ISO 45001 is an international standard that specifies requirements for an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system, aiming to enable organizations to provide safe and healthy workplaces, prevent work-related injury and ill health, and continually improve their OH&S performance[3].
The structure of the ISO 45001 standard is based on the Annex SL ten-clause framework common to modern ISO management system standards. The key requirements are found in clauses 4 to 10[7]:
- Clause 4: Context of the Organization
Organizations must determine external and internal factors relevant to their purpose and that affect the ability to achieve intended OH&S outcomes. They must also identify interested parties and their requirements before defining the scope of the OH&S management system[6]. - Clause 5: Leadership and Worker Participation
Top management must demonstrate leadership and commitment, establish an OH&S policy, assign roles and responsibilities, and ensure worker consultation and participation in developing, implementing, and maintaining the OH&S management system[2]. - Clause 6: Planning
Organizations must identify hazards, assess risks and opportunities, determine legal and other requirements, establish OH&S objectives, and plan actions to address these requirements. This includes processes for eliminating hazards and reducing OH&S risks[2]. - Clause 7: Support
This clause addresses the resources, competence, awareness, communication, and documented information necessary to implement and operate the OH&S management system effectively[4]. - Clause 8: Operation
Organizations must plan, implement, and control operational processes needed to meet OH&S requirements, including processes for eliminating hazards, managing change, preparing for emergencies, and controlling procurement[2]. - Clause 9: Performance Evaluation
The organization must monitor, measure, analyze, and evaluate OH&S performance. This includes conducting internal audits and management reviews to ensure the system’s effectiveness and drive continual improvement[2]. - Clause 10: Improvement
Requirements include the management of incidents and nonconformities, implementation of corrective actions, and ongoing continual improvement of the OH&S management system[2].
ISO 45001 follows a Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle to promote continual improvement, emphasizing leadership, worker participation, proactive risk identification, and the integration of OH&S practices into overall business strategy[4].
References
- [1] ISO 45001 Requirements – The Core Solution
- [2] A plain English guide to ISO 45001:2018 – GSC
- [3] ISO 45001:2018 – Occupational health and safety management systems — Requirements with guidance for use
- [4] ISO 45001:2018 Implementation Guide – NQA
- [5] ISO 45001: Importance & Requirements – SafetyCulture
- [6] How to Implement the ISO 45001 Standard – NQA
- [7] ISO 45001 requirements and structure explained – Advisera
- [8] ISO 45001 Management: A Helpful Guide – ComplianceQuest
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