences, can lead to both risk and opportunity. Identifying and determining the risks and opportunities can support the organisation at both its strategic and operational levels.

Contact Blackmores today for more information.

Top Management and Leadership within ISO 45001, what does this mean / require?

 
ISO 45001 places greater emphasis on management’s ownership and commitment to the organisation’s OH&S, it is central to the standard’s effectiveness and integration.
 
Unlike OHSAS 18001, that delegated responsibility to safety personnel, ISO 45001 requires the incorporation of health and safety in the overall management system of an organisation, driving top management to have a stronger leadership role in the safety and health program.
 
Under ISO 45001 top management are required to demonstrate that they engage in key OH&S management system activities within the organisation.
 
This requirement includes the active development, leading and promoting a culture of safety at work, and protecting workers from reprisals when reporting incidents. Top management will have to demonstrate involvement rather than delegation, and top management should be seen by all workers as being actively involved and demonstrating their commitment.
 
There is a greater focus on top management to ensure that there is consultation and participation of workers (formal and informal) in the development, planning, implementation and continual improvement of the OH&S management system.

ISO 45001 and Engagement of Managers
 

With ISO 45001, the safety culture of the organisation must be supported through the engagement of management with workers and demonstrated through a top-down emphasis. Instead of providing oversight of the program, management a required to be true safety leaders. Protection of workers, as well as performance improvements, are roles of leadership under the new ISO 45001.

Elements to Encourage Management and Leadership within ISO 45001
 

Top management have the responsibility to ensure that the importance of effective OH&S management is communicated and understood by all parties and ensuring that the OH&S management system can achieve intended outcomes. This can include:
 

• Ensuring alignment of the OH&S management system with the organization’s business objectives
• Ensuring necessary resources are available
• Encouraging workers (other interested parties) to get actively involved in improving OH&S performance
• Involving everyone in OH&S decision making, promoting open discussions
• Clearly communicating that improvement and not blame is the objective

 
Clear and consistent Leadership is required. OH&S management is everyone’s business; it involves everyone, from the highest level down throughout the organisation, including temporary as well as permanent workers, visitors and neighbours. It also has to be across all areas of the organisation, departments and divisions, to ensure the development of collaborative and engaging relationships.

Contact us at Blackmores for more information on engagement and leadership in ISO 45001

Context of the organisation, what does this mean?

BS ISO 45001 Context of the organization (clause 4), covers the following:

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

It within this clause that companies will begin to look, review and assess what they do, where they are in the market place and, particularly in respect of Health and Safety who could be harmed or affected by their activities.

Understanding the organization and its context

As part of the new common structure, with ISO 45001, the organisation must look beyond their own health and safety issues and consider what the society expects from them, in regard with health and safety issues.

Determination of issues that could affect the business can be undertaken in a number of ways and will be different for each business, based on size, complexity, scope of operations, etc.

A structured approach can be through methods such as:

• SWOT (Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats), can be used by organizations to look inward at themselves
• PESTLE (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, Environmental), can be used to identify external issues that could affect the organization

These methods can also support in the identification of business objectives and improvement areas.

Understanding the needs and expectations of workers and other interested parties

Here, organizations are to determine those (relevant) interested parties that could affect or be affected by the organization and its OH&S management system, along with their needs and expectations that could become compliance (legal) obligations.

Relevant interested parties can include; staff (workers at any level), customers, legal and regulatory authorities, owners, shareholders, etc.

Also consider Contractors and Suppliers used, how work can affect others in surrounding areas e.g. neighbours, public, visitors, etc.

Some requirements / obligations will be mandatory e.g. Laws, Regulations, others agreed e.g. Contracts.

Determining the scope of the OH&S management system

Following determination of the external and internal issues and interested parties (above), the organization can then determine the scope of the OH&S management system.

There is an element of freedom and flexibility in defining the boundaries, however, it should be noted, organizations cannot:

• exclude activities, products and services that have / can impact its OH&S performance
• evade legal and other requirements

OH&S management system

The organization will determine, implement and maintain the processes required to fulfil the requirements of BS ISO 45001. These processes should be aligned and integrated throughout the organization e.g. Procurement, Operations, HR, etc. to ensure that everyone is aware and working towards the OH&S performance.

Where organizations have additional management system standard certification it may have covered some of these areas, however, a review will identify whether OH&S specific details have been determined.

If you would like to find out more – contact Blackmores today!

How is ISO 45001 aligned with other ISO standards e.g. ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and minor differences?

ISO 45001:2018 is based on Annex SL – the high-level structure that implements a common framework to all management systems, i.e. it applies a common language across all standards.

This helps to keep consistency, supports alignment of different management system standards, e.g. ISO9001, ISO14001, etc.

Organisations can find it easier to incorporate their OH&S management system into core business processes and get more involvement from senior management.

The standard(s) are written in such a way that by following clause by clause, a methodical approach is achieved.

Structure of BS ISO45001, highlighting minor difference / requirements:

4. Context of the organization

• You must look beyond your own health and safety issues and consider what society expects from you, regarding health and safety issues.
• Here we come across the term ‘workers’ identified within interested parties
• Consider use of Contractors and Suppliers, how work can affect others in surrounding areas e.g. neighbours, public, visitors, etc.

5. Leadership and worker participation

• Management / Senior Leaders endorsement of the OH&S Policy is no longer enough; they must now lead by example and demonstrate their commitment and engagement in key OH&S management activities.
• OH&S Policy now requires five specific commitments, including commitment to consultation and participation of workers
• New / enhanced requirement for Consultation and participation of workers, workers (non-managerial) – must be involved (consultation and participation), supporting improvements in processes, identification of hazards and risks.

6. Planning

• Risk-based thinking – you must demonstrate you have determined, considered, and take action to address any risks and opportunities.
• Determination of applicable legal and other requirements; this can result in identification of risks and opportunities
• As part of planning, determination and assessment of risks and opportunities should be undertaken before change implemented

7. Support

• More emphasis on competence, particularly with identification of hazards
• Communication with interested parties – internal and external; and taking into account diversity needs; ensure views of external interested parties are considered when establishing communication process

8. Operation

• Operational planning and control – eliminating hazards and reducing OH&S risks, managing change, management of procurement e.g. Contractors, outsourcing, to ensure conformity to OH&S management system
• Emergency preparedness and response to ensure you can respond to potential emergency situations; these will have been identified within Planning, or will feed back for assessment if not previously picked up

9. Performance evaluation

• Monitoring and measurement equipment (e.g. calibration) is located in section 9.1.1
• Evaluation of compliance – similar to ISO14001
• Management review; information on performance and trends includes, Incidents, consultation and participation of workers,
• Management shall communicate relevant outputs of management reviews to workers (and/or representatives)

10. Improvement

• Establishment, implementation and maintenance of process for reporting, investigating and taking action, to determine and manage incidents and nonconformities
• Involve workers, and other interested parties, in the evaluation and corrective action to eliminate root causes of incidents / nonconformities

Blackmores UK can support you in migration or implementation of ISO45001, please contact us for more information.