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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.

Already certified to OHSAS 18001, what are the next steps for migrating to ISO 45001:2018?

So the long-awaited ISO 45001:2018 standard is finally here.  If your organisation is already certified to the Health and Safety Standard, OHSAS 18001, you may be considering what the next steps are.  The good news is that if you’re already certified to ISO 9001:2015 or ISO 14001:2015 you are already half way there to migrating to ISO 45001:2018.  Why?  Because ISO 45001 is based on the new High Level Structure (Annex SL).  These are the foundations which all new ISO standards in are generally based upon.  This means that the new elements such as Context of the organisation (understanding your businesses internal and external issues), Leadership and Interested partied are also featured in ISO 45001:2018.  Fundamentally, this approach lends itself well to a risk-based standard such as ISO 45001:2015.

In terms if next steps, I’d recommend…

1. Developing a migration plan to coincide with a forthcoming OHSAS 18001 surveillance visit.  This will mean you will not necessarily need to pay for an additional visit from your certification body.  Ideally, you will need to allow a minimum of 6 months for the migration, although business with multiple sites or greater employee numbers (in excess of 100) should allow 12 months.
2. Conduct a Gap Analysis to establish how you are currently complying with ISO 45001, and understand the gaps, so that an action plan can be produced. This can be done internally, or if outsourcing, Blackmores would allow one day for an on-site visit including report writing.
3. Address the changes to the new standard – particularly in relation to Worker Participation (featured heavily in the new standard), Context of the organisation, interested partied and leadership.
4. Update the Health and Safety Management System to reflect the new changes.
5. Develop a Communication Plan to communicate the changes to employees and other ‘interested parties’ i.e. contractors, suppliers.  This can include newsletters, posters, meeting agenda’s, H & S KPI’s, Screen savers, ‘ISO 45001 Awareness Week’.
6. Conduct an Internal Audit to demonstrate how your business complies with the new standard.
7. Confirm with your Certification body the date of the migration visit to ensure that the assessor is aware that they are assessing your business against the new requirements – not the old OHSAS 18001 standard. We wouldn’t want to let all that effort go to waste now, would we?

So is that it?  Well yes, if you are happy doing the bare minimum.  However, if your company would like to embrace a culture of Health and Safety Best Practice, it is worth focusing on firmly establishing metrics to manage continual awareness and Best Practice.

If you would like to learn more – contact Blackmores today!

What is ISO 45001?

ISO 45001 is an International Standard that specifies requirements for an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system, with guidance for its use, to enable an organisation to proactively improve its OH&S performance in preventing injury and ill-health.

Who can implement/use ISO 45001?

ISO 45001 is intended to be applicable to any organisation regardless of its size, type and nature. All of its requirements are intended to be integrated into an organisation’s own management processes.

We have certification to OHSAS18001, what will happen to this?

OHSAS 18001 will be withdrawn on publication of ISO 45001 and organisations currently certified to OHSAS 18001 will have a three-year period to migrate to ISO 45001.

How soon or how long do I have to migrate to ISO 45001?

Following publication of ISO 45001, certification will be available to the new standard. All organisations certified to OHSAS 18001 will be able to migrate to ISO 45001, and migration from the old to the new will be available until 3 years from the day of publication of ISO 45001.

If you would like more help understanding ISO 45001 – then contact us today!