An occupational health and safety management system is a management system that focuses on driving and improving occupational health and safety performance through identifying, prioritizing and managing occupational health and safety risk in business operation. The purpose of ISO 45001:2018 occupational health and safety (OHS) management system standard is to provide a framework for managing OHS risks. The intended outcomes of the OHSMS are to prevent work-related injury and ill health to workers and to provide safe and healthy workplaces; consequently, it is critically important for the organization to eliminate hazards and minimize OHS risks by taking effective preventive and protective measures.
When these measures are applied by the organization through its OHS management system, they improve its OHS performance. An OHS management system can be more effective and efficient when taking early action to address opportunities for improvement of OHS performance.
Implementing an OHS management system conforming to this document enables an organization to manage its OHS risks and improve its OHS performance. An OHS management system can assist an organization to fulfil its legal requirements and other requirements.
ISO 14001 requires organization to:
Consider external and internal factors that are relevant to its purpose and its strategic direction and that affect its ability to achieve the intended result(s);
- To address risks and opportunities;
- To establish policy, objectives and performance indicators;
- To control and monitor or measure in-house and outsourced processes;
- To engage workers in consultation and participation
- To verify, analyse and improve performance.
Based on the ISO Annex SL high level structure, the ISO 45001:2018 has ten (10) clauses
- Clause 1 Scope
- Clause 2 Normative Reference
- Clause 3 Terms and definitions
- Clause 4 Context of organization
- Clause 5 Leadership
- Clause 6 Planning
- Clause 7 Support
- Clause 8 Operation
- Clause 9 Performance Evaluation
- Clause 10 Improvement
Based on the Deming PDCA (Plan-do-check-it) cycle, ISO 45001 has the same basic structure as other international management system standards such as ISO 9001 or ISO 14001. It offers a common framework for integrating different management systems. Please refer to the Certification page for more details.
(ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 22000, ISO 27001)
ISO 45001 is a requirement standard which means organizations can be certified to it. It is generic in nature and is applicable to organizations of various sizes and background.
In order to capitalize the full offer of ISO 45001, organizations shall acquire an accurate understanding of the requirements and the intent of the standard. They shall perform a gap analysis to determine the status of the organization compared to the certification requirements. From top management to front line staff, all levels of staff shall acquire an appropriate level of understanding of the standard. Top management commitment is a critical success factor. Work on a realistic plan and not the least, ensure a strong buy-in from everybody.
Apart from enhancement in creditability through third party certification, an effective ISO 45001 management system shall deliver the following inherent benefits:
- Consistent and improved occupational health and safety performance;
- Platform for process and management control and improvement; and
- Facilitates legal compliance.
HKV training courses are designed to offer different levels of staff the opportunity to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to develop, implement, maintain and improve an effective management system.
Refer to the Training page for details on ISO 45001 training. Contact us on your questions or requirements of in house training.
