What is ISO 45001?
ISO 45001 is a forthcoming ISO standard that will codify the requirements for occupational health and safety management systems all over the world. The new standard was inspired by OHSAS 18001 (commonly referred to as ISO 18001), a British standard that until now has been applied internationally; when it is brought into effect, ISO 45001 will effectively be a more context-focused version of the existing OHSAS 18001 standard.
When will ISO 45001 come into effect?
At time of writing, the new standard is still in the draft stage. According to ISO itself, the ISO 45001 standard is set for final publication in late 2016.How does this affect me?
- If you are already OHSAS 18001 certified: You may decide that your existing, OHSAS 18001-certified health and safety management system (HSMS) is sufficient to meet the needs of your business. If so, you may decide that ISO 45001 accreditation is not a priority for your organisation. However, it may be worth meeting with an ISO 45001 consultant after final publication to determine whether your HSMS could be improved by being brought into line with the new standard.
- If you are NOT already OHSAS 18001 certified: Health and safety should be a key area of concern for any modern business, and once ISO 4500 has been published, you should seriously consider implementing a health and safety management system that meets the new standard. This will help to protect you and your workers, as well as instilling confidence in potential customers, new recruits, shareholders, et cetera.
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