ISO 45001:2018

1. Overview of ISO 45001:2018

ISO 45001:2018 is an international standard that specifies requirements for an Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) management system.
It provides a framework to improve employee safety, reduce workplace risks, and create better, safer working conditions.
It can be applied to any organization, regardless of size, type, or nature of work.

Purpose:
- Prevent work-related injury and ill health.
- Provide safe and healthy workplaces.
- Continually improve OH&S performance.

Key Principles:
- Proactive risk management.
- Leadership involvement.
- Worker participation.
- Integration with business processes.
- Continuous improvement.

2. High-Level Structure (HLS)

ISO 45001 uses the Annex SL structure, which aligns it with other ISO standards (like ISO 9001, ISO 14001), making integration easier.
The standard has 10 clauses:

Clause	Title	Description
1	Scope	Defines applicability of the standard.
2	Normative references	Provides references to ISO 45001 documents.
3	Terms & definitions	Key OH&S terminology.
4	Context of the organization	Understanding internal/external issues and needs of interested parties.
5	Leadership & worker participation	Top management responsibilities, roles, and worker involvement.
6	Planning	Identifying hazards, risks, opportunities, legal requirements, objectives, and plans.
7	Support	Resources, competence, awareness, communication, documentation.
8	Operation	Operational planning and control to manage risks and implement controls.
9	Performance evaluation	Monitoring, measurement, analysis, evaluation, internal audit, management review.
10	Improvement	Corrective actions and continual improvement.

3. Key Clauses in Detail

Clause 4 – Context of the Organization

Organizations must identify internal/external factors affecting OH&S.
Determine needs and expectations of interested parties (employees, regulators, contractors, etc.).
Define the scope of the OH&S management system.

Clause 5 – Leadership and Worker Participation

Top management must demonstrate leadership and commitment.
Establish OH&S policy aligned with organizational strategy.
Define roles, responsibilities, and accountability.
Ensure worker participation in OH&S decisions, hazard identification, and incident reporting.

Clause 6 – Planning

Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment
- Identify OH&S hazards.
- Assess risks and opportunities.
- Determine controls needed to mitigate risks.

Legal and Other Requirements
- Identify applicable laws, regulations, and contractual requirements.

OH&S Objectives
- Establish measurable OH&S objectives and plans to achieve them.
- Consider risks, opportunities, resources, and timelines.

Clause 7 – Support

- Ensure resources for implementing OH&S.
- Competence: Workers must be trained for their roles.
- Awareness: Staff understand OH&S policy, risks, and responsibilities.
- Communication: Internal & external communication on OH&S.
- Documentation & Control: Maintain and control documented information.

Clause 8 – Operation

- Operational Planning & Control: Procedures for hazard control.
- Elimination of hazards: Reduce risks at the source.
- Management of Change: Plan for changes that may affect OH&S.
- Procurement: Ensure purchased products/services meet OH&S criteria.
- Emergency Preparedness & Response: Procedures for accidents and emergencies.

Clause 9 – Performance Evaluation

- Monitor, measure, analyze, and evaluate OH&S performance.
- Conduct internal audits to check conformity.
- Management review: Top management evaluates OH&S system effectiveness.

Clause 10 – Improvement

- Identify nonconformities.
- Implement corrective actions.
- Continuously improve OH&S performance.

4. Key Concepts and Tools

Risk-Based Approach
- ISO 45001 emphasizes risk-based thinking.
- Focuses on proactive prevention of accidents rather than reacting after incidents.

Worker Participation
- Employees must be involved in decision-making.
- Methods: committees, suggestion schemes, hazard reporting.

Hierarchy of Controls
To manage hazards:
- Elimination
- Substitution
- Engineering controls
- Administrative controls
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)

5. Benefits of Implementing ISO 45001

- Reduces workplace accidents and injuries.
- Ensures legal and regulatory compliance.
- Improves worker morale and productivity.
- Enhances organizational reputation.
- Facilitates integration with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 systems.
- Reduces costs associated with incidents, insurance, and downtime.

6. Certification Process

- Develop OH&S management system based on ISO 45001.
- Conduct internal audits and management review.
- Choose accredited certification body.
- Undergo Stage 1 Audit (documentation review).
- Undergo Stage 2 Audit (implementation check on site).
- Correct any nonconformities.
- Receive ISO 45001 certification (valid 3 years, annual surveillance audits).

ISO 45001 is essentially about preventing harm, engaging workers, and embedding OH&S in your business culture, not just paperwork.