ISO 45001 Occupational Health & Safety Management system
An Occupational Health and Safety Management System provide a framework for managing OHS responsibilities. The framework is designed to allow companies to become more efficient and operate in a more integrated manner. Specifically, OHS management systems specify a process of achieving continuously improved OHS performance and complying with legislation.
ISO 45001 – ‘Occupational Health and Safety Management Requirements’ is an international occupational health and safety management system requirements. It was developed in response to the need for organisations to meet their health and safety obligations effectively and to remove the confusion caused by the proliferation of certifiable OH&S Requirements. ISO 45001 has been developed to be compatible with the ISO 9001 (Quality) and ISO 14001 (Environmental) management systems standards. Therefore it facilitates the integration of quality, environmental and occupational health and safety management systems, for organisations wishing to do so.
ISO 45001 does not state specific OH&S performance criteria, nor does it give detailed specifications for the design of a management system. ISO 45001 is not a legislative requirement or a guide to implementation.
ISO 45001 is applicable to any organisation that wishes to:
– Establish an OH&S management system to eliminate or minimise risk to employees and other interested parties who may be exposed to OH&S risks associated with its activities
– Gain competitive advantage
– Implement, maintain, and continually improve an OH&S management system
– Assure compliance with its stated OH&S policy
– Demonstrate such compliance to third parties, suppliers, stakeholders etc
– Seek certification/registration of its OH&S management system by an external organisation
The following points are the key areas that need to be addressed when using an ISO 45001 system.
How close are you to already having a world class OHSMS in place? (Please check the points relating to the tasks you already do):
Planning for hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control – Do you identify hazards, assess risks and implement the necessary risk control measures?
OH&S management program(s) – Do you measure and monitor achievement of your performance objectives?
Structure and responsibility – Do you establish clear roles, responsibilities and authorities for personnel who manage, perform and verify activities having an effect on the OH&S risks of the organization’s activities, facilities and processes?
Training, awareness and competence – Do you ensure that personnel are competent to perform tasks that may impact OH&S in the workplace?
Consultation and communication – Do you ensure that OH&S information is communicated to and from employees and other interested parties effectively?
Operational control – Do you ensure the necessary measures and specified conditions are in place to control identified risks?
Emergency preparedness and response – Do you have plans and procedures in place to identify the potential for, and subsequent response times to emergency situations?
Performance measuring and monitoring – Do you monitor and measure OH&S performance on a regular basis? So how did you do?
If this exercise highlighted areas where you think you need to improve, contact Nucleus Consultants.
Implementing a Occupational Health & Safety Management System
Purchase the Standard
Before you can begin preparing for your application, you will require a copy of the standard. You should read this and make yourself familiar with it.
Review support information’s and documents
There are a wide range of quality support information’s and documents are available in internet to help you understand, implement and become certified to a OHS management system. (You can watch our YouTube Channel for few information’s)
Form a core team and agree on your strategy
You should begin the entire implementation process by preparing your organizational strategy with top management. Responsibility for a OHSMS lies with Top Management, therefore it is vital that Top Management is involved from the beginning of the process. With the support of Top Management form a core team. This team can include the process owners, members.
Consider Training
Whether you are the Safety Manager or Process owner seeking to implement a OHS management system or a Senior Manager who would like to increase your general awareness of ISO 14001, Hazard-Risk Assessment etc there are a range of workshops, seminars and training courses available.
Review Consultancy Options
The consultancy is the 3rd party like NUCLEUS, You can receive advice from independent consultants on how best to implement your OHS management system. They will have the experience in implementing a OHSMS and can ensure you avoid costly mistakes.
Choose a register
The registrar is the 3rd party, like (Check with International Accreditation Forum for the accredited certification body) who come and assess the effectiveness of your OHS management system, and issue a certificate if it meets the requirements of the standard. Choosing a registrar can be a complex issue as there are so many operating in the market. Factors to consider include industry experience, geographic coverage, price and service level offered. The key is to find the registrar who can best meet your requirements. A great place to start is by contacting us.
Develop a OHS Management System
You need to establish, implement, maintain and continually improve a OHS Management System in line with ISO 45001. Your processes need to adhere the Plan-Do-Check-Act + Risk Based Thinking. You need identify the scope, hazard/risk, applicable compliance obligations and manage you EMS accordingly. Establish a process for consultation, participation with the workers.
Develop support documentation
OHSMS Documentation outlines your intention to operate in a systemic manner. It outlines why you are in business, what your intentions are, how you are applying the standard and how your business operates. This is incudes processes, procedures and other documented. Quite simply, it outlines what you do to complete a task. It describes who does what, in what order and to what standard.
Implement your OHS Management System
The key to implementation is communication and training. During the implementation phase everyone operates to the procedures and collects records that demonstrate you are doing what you say you are doing.
Conduct Internal Audit and Management Review
At planned intervals you need to conduct an internal audit and a management review to verify the established OHSMS is confirming the applicable requirements and it is effective, suitable and adequate.
Gain registration
You should arrange your initial assessment with your registrar. At this point the registrar will review your OHSMS and determine whether you should be recommended for registration.
Continual assessment
Once you have received registration and been awarded your certificate, you can begin to advertise your success and promote your business. To maintain your registration, all you need to do is continue to use your OHS system. This will be periodically checked by your registrar to ensure that your OHS System continues to meet the requirements of the standard.
OHSMS Registration
Registration to ISO 45001 takes place when an accredited 3rd party visits an organization, assesses the management system and issues a certificate to show that the organization abides by to the principles set out in ISO 45001.
Your OHS Management Systems certificate is a sign of acceptability which saves you having to prove your OHS standards to discriminating customers. ISO 45001speaks an international language. Once you are certified means, the certificate is valid for 3 years and it is subject to the completion of the annual surveillance audit.
Why do I need registration?
Gaining registration to ISO 45001 through an authentic certification body will help your organization flourish. Whether you are looking to operate internationally or to expand locally to accommodate new business, ISO 45001 will help you demonstrate to customers that you have a commitment to OHS.
The regular assessment process will ensure you continually use, monitor and improve your processes.
Registration can improve overall performance, remove uncertainty and widen market opportunities.
