What are the requirements of the ISO 45001 standard?
ISO 45001 is an international occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS) standard. It specifies the requirements for an OHSMS which allows an organization to:
- Managing risks to worker health and safety
- Comply with applicable legal and regulatory requirements
- Continually improve performance in terms of health and safety at work
The ISO 45001 standard is divided into 10 chapters (clauses). The 264 requirements are in chapters 4 to 10. The chapters cover the following areas:
1. Scope: This chapter defines the purpose and scope of the standard.
2. Normative references: This chapter identifies the normative documents that are used by the standard.
3. Terms and definitions: This chapter defines the terms used in the standard, see also the ISO 9000 standard.
4. Context of the organization
The organization shall:
- Identify its external and internal issues that are relevant to its purpose and its strategic direction, and that affect its ability to achieve the intended outcomes of its occupational health and safety management system
- Understand the needs and expectations of its stakeholders
- Determine the scope of its occupational health and safety management system
- Establish and maintain its OHSMS and processes concerned
5. Leadership
Top management shall:
- Demonstrate leadership and commitment to the occupational health and safety management system
- Ensure that the occupational health and safety (OHS) policy is established and communicated throughout the organization
- Appoint a person who shall have authority and responsibility for the development, implementation, and improvement of the occupational health and safety management system
- Establish a process for consultation and participation of workers in the occupational health and safety management system
6. Planning
The organization shall:
- Establish objectives and processes related to risks and opportunities
- Plan actions to achieve these objectives
7. Support
The organization shall:
- Provide resources necessary to support the implementation and improvement of its occupational health and safety management system
- Train, and provide the necessary competence for all personnel
- Make aware the personnel
- Communicate relevant information within and outside the organization
- Control the OHSMS documentation
8. Operation
The organization shall:
- Plan, implement and control its operational processes
- Establish a process needed to prepare for and respond to emergency situations
9. Performance evaluation
The organization shall:
- Monitor, measure, analyze, and evaluate the performance of the OHSMS
- Conduct internal audits in order to evaluate the effectiveness of its occupational health and safety management system
- Realize management reviews at planned interval
10. Improvement
The organization shall:
- Establish a process to manage incidents and nonconformities
- Take corrective actions
- Continually improve the occupational health and safety management system
Organizations that can demonstrate compliance with these requirements can obtain ISO 45001 certification.
ISO 45001 certification can provide numerous benefits to organizations, including:
- Improved workplace safety and health
- Reduced occupational injuries and illness
- Enhanced employee morale
- Reduced costs associated with workplace accidents and illness
- Improved compliance with occupational health and safety regulations
- Enhanced reputation for prioritizing workplace safety and health
