ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety System

ISO 45001:2018 specifies requirements for an occupational health and safety (OHS) management system and provides guidance on using this system to enable organisations to provide safe and healthy workplaces by preventing work-related injuries and illnesses, as well as proactively improving OHS performance.

ISO 45001:2018 is applicable to any organization that wants to establish, implement and maintain an OSH management system to improve occupational health and safety, eliminate hazards and minimize OSH risks (including system deficiencies), take advantage of OSH opportunities and address OSH management system nonconformities associated with its activities.

ISO 45001:2018 helps an organization achieve the intended results of its OH&S management system. In line with the organization’s OH&S policy, the intended results of an OH&S management system include:

a) Continuous improvement of Occupational Health and Safety performance;

b) Fulfillment of legal and other requirements;

c) Achieving OHS targets.

ISO 45001:2018 applies to all types of organizations, regardless of their size, type, or activities. It can be applied to the OH&S risks under the organization’s control, taking into account factors such as the context in which the organization operates and the needs and expectations of its employees and other interested parties.

ISO 45001:2018 does not specify specific criteria for OSH performance, nor does it prescribe the design of an OSH management system.

ISO 45001:2018 enables an organization to integrate other health and safety aspects such as worker welfare/health through its OH&S management system.

ISO 45001:2018 does not address issues such as product safety, property damage or environmental impacts beyond risks to workers and other interested parties.

ISO 45001:2018 can be used, in whole or in part, to systematically improve occupational health and safety management. However, claims of conformity to this document cannot be accepted unless all its requirements are incorporated into an organization’s OH&S management system and fulfilled without exception.