Every year, millions of people worldwide suffer injuries, illnesses, or even fatalities due to workplace accidents. ISO has recognized the need to provide a safe and healthy work environment for all employees, which led to the publication of this international standard to help organizations implement it. Let's examine the standard in greater detail.
The ISO 45001 certification is an international standard for occupational health and safety management systems. The standard aims to reduce workplace risks and improve employee safety.
Obtaining ISO 45001 certification enables an organization to demonstrate that it implements a health and safety management system based on best practices, reducing the likelihood of accidents and legal non-compliance.
This standard surpasses many other occupational health and safety standards because it was developed by a committee of industry experts who considered existing international references in this field.
Any company can achieve ISO 45001 certification if it has employees or individuals affected by its operations. The standard applies equally to small organizations with low-risk activities and large, complex high-risk enterprises.
The ISO 45001 standard follows the Annex SL structure organized around 10 clauses. To successfully achieve certification, companies must address the following requirements:
Organizational Context
The organizational context refers to internal and external factors influencing operations that must be identified. Meeting this requirement also involves understanding stakeholders and how they are affected.
Leadership and Worker Participation
To establish realistic occupational health and safety objectives, organizations must clearly communicate roles and responsibilities, ensure management accountability for the system, and provide employees with necessary tools and resources.
Planning
This requirement highlights the need for organizations to adapt to changes. It necessitates implementing a clear plan to identify, assess, and manage health and safety risks, including communication strategies and documentation management.
Support
Meeting this requirement involves providing the necessary tools and resources to design, implement, and maintain the management system. This may include training key personnel, procuring personal protective equipment, and clearly communicating objectives.
Operation
This section requires evaluating existing procedures against legal obligations, then planning how to identify and respond to emergencies, risks, and opportunities. Regular formal risk assessments form a crucial part of this requirement.
Performance Evaluation
Organizations must monitor and evaluate occupational health and safety performance by establishing measurable criteria, thereby demonstrating the effectiveness of their management system.
Improvement
Continuous improvement is a fundamental requirement of this standard, demonstrating forward-thinking and commitment to better performance. This is achieved through regular monitoring, evaluation, and appropriate corrective actions.
To obtain ISO 45001 certification, organizations must follow several steps: understanding the requirements, determining implementation methods, building an operational management system, undergoing conformity audits by a certification body, and finally achieving certification.