The requirements of ISO 45001 or occupational health and safety standard have been prepared by a group of industry health and safety experts. In this standard, they have designed a risk-based approach to predict risks; Not just reacting to events.
What is ISO 45001 ?
ISO 45001 has been defined as a recognized international standard for occupational health and safety management systems. This standard is unique; Because it combines decades of industry best practices for practical worker safety issues in the familiar format of ISO regulations.
ISO 45001 requirements focus on a process approach to analyzing potential risks and benefits for day-to-day operations in an organization. The purpose of this standard is to help companies improve workflow and prevent workplace accidents as a sustainable practice.
ISO 45001 documents
Whenever they record events or non-conformances, companies should take the time to report them to their team. If necessary, they should communicate requirements with stakeholders, customers or regulatory bodies.
The investigation of these issues should be carefully documented to provide evidence that corrective action was taken as soon as possible. These documents show commitment to the health and safety of workers.
The purpose of implementing the requirements of ISO 45001
ISO 45001 requirements can be used as a very efficient way to create a safety management system. These requirements meet Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulatory standards; It also encourages safety teams to focus on risk management by studying operations and potential hazards.
This standard does not require you to restructure a public safety program; Rather, it focuses on adapting a dynamic safety plan to your daily operations.
What are the requirements of ISO 45001?
ISO 45001 requirements are also designed to follow the same ten-point format. Paragraphs 1 to 3 introduce and inform the standard specifications. From paragraph 4, companies get acquainted with the first requirements and start developing their new management system. In the following, we will get to know each of these clauses briefly:
Clause 4 – The context of the organization
Following the standard ISO format, organizations are first asked to specify their field of activity. In examining the external and internal forces affecting effectiveness, companies can clearly define their system expectations or safety and health goals.
In addition to the context, companies must also define the scope of their management system; It means that the procedures included in the system and the boundaries for what is controlled are clear.
Clause 5 – Leadership and participation of workers
The executive leader is required to take overall responsibility for the implementation of ISO 45001 requirements and be accountable for the health and safety of all workers. Through Clause 5, leadership is responsible for defining roles and responsibilities within their team and creating and maintaining documentation for all levels of participation.
Clause 6 – Planning
After assigning responsibilities and defining the context, scope and policy of the organization, companies can plan for the actual development and implementation of the management system in accordance with the requirements of ISO 45001.
With the framework defined, companies begin to develop processes to achieve their system goals and create a safety-driven culture of continuous improvement. (Check stage in the PDCA cycle)
Clause 7 – Support
Implementing an effective management system requires generous support from the entire organization. Organizations will develop the necessary support to pursue ISO 45001 compliance and certification through resources, competence, awareness, communication and documentation.
Clause 8 – Operation
So far, it has been determined that proper process evaluation, new procedure development, and complete documentation are needed to comply with ISO 45001. Phase 8 is when the act of implementation happens, and companies must carefully focus on the effectiveness of each of their programs as they work. (stage of PDCA cycle)
Clause 9 – performance evaluation
Measuring the effectiveness of a newly developed management system is critical to its success. ISO 45001 sets out requirements for performance assessment that must be carefully monitored to provide the necessary documentation for compliance and certification. (Check stage in the PDCA cycle)
Clause 10 – Improvement
The final clause of ISO 45001 requirements, through risk identification and goal setting, find countless ways to improve and help companies’ ability to achieve goals. (action step in the PDCA cycle)
Application of ISO 45001 requirements
The requirements of ISO 45001 are designed to maintain a safe and healthy work experience for the workforce and continuously look for areas where further improvement can be made.
In this standard, from physical stress and risk management to mental and emotional issues and every aspect that can potentially affect the health and well-being of employees, it is examined and optimized for excellence.
The reasons for obtaining the ISO 45001 certificate
According to official statistics, more than 7,600 employees die every day due to a work-related illness or injury. ISO 45001 aims to protect the people who work for you to enhance your brand reputation as a responsible corporate entity.
Obtaining ISO 45001 is not a legal requirement, but it is increasingly important; This standard helps you demonstrate your commitment to the safety and well-being of internal and external team stakeholders.
5-step program for safety management
You can follow a five-step plan to structure and implement your safety management strategy:
1- Understanding OSHA management systems
Learning the requirements of ISO 45001 and the 11 recommended success factors for implementation is critical. The deeper your understanding of safety management systems, the better your chances of success.
2- Integration of management systems
If you have already implemented systems such as ISO 9001 for quality or ISO 14001 for environmental sustainability, then you have a very good foundation; Because the main principles of ISO 45001 are common with these standards, and its implementation will be easy for you.
3- Cooperation with stakeholders
The next step is to help everyone; From construction workers who manually advance a project to senior managers, the importance of standard implementation must be understood. This cooperation encourages people to accept the idea and understand their position.
4- Prioritizing tasks and determining milestones
The next step is to align the safety program with business metrics to set goals. Ensure that health and safety measures increase productivity rather than decrease profits; Because safety should lead to economic savings in the long run.
5- Setting up your own safety management program
The final step is to launch your project and iterate over time as you learn more about how it works in a real environment.
Continuous improvement
Finding non-conformities and experiencing safety incidents is inevitable for any organization. There is no limit to the ways in which the risk of illness and injury can be reduced in the workplace, and using the requirements of ISO 45001, the PDCA cycle and the general principles of ISO can be useful for business growth.
Pursuing ISO 45001 compliance and certification requires a thorough review of the organization’s safety systems, protocols, processes, and employees. A genuine commitment and prioritization of employee well-being ensures that the implementation of this system is set up for long-term success and is reflected in business growth.
ISO 45001 as part of the IMS package
If the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards are also obtained along with the ISO 45001 certificate, then the IMS integrated management system has been implemented. Companies and organizations are recommended to take this package to save money and create a positive impact on their customers.