Iso 45001:2015 is the world’s first international standard that deals with occupational health and safety. It works to improve levels of workplace safety in all kinds of companies. ISO covers all the variables that might lead to injury, illnesses, or even death for workers and visitors. It was established with the need for an internationally recognized system for controlling and improving health and safety performance.
Previously, OHSAS 18001 was the benchmark for occupational health and safety management. It was solely based on the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle. It focused on managing Occupational Health and Safety hazards and other internal issues. The OHSAS 18001 was cancelled to adopt ISO 45001 because there was an evident need for an internationally recognized system for occupational health and safety.
ISO 45001 was formed by taking OHSAS 18001 as the baseline. However, ISO 45001 is not a revision or update on 18001, it is an entirely new standard for companies to ensure safety for their employees as well as other shareholders. Organizations that were accredited with OHSAS 18001 can transition into the ISO 45001 standard by September 11, 2021. If they pass the deadline, their company will no longer hold a valid certification.
ISO 45001, like most ISO strdandas, has adopted the Annex SL High-Level Structure (HSL). This means it is deliberately developed to facilitate the integration of new management topics into an organization’s existing management system. The core texts and terms and definitions are identical to those of other ISO management standards like ISO 9001:2015 and 14001:2015. Unlike OHSAS 18001, ISO 45001 doesn’t exclusively deal with risk but also opportunities. It concentrates on interactions between an organization and its business organization instead of only managing internal issues and hazards.
ISO 45001 emphasizes the incorporation of health and safety into the broader management system of an organization. It ensures the involvement of senior management in driving performance improvements and in taking responsibility for the protection of their employees. The 45001 standard will bring about a culture of health and safety in the workplace by making sure that all the employees are capable of upholding the standard for a safe and efficient workplace.
There is also an emphasis on risk and opportunity. The employees are encouraged to think about the areas for improvement while simultaneously looking at the potential risks of the company. This not only works to control potential hazards but also works to drive the company forward in the meanwhile. In a similar vein, there is also a focus on proper planning and setting objectives. It helps companies form organizational goals, links them to health and safety objectives, and also helps a company prioritize its goals.
The ISO 45001:2015 is put in place to set the international standard for occupational health and safety. It seeks to improve the health and safety of the workers to ensure the minimization of hazards and the simultaneous improvement of the company.