Nowadays, an increasing number of enterprises operate in fields such as construction, mining and processing, transportation and warehousing, manufacturing and repair, etc. These are among the industries with many hazards that may lead to unsafe conditions for employees. The possibility of direct accidents is relatively high, affecting workers as well as society.

Therefore, the International Organization for Standardization has issued ISO 45001:2018 to help reduce workplace risks and improve labor efficiency more rapidly.

ISO 45001:2018 Standard

ISO 45001 is a system for managing occupational health and safety, providing criteria and a framework to improve workplace safety, reduce risks at the workplace, and create safer working conditions. It helps organizations provide a safe and healthy working environment for workers and others, preventing fatalities, work-related injuries, and illnesses arising from their working environment.

Organizations that should apply ISO 45001:2018

ISO 45001:2018 can be applied to all enterprises regardless of their geographical location, size, type, or the products and services they provide.

Whether your organization is a small business or a global corporation, a non-profit organization, or a training institution, any organization with people working and maintaining business operations can benefit from implementing ISO 45001:2018. Applying this standard to manage occupational health and safety helps organizations demonstrate brand responsibility by committing to providing safe, healthy, and sustainable working conditions.

How has ISO 45001:2018 changed?

Currently, ISO 45001 has introduced several improvements and updates.

Clause 4.1 introduces internal and external issues, including new provisions to systematically identify and monitor the organization’s context.

It also emphasizes focusing on workers’ expectations and needs, the interests of relevant parties, and worker participation.

ISO 45001 clearly highlights responsibility for managing risks and opportunities. Organizations therefore need to identify, take corrective measures, and review risks and opportunities that may impact the management system, whether positively or negatively, in order to improve workplace health and safety.

ISO 45001 replaces the OHSAS 18001 standard, which was previously used worldwide as a reference for occupational health and safety. Organizations certified to OHSAS 18001 were given three years to transition to the new ISO 45001 standard.

Structure of ISO 45001:2018

ISO 45001 consists of 10 clauses with a clear structure defining the requirements that must be met when applying an OH&S management system.

Clauses 1–3 relate to scope, normative references, and introductory content, and are not mandatory requirements.
Clauses 4–10 are requirements that organizations must implement to demonstrate conformity of their occupational health and safety management system with ISO 45001.

• Clause 4: Context of the organization
• Clause 5: Leadership and worker participation
• Clause 6: Planning for the OH&S system
• Clause 7: Support
• Clause 8: Operation
• Clause 9: Performance evaluation
• Clause 10: Improvement opportunities

Benefits of ISO 45001:2018 for organizations

Applying ISO 45001:2018 provides many business development benefits, including:

• Creating a safe and healthy working environment for employees, building trust and improving morale, thereby strengthening employee commitment to the organization.
• Reducing insurance costs for the enterprise.
• Applying a risk-based approach to the OH&S management system to ensure effectiveness and continual improvement in response to changing organizational contexts.
• Enhancing brand recognition and corporate image value.
• Understanding customer requirements: ISO 45001:2018 helps assure customers about product quality by continuously improving product quality and related processes to better meet customer expectations.
• Increasing revenue from new customers.
• Empowering employees: a practical management system provides employees with what they need to perform better — clear tasks and efficient execution — thereby fostering a professional business culture within the organization.

It is hoped that through this article, you will gain a better understanding of ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management System.

ISSQ Quality Institute is always ready to accompany companies during the period of integration and development.

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Published date: 13/08/2022