Introduction of ISO 45001
The latest estimates from the International Labour Organization show that about 6,300 people die every day as a result of work activities, a staggering 2.3 million a year, and that other work-related injuries occur as many as 300 million a year. These not only have a severe impact on employees and their families, but also greatly increase the burden on businesses, including employee absenteeism, early retirement, and increased insurance costs.
Although there are many OH&S documents available for regulatory and voluntary use, ISO has never published an international standard in this area before. In 2013, ISO/PC 283 in reference to BS OHSAS 18001, ILO-OSH 2001 and other documents related content, began to draft ISO 45001.
ISO 45001 is not intended to replace, add to, or change any regulatory text and organizational legal requirements. It will help companies provide a safer and healthier work environment for their employees and those in their workplaces, prevent deaths, injuries and health problems, and aim to continuously improve occupational health and safety performance.
Who is responsible for writing ISO 45001?
ISO/PC 283 Occupational Health and Safety Management System Project Committee.
The committee consists of 69 full members (including SAC, China’s National Standardization Committee, and related agencies from the UK, the US, Germany, France and other countries) and 16 observer members. Representatives from the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) and other organizations have also been involved in the discussion of standards.
Which organizations does ISO 45001 apply to?
All organizations.
Whether your organization is a high risk of big enterprises, low risk of small companies, non-profit organizations, charities, academic institutions, or the government departments, as long as your family members in the organization for their work, or is affected by its activities, then you can adopt the method of system to management of occupational health and safety.
What are the benefits to you of applying ISO 45001?
ISO 45001 helps organizations improve occupational health and safety performance and ensure a safe workplace for employees. Such as:
Improve the ability to comply with laws and regulations
Reduce the total cost of accidents
Reduce the cost of downtime and production disruptions
Reduced insurance costs
Reduce missed work and employee turnover
To international occupational health and safety management standards recognition
How do I apply ISO 45001?
ISO 45001 can be applied in the following ways:
Develop and implement occupational health and safety policies and objectives
Establish a systematic management process by understanding the environment in which the organization operates and the risks and opportunities that need to be addressed
Conduct hazard identification, risk assessment, and determine the necessary control measures
Enhance occupational health and safety awareness and competence of staff
Evaluate occupational health and safety performance, identify improvement opportunities and implement them
Ensure that workers play an active role in occupational health and safety matters
When will ISO 45001 be officially released?
ISO 45001 has entered the Final Draft International Standard (FDIS) voting stage at the end of November 2017. If the voting goes well, it is expected to be officially released in March 2018 at the earliest.
How does ISO 45001 relate to other standards?
ISO 45001 uses the same high-level structure as other ISO management system standards, such as ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management Systems) and ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management Systems). In developing standards, consideration is given to the content of other international standards, such as OHSAS 18001, the International Labour Organization’s Occupational Safety and Health Guidelines, national standards, international Labour standards and conventions.
Because integration with other standards was considered in advance, when ISO 45001 was published, it was found to be in line with those standards, guidelines and conventions and requirements. If you already have an OH&S management system in place, it will be relatively easy to switch to ISO 45001 in the future, and it will make it easier for the organization to integrate and integrate OH&S requirements into the overall management process.