ISO 45001:2018 – Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS)
1. Definition
ISO 45001:2018 is the global standard for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS).
It provides a framework for organizations to proactively prevent work-related injuries and illnesses, ensuring safe and healthy workplaces.
It replaces OHSAS 18001:2007, introducing a more strategic and risk-based approach aligned with the Annex SL structure used in ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.
2. Purpose and Scope
The goals of ISO 45001:2018 are to:
-
Prevent workplace accidents, injuries, and occupational diseases.
-
Improve employee well-being, morale, and productivity.
-
Comply with legal and regulatory requirements.
-
Integrate health and safety into the organization’s strategic management.
Applicable to any organization, regardless of size, type, or nature of work.
3. Key Components
-
Leadership and Worker Participation – Engagement of all levels in safety culture.
-
Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment – Proactive management of risks and opportunities.
-
Operational Control and Emergency Preparedness – Procedures for safe operations.
-
Competence and Training – Continuous development of worker safety awareness.
-
Performance Monitoring and Evaluation – Internal audits, reviews, and corrective actions.
4. Benefits
-
Reduces accidents, absenteeism, and operational disruptions.
-
Demonstrates commitment to legal compliance and employee welfare.
-
Enhances corporate reputation and stakeholder trust.
-
Improves productivity through safe and motivated workers.
-
Enables integration with ISO 9001 (Quality) and ISO 14001 (Environment).
5. Integration
ISO 45001 aligns with:
-
ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management)
-
ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management)
-
ISO 31000:2018 (Risk Management)
This supports an Integrated Management System (IMS) combining safety, quality, and environmental performance.
6. Conclusion
ISO 45001:2018 helps organizations create a preventive, proactive, and resilient safety culture.
By implementing it, organizations safeguard their most valuable asset — their people — while achieving sustainable and compliant business operations.