ISO 45001: new occupational health and safety management standard
Publication of ISO 45001 replaces the OHSAS 18001 standard, which was until now the most widely used benchmark for occupational health and safety management. In fact, this system is currently certified for over 5,000 organisations in Spain. OHSAS 18001-certified companies are given a period of three years to migrate to ISO 45001.
Is abiding by occupational risk prevention law not enough?
The implementation of a management system in this area is essential in order to carry out preventive activities in a structured, coordinated manner in conjunction with organisational activities and decisions.
Along these lines, the new standard highlights the role of senior management in system leadership as a relevant part of its business strategy. It also emphasises the meeting of legal requirements, the development of indicators to prove continuous improvement, the participation of employees and the management of risks and opportunities.
Why implement ISO 45001?
Implementation of the ISO 45001 standard therefore helps organisations:
- Reduce accidents in the workplace through the prevention and control of occupational risks
- Guarantee compliance with legal obligations regarding occupational risk prevention
- Reduce penalties, lost materials and downtime in the production process caused by accidents in the workplace, avoiding costs and drops in the quantity and quality of the production obtained and, therefore, in the productivity of the business.
- Increase employee motivation and satisfaction.
Who can implement ISO 45001?
ISO 45001 is voluntary and can be applied to any organisation, regardless of its size, type or activities, and can be certified by an independent third party. It is also fully in line with other internationally recognised management standards, such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.
