Working together to improve health and safety

ISO 45001, the new international standard for Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) raises the importance of health and safety on the corporate agenda, bringing benefits to organisations and workers all over the world.

ISO 45001 combines the technical strength of existing Health and Safety standards, including OHSAS 18001, with the high-level structure of other international standards like ISO 9001 (Quality) and ISO 14001 (Environment), which makes ISO 45001 easier to integrate into wider business management systems.

The standard requires organisations to look beyond their own health and safety requirements and consider what external requirements and risks exist, as well as what health and safety issues impact both on them and wider society. ISO 45001, as with other Annex SL-based standards, has a strong focus on the ‘Role of Top Management’ and the ‘Context of an Organisation’, which ensures buy-in from senior management and a greater employee contribution.

The implementation of an OH&S management system is a strategic and operational decision, and its success depends on leadership, commitment and participation from all levels and functions of an organisation. This ensures that the management system is aligned with the organisation’s strategy and fosters greater transparency with the company’s aspirations and progress, providing employees and stakeholders with more clarity.

ISO 45001 also requires organisations to consider the health and safety issues within their wider supply chain, both in terms of being an interested party and more clearly in the clauses covering procurement. The process of managing outsourcing, contractors and procurement arrangements is made explicit in the clauses of the standard, which should lead to better risk identification and greater efficiencies. 

Applicable to organisations of any size, sector or location, ISO 45001 provides an opportunity for both OHSAS 18001 certified organisations as well as those organisations who currently lack a formal OH&S management system to demonstrate their commitment to improving health and safety performance, making their workplace safer and healthier for all.

As a leading Certification Body, Lloyd’s Register is able to support organisations looking at gaining ISO 45001 approval, or migrating from OHSAS 18001 to ISO 45001. Our ISO 45001 support club helps organisations by providing regular updates and guidance on ISO 45001. The support club members receive exclusive access to expert guidance like our ISO 45001 implementation guide which aims to offer organisations an understanding of the requirements of ISO 45001.

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