If you are wondering why organisations need ISO 45001 and why is it important to get certified, this article will answer all your queries. As the world continues to expand, it is important that organisations, both small and large, make sure that their safety precautions are in line with international standards, so that their customers, staff and external stakeholders are protected.
Sometimes, aspects of your operations that could pose a threat to your employees can easily be forgotten or overlooked and it is even more difficult to anticipate risks that haven’t been discovered yet.
This is where ISO 45001 comes into play. We will talk about how ISO 45001 steps into the equation when talking about occupational safety, what the certification actually is and why is it important by elaborating its benefits.
What is ISO 45001?
ISO 45001:2018 is an international standard that targets enhancement of occupational safety. The standard helps organisations, irrespective of their size, scope or operations, create an effective Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS). This framework is comprehensive and protects the health and safety of those working in the organisation, as well as any relevant stakeholders.
The aim of ISO 45001 is to impart a continual cycle of performance in the context of occupational health and safety in addition to meeting any legal or regulatory obligations of your industry.
The reason why this standard is extremely valuable is that it has been created, revised and written by a committee of technical experts who have immense experience, both theoretical and real world, in the occupational health and safety domain.
Why is ISO 45001 important?
ISO 45001 certification is extremely vital when it comes to your organisation meeting all the mandatory regulatory requirements and assembling a customised OHSMS. Instead of giving your organisation a “ready to go” or generic safety system, the ISO 45001 standard helps you create a management system that is specific to your operations, problems and people.
This management system is designed by specifically observing your operations, so that you can target the risky or problematic areas of your operation and mitigate any threats as you move into the future. By using professional ISO consulting services, you can easily implement ISO 45001 and take advantage of its benefits.
Why should you get ISO 45001 certified?
You should consider becoming certified to ISO 45001, as it will mitigate any risks that manifest into the future, protecting the health and safety of your staff and giving them the assurance that you care for them. Additionally, when you focus on health and safety, it inspires consumer’s confidence from all relevant stakeholders.
Moreover, the process of assembling a management system will help you gain an intricate understanding of your operations, allowing you to take informed decisions about your future growth.
Another significant reason that might inspire you to get ISO 45001 certified is that you will become eligible for business opportunities that are usually reserved for organisations which have a proven management system and internationally recognised practises.
Hence, to summarise, an occupational health and safety management system is an investment that shows regulators your commitment to improving the safety of your organisation.
Benefits of ISO 45001
Being ISO 45001 certified brings with it many benefits. This includes:
- Becoming eligible to work on more lucrative and larger projects that are usually reserved for companies with international certifications, OHMS systems and proven brand credibility.
- Gaining a comprehensive understanding of your operations, so that you can take informed decisions about the strategy of your future.
- Addressing and identifying all risks in your operations to minimise the potential of any incidents, accidents, injuries or deaths on site.
- Inspiring consumer’s and stakeholder’s confidence in your ability to identify, plan for and mitigate any hidden or evident risks.
- Overcoming any regulatory or statutory hurdles.
- Making more informed decisions in line with risk-based thinking, so that not only the negative and hidden risks are identified, but you also get the opportunity to explore hidden opportunities.
- Utilising the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle of improvement to continuously enhance the efficiency of your operations and explore business opportunities.
How do I get ISO 45001 certified?
The ISO 45001 outlines requirements in the form of 10 clauses. In order to achieve certification, you need to create an auditable management system that aligns with these requirements. In addition to creating an efficient, sustainable and compliant management system, you need to conduct a gap assessment to identify any deficiencies between your current practices and the ones stipulated in ISO 45001.
Many organisations, at this point, choose to hire an ISO 45001 consultant, as they make this task much easier. After ensuring its compliance and checking the validity of your documentation, you must conduct an internal audit to measure the actual efficiency of your processes.
The key findings from the internal audit must be discussed in management reviews and appropriate corrective actions should be taken to mitigate any unsatisfactory aspects of your OHSMS.
Now, you would be ready to undergo an external audit by a certification body, and during this audit, you must produce the reports of the internal audits and the management reviews to showcase evidence of how you are maintaining your OHSMS.