ISO 45001

What it means

ISO 45001 is the international standard for occupational health and safety management systems. It builds on the statutory duties in occupational health and safety and adds systematic risk management, objectives, worker involvement and continual improvement.

The standard replaced the older OHSAS 18001 and shares its structure with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. A company that already has a certified quality system can therefore add health and safety without building an entirely new system of documentation and audits.

The difference from simply complying with the law lies in the approach. The law requires, for example, a risk assessment and training; the standard requires the company to evaluate these outputs, track indicators, investigate near misses and show that safety performance is improving.

How it works in practice

In practice the system rests on a register of hazards and risks for every workplace and activity. Alongside it comes an action plan with deadlines and owners, and the safety technician regularly checks whether the measures have been introduced and are working.

An important element is reporting and investigating incidents, not only workplace accidents but also situations where an injury nearly happened. Near misses reveal weak spots before anyone is actually hurt, and so also reduce the cost of sick leave.

The standard requires consultation and participation of workers. The company should have a clear channel through which staff report hazards without fear of reprisal, and employee safety representatives should be involved in risk assessment and in choosing personal protective equipment.

What to watch out for

Certification does not relieve the employer of responsibility for complying with the law. A labour inspectorate looks at the real situation in the workplace, not at whether a manual exists. A paper system without real measures can even weaken the company's position after a serious accident.

The standard also requires managing the risks of contractors and subcontractors working on your site. If outside firms work on a construction site or in a hall, health and safety must be coordinated and it must be agreed who provides training and equipment; otherwise gaps in responsibility appear.