Blackmores ISO Consultancy Service: The creators of isology®

Today’s guest is Alex Street, from EMCOR UK a world leading Facilities Management Company. EMCOR are the epitome of high standards, in fact EMCOR are certified to 8, yes 8 ISO Standards, which is pretty impressive.  Though we are just going to focus on one in particular that is extremely topical at the moment – Business Continuity.  Mel first met Alex when EMCOR engaged in our services to implement the Information Security standard and also ISO 22301 the business continuity standard 4 years ago.  The company has gone from strength to strength over the years, so Alex is joining us today to discuss ISO 22301 and how the system is helping them to not just survive, but thrive during these difficult times.

Some highlights:

• EMCOR adopted the early BS 25999 and later migrated to ISO 22301 after drive from customers as well as natural progression to the updated version

• Recognized the benefits of having a robust Business Continuity Management system in place

• Went through the process of a Gap Analysis and Business Impact Analysis to identify where the system needed to be addressed and built on. This led to the review of objectives and business continuity plans in accordance with 22301’s more detailed requirements.

• A key focus should be training and awareness for all staff once plans have been agreed – so that everyone knows what their role is in any given situation.

• Keep up with testing and auditing of the Business Continuity plans to ensure they run smoothly and are still applicable in execution

• EMCOR had been monitoring the COVID-19 situation as early as December and since February 2020 – had been having meetings with Executive teams (Gold and Silver) to discuss next steps. Thanks to ISO 22301, they’d already had tested processes in place for moving towards remote working.

• A consistent approach to all areas of Operation is key – from ground level to executive

• Communication and collaboration with supply chain and customers – ask them if you could be doing anything more to help

• Support your own supply chain – Taking the current situation into account, everyone is in the same boat so help where you can

• It can take a live incident to fully test a Business Continuity plan – take lessons learned from live events forward. Actively work to continually improve your system.

• Alex’s helpful tip: ‘Don’t get caught out’ – The standard is there to help but you need to put the work and effort in to make it work for you. ‘The benefits far outweigh the risks of not having an effective Business continuity management system in place’

Further resources:

To Learn more about EMCOR, visit their website HERE

Free standards available from BSI HERE

Need assistance with ISO 22301? We’d
be happy to help

We also have an Introduction to ISO 22301 E-learning course available HERE. Use discount code: ISO2230110 for 10% until the end of July 2020.

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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.

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.

So why change from OHSAS 18001 to ISO 45001?

Inevitably, there is risk in the workplace, regardless of the industry, whether we like it or not.  However how businesses mitigate risk, can make the all the difference when it comes to protecting the health, safety and well-being of employees.  OHSAS 18001 has been around for 20 years, and it has taken almost that long for countries around the world to agree on what ‘Best Practice’ is when it comes to  managing health and safety in the workplace.

The long-awaited standard, includes contribution from 70 participating national bodies, and covers all the requirements of a Health and Safety Management System.  Why is this is this standard so important then?

Well you only need to look at national (UK) and international Health and Safety work related injury statistics to demonstrate that an international standard to support global improvement in health and safety preventing work-related injuries and deaths is long overdue.  Here are some of the facts:-

• Every 15 seconds, 150 workers have an accident – that’s 317 million accidents a year.
• 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.

(source*: International Labour Organisation)

Needless to say, business in the UK and overseas have still got a long way in terms of health and safety.

Contact Blackmores today to learn more about ISO 45001