INSTITUTE FOR STANDARD AND QUALITY DEVELOPMENT STUDIES
The ISO 45001 standard for Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Management Systems provides the criteria and framework to improve labor safety, mitigate workplace risks, and create safer working conditions. This standard is applicable to all organizations regardless of geographical location, size, sector, or the products and services provided.
Occupational safety encompasses integrated measures to prevent and deter accidents or incidents during work. Ensuring safety helps limit physical injuries and financial losses.
This is a critical concern for both employees and employers. Consequently, the ISO 45001 standard was established to help enterprises develop and manage their operations according to international occupational health and safety benchmarks. Below, the ISSQ Institute for Quality Management provides insights into ISO 45001 Certification – Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems.
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), there are approximately 2.78 million work-related fatalities globally every year. Additionally, there are around 374 million non-fatal work-related injuries and illnesses annually.
The ILO estimates that the total global cost of work-related injuries, deaths, and diseases amounts to approximately 3.94% of global GDP (roughly $2.99 trillion).
In response to this reality, ISO developed a new regulation based on OH&S standards to help companies address these issues: ISO 45001:2018 – Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems.
Implementing an OH&S management system according to ISO 45001 is vital for organizations to protect the health and lives of their workforce while ensuring compliance with legal requirements regarding labor safety and hygiene.
While ISO 45001 is applicable to all industries and manufacturing sectors, it is particularly essential for high-risk fields where hazards to worker health and safety are prevalent, including:
Construction and Engineering
Chemical Manufacturing
Mining and Mineral Extraction
Building Materials Production
Toy Manufacturing
Metallurgy
This standard helps enterprises streamline their occupational health and safety management through four key advantages:
Creating a Competitive Edge Implementing ISO 45001:2018 affirms legal compliance and a commitment to employee safety. It enhances stakeholder trust, reduces risks and insurance premiums, and provides a distinct competitive advantage.
Building Trust with Customers and Partners Achieving ISO 45001 certification proves that an organization has established an international-standard OH&S system. It serves as evidence of the company’s investment in equipment and optimal working conditions to minimize accidents and health hazards, thereby strengthening brand reputation with partners.
Fostering a Safe Environment and Employee Retention The standard requires systematic hazard identification and risk management. By creating a healthier and safer environment, businesses reduce absenteeism due to illness or injury, leading to stabilized productivity and quality.
Meeting Legal Requirements Currently, many legal frameworks require businesses to guarantee occupational health and safety during production and business operations.
The approach to the OH&S management system in ISO 45001 is built on the PDCA model: Plan – Do – Check – Act. This is an iterative process aimed at achieving continual improvement:
Plan: Identify and assess OH&S risks and opportunities. Establish objectives and processes necessary to deliver results in accordance with the organization's policy.
Do: Implement the processes as planned.
Check: Monitor and measure activities against the OH&S policy and objectives, and report the results.
Act: Take actions to continually improve the system’s performance.
The ISSQ Institute Quality is ready to accompany your company through this era of integration and development.
Contact Information:
Hotline: 0981851111
Email: vienchatluong@issq.org.vn | tcvn@issq.org.vn
Publication Date: October 25, 2022
