ISO 45001 - Occupational Health and Safety (OHSMS)
Protect Your People, Build a Safety Culture
Workplace safety is not just a legal obligation—it's a moral imperative and a business necessity. Every employee has the right to return home safely at the end of the day. At Glocert International, we specialize in providing independent third-party ISO 45001 certification that validates your organization's Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS). As a leader in the Testing, Inspection, and Certification industry, we conduct thorough ISO 45001 audits that verify your OHSMS meets international standards, helping you demonstrate commitment to worker safety, reduce workplace incidents, and build a strong safety culture.
What is ISO 45001?
ISO 45001 is the international standard for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS). Published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO 45001:2018 specifies requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an OH&S management system to enable an organization to provide safe and healthy workplaces, prevent work-related injury and ill health, and proactively improve its OH&S performance.
The standard replaces OHSAS 18001 and is designed to help organizations of all sizes and industries reduce workplace risks, create better, safer working conditions, and capture opportunities for improving occupational health and safety performance. ISO 45001 emphasizes worker participation, leadership commitment, and integration with other management systems.
Key Components of ISO 45001
- Leadership and Worker Participation: Top management commitment and worker involvement in OH&S
- Hazard Identification: Proactive identification of hazards and assessment of risks
- Legal Compliance: Meeting applicable OH&S legal requirements and regulations
- OH&S Objectives: Measurable goals for improving safety performance
- Operational Controls: Controls to manage OH&S risks
- Emergency Preparedness: Plans for responding to emergencies
- Incident Investigation: Investigating accidents and near-misses
- Continuous Improvement: Ongoing enhancement of safety performance
Why is ISO 45001 Important?
ISO 45001 is essential for organizations seeking to protect their workers and demonstrate commitment to occupational health and safety. Here's why this standard is crucial:
1. Worker Protection
ISO 45001 helps organizations:
- Prevent work-related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities
- Provide safe and healthy workplaces
- Protect physical and mental health of workers
- Reduce workplace hazards and risks
- Ensure worker wellbeing and safety
2. Legal Compliance
Implementing ISO 45001 enables organizations to:
- Comply with occupational health and safety regulations
- Avoid penalties, fines, and legal action
- Demonstrate due diligence to regulators
- Meet industry-specific safety requirements
- Reduce liability and legal risk
3. Business Benefits
ISO 45001 provides a framework for:
- Reducing workplace incidents and associated costs
- Lowering insurance premiums and workers' compensation claims
- Improving productivity and operational efficiency
- Reducing absenteeism and employee turnover
- Enhancing reputation with customers and stakeholders
4. Worker Engagement and Culture
ISO 45001 certification fosters a positive safety culture where workers are engaged, empowered to raise concerns, and actively participate in creating safer workplaces.
ISO 45001 OHSMS Framework
ISO 45001 follows the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle and addresses key occupational health and safety management elements:
Core OHSMS Elements
Context & Scope
Understanding organizational context and OHSMS boundaries
Leadership & Commitment
Management commitment to worker safety and health
Worker Participation
Consultation and participation of workers in OHSMS
Planning
Hazard identification, risk assessment, and objectives
Support & Resources
Resources, competence, and awareness
Operation
Operational controls and emergency preparedness
Performance Evaluation
Monitoring, measurement, and incident investigation
Improvement
Continuous enhancement of safety performance
Hazard Categories
- Physical Hazards: Noise, vibration, temperature extremes, radiation, ergonomics
- Chemical Hazards: Exposure to hazardous substances, gases, vapors
- Biological Hazards: Bacteria, viruses, fungi, blood-borne pathogens
- Mechanical Hazards: Moving machinery, equipment, vehicles, struck-by objects
- Electrical Hazards: Electrocution, electrical burns, arc flash
- Psychosocial Hazards: Stress, harassment, violence, fatigue, workload
- Working at Height: Falls from elevation, ladder safety
- Confined Spaces: Oxygen deficiency, toxic atmospheres
Benefits of ISO 45001 Certification
Achieving ISO 45001 certification provides organizations with numerous strategic, operational, and reputational benefits:
Enhanced Worker Safety
Systematically prevent work-related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.
Cost Reduction
Lower costs from accidents, insurance premiums, and workers' compensation.
Legal Compliance
Ensure compliance with OH&S regulations and avoid penalties.
Enhanced Reputation
Build credibility with customers, workers, and communities.
Worker Engagement
Foster positive safety culture and improve employee morale.
Productivity Improvement
Reduce absenteeism and improve operational efficiency.
Competitive Advantage
Stand out in tenders requiring safety credentials.
Global Recognition
Gain internationally recognized certification accepted worldwide.
Our ISO 45001 Certification Process
At Glocert International, we follow a structured and systematic approach to conduct ISO 45001 certification audits. Our audit process is designed to be transparent, efficient, and supportive, verifying that your OHSMS meets all ISO 45001 requirements:
Application Process
Submit your application with required documentation. We review your organization's scope and readiness for certification.
Initial Audit (Stage 1)
Documentation review and readiness assessment. Our auditors verify that your OHSMS documentation meets ISO 45001 requirements.
Initial Audit (Stage 2)
On-site audit to verify OHSMS implementation. Our auditors assess the effectiveness of your safety controls.
Technical Review
Independent review of audit findings by our technical committee to ensure accuracy and compliance.
Decision and Approval
Certification decision based on audit findings. Upon successful completion, certification is approved.
Certification Issuance
Receive your ISO 45001 certificate, valid for three years, with international recognition.
Surveillance Audits
Annual surveillance audits to ensure continued compliance and effectiveness of your OHSMS.
Re-certification Audit
Comprehensive audit before certificate expiry to renew certification for another three-year period.
Steps in Obtaining ISO 45001 Certification
While obtaining ISO 45001 certification may seem daunting, following a structured approach makes the process manageable. Here's the path your organization should take:
- Gap Analysis and Readiness Assessment: Assess your current OH&S practices against ISO 45001 requirements to identify gaps and areas for improvement. (Note: This should be conducted by an independent consultant, as certification bodies cannot provide consultation services.)
- Top Management Commitment: Secure leadership commitment and demonstrate visible safety leadership.
- Define Context and Scope: Understand organizational context and define the scope of your OHSMS.
- Worker Participation Mechanism: Establish processes for worker consultation and participation in OHSMS.
- Develop OH&S Policy: Create an OH&S policy expressing organizational commitment to worker safety.
- Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment: Systematically identify workplace hazards and assess OH&S risks.
- Identify Legal Requirements: Determine applicable OH&S laws, regulations, and other requirements.
- Identify Risks and Opportunities: Assess OH&S risks and opportunities for improvement.
- Set OH&S Objectives: Establish measurable OH&S objectives and targets for improvement.
- Develop OHSMS Documentation: Create comprehensive documentation including procedures, processes, and records.
- Implement Operational Controls: Establish controls to manage OH&S risks and hazards.
- Emergency Preparedness: Develop and implement emergency response procedures.
- Training and Competence: Provide OH&S training and ensure worker competence.
- Communication and Awareness: Establish OH&S communication processes and build awareness.
- Incident Investigation: Implement procedures for investigating accidents, incidents, and near-misses.
- Monitoring and Measurement: Establish processes for monitoring OH&S performance and legal compliance.
- Internal Audit and Management Review: Conduct internal audits to verify OHSMS effectiveness and hold management reviews.
- Pre-assessment Audit (Optional): Consider a pre-assessment audit to identify any remaining issues before the formal certification audit.
- Final Assessment and Certification: Undergo the formal certification audit (Stage 1 and Stage 2) conducted by Glocert International's accredited auditors.
- Surveillance Audits and Recertification: Maintain certification through annual surveillance audits and prepare for recertification every three years.
Typical Timeline: The certification process typically takes 6-9 months from application to certificate issuance, depending on your organization's size, complexity, and current OH&S maturity level.
ISO 45001 Certification Pricing
Our ISO 45001 certification pricing is transparent and based on your organization's size, complexity, and scope. We offer competitive rates with no hidden fees. Contact us for a customized quote tailored to your specific needs.
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Get a personalized estimate based on your organization's size, complexity, and OH&S management requirements.
Contact Us for PricingWhat's Included in ISO 45001 Certification Pricing:
- Documentation review and OHSMS assessment
- Stage 1 and Stage 2 audit days (calculated per IAF MD 5)
- Technical review and certification decision
- ISO 45001 certificate (valid 3 years)
- Certificate listing on our public register
- First year surveillance audit
- Ongoing audit services and support
Note: ISO 45001 pricing may vary based on audit complexity, OH&S hazards, number of sites, and additional services. Small organizations typically start from $3,500, medium organizations from $6,500. Contact us for a detailed, no-obligation quote.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Find answers to common questions about ISO 45001 certification:
ISO 45001 is the international standard for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS). You need it to systematically prevent work-related injuries and illnesses, comply with OH&S regulations, reduce workplace incidents and costs, enhance worker safety and wellbeing, improve productivity, and demonstrate commitment to worker protection.
ISO 45001 replaced OHSAS 18001 in March 2018. Key differences include: ISO 45001 is an ISO standard (not BS standard), uses High Level Structure (HLS) for integration with other ISO standards, stronger emphasis on leadership and worker participation, broader context including organizational and interested parties, focus on risks and opportunities beyond just hazards, and consideration of worker needs and expectations. Organizations certified to OHSAS 18001 had until March 2021 to transition.
The timeline varies based on your organization's size, complexity, and current OH&S maturity. Typically, the ISO 45001 certification process takes 6-9 months from application to certificate issuance. This includes gap analysis, OHSMS development, hazard identification, risk assessment, implementation, internal audits, and the formal certification audit (Stage 1 and Stage 2).
Worker participation is a key requirement of ISO 45001. Organizations must establish processes for consultation and participation of workers (and where they exist, workers' representatives) in developing, planning, implementing, evaluating, and improving the OHSMS. This includes: identifying hazards and assessing risks, determining actions to eliminate hazards and reduce risks, identifying training needs, investigating incidents, and determining what OH&S information needs to be communicated.
Yes, ISO 45001 explicitly addresses psychosocial hazards including work-related stress, harassment, violence, fatigue, and mental health issues. The standard requires organizations to identify psychosocial hazards, assess associated risks, and implement controls. This represents a broader approach to worker wellbeing beyond traditional physical safety hazards.
ISO 45001 certification costs vary based on organization size, complexity, OH&S hazards, and number of sites. Small organizations typically start from $3,500, medium organizations from $6,500, and large multi-site organizations require custom pricing. Costs include audit days, technical review, certificate issuance, and first-year surveillance. Contact us for a detailed quote tailored to your organization.
Yes, ISO 45001 can be integrated with other management system standards. It uses the High Level Structure (HLS), making it compatible with ISO 9001 (Quality), ISO 14001 (Environmental), ISO 27001 (Information Security), and others. Many organizations implement integrated management systems (IMS) combining multiple standards for efficiency.
Yes, ISO 45001 requires consideration of contractors, visitors, and other external parties who may be affected by the organization's activities or whose activities may affect workers. Organizations must establish controls for contractors (including OH&S requirements in contracts, ensuring contractor competence, coordinating with contractors on hazards), and implement controls to protect visitors and other external parties.
After certification, your ISO 45001 certificate is valid for three years. You'll undergo annual surveillance audits to ensure continued compliance. You must continue operating and improving your OHSMS, monitoring OH&S performance, maintaining legal compliance, achieving OH&S objectives, investigating incidents, and demonstrating continuous improvement. During the third year, you'll complete a recertification audit to renew your certificate.
No, ISO 45001 does not require zero accidents as a condition for certification. However, the standard requires organizations to proactively prevent work-related injury and ill health, continually improve OH&S performance, and investigate incidents when they occur. The focus is on having effective systems and controls in place to prevent incidents, learning from incidents that do occur, and demonstrating ongoing improvement in OH&S performance.
ISO 45001 requires systematic identification and compliance with applicable legal OH&S requirements. The standard requires organizations to: determine and have access to applicable legal requirements, determine how legal requirements apply to the organization, consider legal requirements when establishing the OHSMS, communicate relevant legal requirements to workers and interested parties, and evaluate compliance with legal requirements. This systematic approach helps organizations stay compliant and avoid penalties.
Why Choose Glocert for ISO 45001 Certification?
Accreditations
Glocert International is a globally accredited Conformity Assessment Body for ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 by IAS Inc, USA, a member of the IAF (International Accreditation Forum) and signatory to a number of bilateral, regional and international agreements.
This provides international recognition and acceptance to certificates issued by Glocert International in the following schemes:
- ISO 9001 – Quality Management Systems (QMS)
- ISO 20000-1 – Information Technology Service Management Systems (ITSMS)
- ISO 22301 – Business Continuity Management Systems (BCMS)
- ISO 27001 – Information Security Management Systems (ISMS)
- ISO/IEC 27701 – Privacy Information Management Systems (PIMS)
- ISO 55001 – Asset Management Systems (AMS)
Expertise in OH&S Auditing
Our team of experienced auditors possess in-depth knowledge of ISO 45001, occupational health and safety regulations, and industry best practices across diverse sectors. We understand that every organization is unique, which is why we conduct thorough ISO 45001 certification audits that assess your specific OH&S hazards, compliance obligations, and effectiveness of your OHSMS.
Continuous Audit Support
Beyond ISO 45001 certification, we provide ongoing audit services through surveillance audits to help you maintain compliance and demonstrate continuous improvement of your OHSMS. We pride ourselves in providing the highest standard of audit services in the industry and it is a major reason why more and more organisations choose us as their certification partner for their ISO 45001 certification needs.
Related Certifications
Many organizations combine ISO 45001 with other certifications for comprehensive management system governance. Consider pairing ISO 45001 with ISO 9001 for quality management, ISO 14001 for environmental management, or ISO 27001 for information security to create an integrated management system framework.
Unlock the Full Potential of Your Organization
Contact us today to learn more about our ISO 45001 certification and audit services and how we can verify your organization's occupational health and safety management system.
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