ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
The OHSAS 18001:2007 standard has been replaced by the ISO 45001:2015 International standard, globally recognised by ISO. This ISO 45001 standard is easily integrated with ISO 9001:2026 and ISO 14001:2026 aligned to the 10-clause high-level structure (Annexure SL).
The focus of the ISO 45001:2018 standard is to identify the activities within each process, and document potential hazards and risks utilising a risk framework, to determine the controls or mitigations. A mitigation/treatment plan is created to assist in reducing the risks with controls according to your risk appetite and tolerance level. In the event that risks cannot be eliminated, the hierarchy of controls will be applied: elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) controls. This is also formally known as a Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA).
What is ISO 45001:2018?
Compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHAS) in General, Mining, and Construction is a key requirement, and safety files for each piece of work that is to be performed are to be controlled with an effective Safety File that considers any on-site injuries or fatalities that may occur.
ISO 45001:2018 assists organisations with an Occupational Health and Safety Act Management System to comply with Legal Requirements and provides the necessary tools to reduce the hazards, injuries, and risks by implementing effective controls and conforming to objectives, targets, Plans/Programmes, and Policies.
Below is a brief description of the PDCA cycle:
Plan – Determine and assess OH&S risks, OH&S opportunities and other risks and other opportunities, establish OH&S objectives and processes necessary to deliver results in accordance with the organisation’s OH&S policy.
Do – Implement the (Health and Safety) controls and processes as planned.
Check – Monitor and measure activities and processes with regard to the OH&S policy and OH&S objectives and report the results.
Act – Take actions to continually improve the OH&S performance to achieve the intended outcomes.
Risk-based thinking enables an organisation to identify factors that could have a negative impact on the Occupational Health and Safety Management System. An organisation is required to analyse and prioritise the risks, opportunities and occupational health and safety hazards based on what they think is acceptable and what is unacceptable to the organisations risk appetite. Preventive controls need to be in place to minimise any potential nonconformances and their recurrence.
Consistent with the organisation’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (OH&S) policy, the intended outcomes of an Occupational Health and Safety Act Management System include:
- Continual improvement of OH&S performance.
- Fulfilment of legal requirements and other requirements.
- Achievement of OH&S objectives.
ISO 45001:2018 adopts a risk-based approach that ensures it is effective and undergoes continual improvement to meet the ever-changing context of an organisation.
Why does an organisation need ISO 45001:2018?
Any organisation is accountable for the occupational health and safety of workers and others who can be affected by its activities. ISO 45001:2018 is applicable to any organisation that wants to establish, implement, and maintain an OH&S management system to improve occupational health and safety management, eliminate hazards, and minimise OH&S risks. Your business can take advantage of OH&S opportunities and address OH&S management system non-conformities. Organisations of any size can be certified.
ISO 45001:2018 delivers the necessary framework for an (OH&S) management system which ensures compliance to the Occupational Health & Safety Act and any other statutory, regulatory and contractual requirements. By implementing such a management system, your business can manage OH&S risks and improve OH&S performance and reachable objectives.
What are the benefits of implementing ISO 45001:2018?
- Employee safety is improved by reducing workplace illnesses and injuries.
- Reduces risks by identifying safety hazards before they become an accident.
- Sustainability is achieved by a proactive safety philosophy.
- Fosters management involvement and accountability.
- Promotion of employee involvement through consultation and participation.
- Stakeholder confidence is boosted by demonstrating that your employee safety is a priority.
- Lowering injuries within the organisation decreasing downtime, increasing productivity, and saving costs on claim payouts.
- Identifying opportunities to increase safety awareness.
ISO Standards are internationally recognised, giving your organisation a competitive advantage. A successful health and safety programme will engage employees in all aspects of safety. By obtaining certification, your organisation will proudly showcase its commitment to best safety practices and continual improvement.
How do I implement ISO 45001:2018 in an organisation?
ISO Consulting and 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 organisation 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.
