ISO/PAS 45005:2020 GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR SAFE WORKING DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
ISO/PAS 45005:2020 General guidelines for safe working during the COVID-19 pandemic
At the onset of COVID-19, there was no comprehensive ISO standard specifically to address the full scope of measures required to manage such a global health crisis.
In response, ISO/PAS 45005:2020 was published to provide practical guidelines for managing COVID-19 related risks in the workplace, supporting organisations in maintaining safe and healthy working environments.
ISO/PAS 45005:2020 is a guideline standard that assists enterprises to address risks originating from COVID-19, and to effectively protect employees by assisting them in putting the best practices into work during this emergency.
The standard went beyond normal safety management rules, but focused specifically on occupational health, safety, and well-being in the workplace during the pandemic.
What is ISO/PAS 45005:2020?
ISO/PAS 45005:2020 provides guidelines for organisations to manage the risks arising from COVID-19, seeking to protect occupational health, safety and welfare.
The standard is applicable to organisations that:
- Have been working throughout the pandemic.
- Are continuing or planning to continue operations following full or partial closure.
- Are re-occupying workplaces that have been fully or partially closed.
- Are new and planning to operate for the first time.
It is a guideline relating to the protection of workers of all types (e.g. workers employed by the organisation, workers of external providers, contractors, self-employed individuals, agency workers, older workers, workers with a disability and first responders), and other relevant interested parties (e.g. visitors to a workplace, including members of the public).
ISO/PAS 45005 offers recommendations such as:
- Planning and assessing risks associated with COVID-19.
- Implementing control measures, including physical distancing, hygiene, ventilation and use of PPE.
- Managing suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases in the workplace or at home.
- Planning for changes to restrictions.
- Adjustments to operations in the organisation’s premises.
- Provisions for home working, mobile working, working in other premises and work settings.
- Managing remote working environments.
- Monitoring, evaluation, and improvement of control measures and responding to changes.
- Adjustments to activities and roles.
- Supporting the mental health and well-being of employees.
- Preparing for business continuity and return-to-work strategies.
Why does an Organisation need ISO/PAS 45005:2020?
Implementing ISO/PAS 45005 can assist any organisation to take effective measures to protect their employees and interested parties from the risks related to COVID-19. It also provides the guideline for organisations to:
- Demonstrate that they are addressing risks related to COVID-19 using a systematic approach.
- Establish a framework to enable effective and timely adaptation to the changing situation.
The pandemic has highlighted the need for organisations to strengthen measures that safeguard both employee well-being and business continuity. In particular, the mental health and well-being of employees has issue emerged as a critical priority. By implementing the standard, organisations can take proactive and structured measures to protect employees and other relevant interested parties from the risks related to COVID-19. Furthermore, the standard enables organisations to demonstrate a systematic and responsive approach to managing pandemic-related risks, supporting effective and timely adaptation to the evolving circumstances.
What are the Benefits of Implementing ISO/PAS 45005:2020?
- Offers real-world examples of ways of managing risks.
- Supports comprehensive risk assessment.
- Provides a single source of good practice based on current information.
- Decrease downtime and overall costs of incidents at the workplace.
- Assists in developing a response plan to enable rapid changes if risk levels or operating restrictions change at short notice.
- Enables planning across multiple sites and for many types of workers.
- Helps to manage the risk of communicable diseases and can decrease sickness absence due to seasonal and other illnesses.
- Enhances compliance with Legal and Regulatory requirements.
- Be in line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (3,8,9,10,11).
How do I implement ISO/PAS 45005:2020 in an organisation?
ISO Consulting & Implementation:
We have a range of professional consultants, engineers, and registered auditors to assist in implementing and maintaining your ISO management system. Our industry expertise includes services, telecommunication, manufacturing, construction, engineering services, fast-moving consumer goods, mining, power generation, state owned companies, and government-run organisations. Each of our consultants takes the time to truly understand the processes of your organisation, which will enable them to implement ISO requirements accordingly and effectively. Hiring a consultant and the time spent to implement your ISO management system will pay off in the long run.
WWISE has a 4-Phase Approach:
- Phase 1: Gap Analysis Audit and Information Gathering
- Phase 2: ISO Documentation, Risk Assessment, and Process Mapping
- Phase 3: Implementation and Training
- Phase 4: Certification
At WWISE we provide a fully inclusive solution that includes full turnkey, awareness training, classroom and online training, and mentorship. As a consulting firm, we do not provide certification services. However, we will guide you through the certification process and ensure that your business becomes certified.
Why Choose WWISE to Assist your Organisation:
Certification Process:
An organisation can get certified to a requirement standard. You can implement the standard and get certified by a third-party.
