All companies need to ensure occupational health and safety, but in manufacturing companies, this need becomes critical due to the presence of numerous hazards that must be kept under control.
This is where the need arises to adopt a model that supports organizations in such a complex field. ISO 45001:2018 is an extremely useful standard in this regard, as it contains all globally recognized requirements necessary to design, implement, and maintain a safe environment that protects the health of workers.
Health and safety management systems are not new to the manufacturing industry, as worker safety is a critical factor in ensuring the ability to complete work. However, many safety management systems have been designed merely to comply with legal requirements as identified. To improve this situation, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has gathered the world's best practices for managing health and safety in the workplace and compiled these requirements into the ISO 45001 standard.
Although ISO 45001 includes an appendix with implementation guidelines, ISO has also released supporting standards to aid system implementation and address other occupational health aspects. In fact, there are around thirty standards available on the ISO website that cover this topic.
For example, the new ISO/DIS 45003 "Occupational health and safety management – Psychological health and safety at work – Guidelines for managing psychosocial risks" addresses psychological health and workplace safety management. Other useful documents in this field include ISO/TS 24179 "Human resource management – Occupational health and safety metrics" and ISO/TS 20559 "Graphical symbols – Safety colors and safety signs – Guidance for the development and use of a safety signing system," which provides guidance on developing and using a safety signage system.
None of these additional standards are required for ISO 45001 implementation, but they can all be used as guidance for specific aspects of health and safety management. The ISO 45001 requirements encompass all processes necessary to build a health and safety management system that goes beyond merely meeting legal requirements, striving instead to improve and reduce worker injuries and illnesses. Health and safety management includes not only identifying all stakeholders with an interest in your organization’s health and safety but also recognizing risks and hazards so they can be adequately controlled or eliminated.
ISO 45001, like many other ISO standards, can be used by any organization, in any industry, anywhere in the world. As such, it is written so that a manufacturing company, like any other business, can tailor the requirements to its needs and address the unique risks within its sector.
Implementing ISO 45001 is best carried out with a systematic approach, starting with support and approval from top management. Next, the organization must understand the legal requirements that will help define the scope of the health and safety system, as well as the processes and procedures necessary for its management. Implementing processes, including integrating existing ones, followed by training to ensure all changes are incorporated into employees’ daily work, are critical steps for optimal implementation of the standard’s requirements.
Finally, once you apply your processes daily and maintain related records, you will use internal audits, management reviews, and corrective actions to assess and refine the system as needed. Only at this point will you be ready to certify your health and safety management system.
One of the key principles of ISO 45001 is that the health and safety management system must improve over time. Identifying improvements is essential for any organization that wants to remain operational in the long run. This is one of the primary advantages of ISO 45001 for your organization: finding ways to enhance your company’s processes.
A well-planned system will also help you maintain compliance with legal health and safety requirements and may lead to reduced employee turnover, as they will be working for an employer committed to providing a safe work environment. All these returns on the investment in implementing a system based on ISO 45001 requirements can ultimately enhance your organization’s reputation and credibility among stakeholders.
A system designed using ISO 45001 also aligns well with the quality management requirements of ISO 9001, the world’s most widely used management system standard. A quality system focuses on finding ways to improve how products and services are created and delivered to customers. This alignment between the two management systems will help you discover overall improvements that make your processes not only more efficient but also safer to execute. Safer business activities mean fewer injuries and better health for your workers, as well as a more consistent workforce for quality management. By improving your health and safety processes, you will provide workers with the peace of mind they need to perform well, thereby enhancing overall organizational performance.