UNDERSTANDING
THE TRANSITION TO
Contents The new standard for
— P1 — HEALTH AND
Introduction
SAFETY IN THE
— P2 — WORKPLACE
Setting the
standard
ISO 45001:2018 is the new international standard in
— P3-6—
Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
(OH&SMS). Replacing the current OHSAS 18001, it is
What’s changing? intended to help organizations of all types and sizes
create and implement systems that proactively prevent
work-related injury and ill health.
— P7—
T
his white paper fully explains the benefits of adopting a Health and
A guide to Safety Management System. It lays out the requirements of the new
milestones ISO 45001:2018 standard and explores the advantages of achieving
certification. It also provides specific information on key differences with
existing OH&S standards.
— P8 —
Train and certify
with ease
ISO MARCH 2018
Standard
3 YEARS
Your window to
MARCH 2021
Deadline for
45001
publication date make the transition transition
6000 374 million 270 million
Fatalities each day through Yearly incidences of Workers suffering
work-related accidents or non-fatal work-related occupational accidents
disease: that’s more than injury and illness, many each year that lead to
2.2 million work-related resulting in extended absences from work for
fatalities per year absences from work 3 days or more
Source: ILO Source: ILO Source: ILO
UNDERSTANDING
THE TRANSITION
1
TO ISO 45001
SETTING THE
STANDARD
for better business and
a healthier society
C
onsumers are becoming more and more
demanding of the companies from which
they buy products and services as well as the
organizations that structure and run our society.
In particular, they expect them to uphold strong
standards in environmental and social responsibility,
financial transparency, and the treatment of
employees. Negative perception of an organization’s
management of occupational health and safety
(OH&S) can have an impact on reputation, consumer
confidence and, ultimately, revenue.
Turnover is also directly affected by OH&S. It is WHY ADOPT A HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT
estimated that around 4% of the world’s GDP is lost SYSTEM, AND WHY ADOPT ISO 45001?
in the cost of injury, fatalities and disease through
absence from work, sickness treatment, disability, Adopting an internationally recognized standard
and survivor benefits ( Source: ILO ). Furthermore, enables organizations of all sizes in any sector
for society, the potential impact on social security to put health and safety concerns at the heart of
systems, emergency care infrastructure, and the cost sound business practices. ISO 45001:2018 has been
of unemployment due to inability to work is significant. developed to support organizations as they implement
or improve existing OH&S Management Systems.
The standard enables organizations to:
Develop and implement OH&S policy and
objectives;
Determine the hazards and risks associated with
their activities;
Establish processes that consider their context,
risks and opportunities, as well as legal and other
OF THE requirements;
WORLD’S Implement operational controls to manage OH&S
risks, legal and other requirements;
GDP Evaluate and improve OH&S performance through
appropriate action;
IS LOST IN THE COST OF INJURY,
FATALITIES AND DISEASE Ensure workers take an active role in OH&S, and
THROUGH ABSENCE FROM WORK, raise employee awareness of OH&S risks;
SICKNESS TREATMENT, DISABILITY, Reduce downtime, the cost of incidents and
AND SURVIVOR BENEFITS. insurance premiums;
Enhance their reputation through international
OH&S certification.
UNDERSTANDING
THE TRANSITION
2
TO ISO 45001
From OHSAS 18001 to ISO 45001:
WHAT’S CHANGING?
F
or many years, OHSAS 18001 has been Attention has also been paid to align ISO 45001 with
used by companies looking to implement existing standards such as the International Labour
a framework and guidelines to identify Organization OSH Guidelines, as well as to the ILO
and control risks and prevent accidents, and International Labour Standards and Conventions
to assess their OH&S performance. While the (ILSs). Organizations adopting ISO 45001 will find
standard has played a key role in improving migration relatively easy as its requirements are
occupational health and safety regulations and consistent with other standards.
requirements around the world, ISO 45001
goes much further, creating a new international The HLS makes it easier for organizations to
standard and aligning OHS&S certification with implement several ISO management system
other ISO-certified management systems. standards at once. It also simplifies the certification
process for organizations that need to meet the
requirements of several standards simultaneously,
for example by enabling audits for different
standards to be combined. This enables you to
ISO 45001 achieve and maintain multiple certifications that
drive performance across your business in a cost-
is set to replace effective way.
OHSAS 18001
from 2018 Injuries and illness:
HOW DOES YOUR
BUSINESS STACK UP?
Workplace injuries and illness have
CREATING SYNERGY THROUGH A HIGH-LEVEL fallen dramatically since the beginning
STRUCTURE IN COMMON WITH OTHER STANDARDS of the century. In 2016 in the USA*, there
were approximately 2.9 million nonfatal
Certain parts of the new standard, such as Operation, workplace injuries and illnesses reported
Performance Evaluation, and Improvement, will be by private industry employers – around
familiar to those already certified to OHSAS 18001. 42% lower than in 2003. The biggest
However, in many ways, ISO 45001 shares more in improvements have been in high-risk
common with the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards industries such as construction and
for quality and environmental management than manufacturing, with industries such as
it does with OHSAS 18001. It follows the same trade and retail seeing more modest
High-Level Structure (HLS) approach as other ISO improvements. Health and safety
management system standards. It is based on the management standards emerged in the
same core text, terminology and definitions and late 1990s. The fall in workplace injuries
includes the same new concepts, notably Context of and illness coincides with the period since
the Organization, Leadership, and Planning. their introduction, and can be viewed as
a result of companies’ efforts to manage
health & safety risk through their use.
*Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics
UNDERSTANDING
THE TRANSITION
3
TO ISO 45001
From OHSAS 18001 to ISO 45001:
WHAT’S CHANGING?
INCREASING PARTICIPATION TO IMPROVE MAKING RISK-BASED THINKING AN OPPORTUNITY
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM EFFECTIVENESS FOR IMPROVEMENT
T
he new standard requires you consider all Some of the concepts that form the backbone of ISO
internal and external issues relevant to your 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 are also central to
Occupational Health & Safety Management ISO 45001. Risk-based thinking, for example, is a
System, including the needs and expectations key concept and has been introduced, explicitly or
of a variety of stakeholders. These include your implicitly, into all the clauses of the new standard.
employees and managers, but also any contractors
performing work under the control of the Risk-based thinking is something we all do
organization. Indeed, the reinforced role of workers automatically and, often, unconsciously. While the
is perhaps the most significant new concept of word risk has negative connotations and implies a
ISO 45001. It requires that they participate in, and threat, risk-based thinking can actually be positive
are consulted on the management system, making and help identify opportunities for improvement.
them a crucial factor in its success. This type of approach makes organizations proactive
rather than reactive; once a management system is
ISO 45001 places particular emphasis on the risk-based, preventive action is automatic. It is hoped
processes by which workers can take part in that the global adoption of this standard will drive a
determining risks. This might, for example, take the significant reduction in fatalities in the workplace and
form of a representative team including participants other workplace-related incidents.
ranging from OH&S administrators and managers,
top management and employee representatives to
union members. A diverse forum will not only ensure
different points of view are represented but also allow
members to provide a communications channel with
their respective teams, ensuring that information and
ideas travel in both directions and that hazards and
OH&S
risks are identified at all levels of the organization. What are the risks of
The standard also requires senior management not taking it seriously?
demonstrate a clear commitment to addressing
matters of health and safety. It states that while
certain responsibilities and authority can be assigned
to workers, ultimately, senior management is DAMAGE TO COMPANY
responsible and accountable for the operation of the REPUTATION
OH&S management system.
EROSION OF YOUR
To be effective, any safety and health TALENT BASE
program needs the meaningful
participation of workers and their
DIFFICULTY HIRING
representatives. Workers have much TOP WORKERS
to gain from a successful program
and the most to lose if the program
fails. They also often know the most LITIGATION AND
about potential hazards associated COMPENSATION COSTS
with their jobs. Successful programs
tap into this knowledge base.
LOSS OF REVENUES DUE
Occupational Safety and Health TO EMPLOYEE ABSENCE
Administration,
US department of Labor
UNDERSTANDING
THE TRANSITION
4
TO ISO 45001
From OHSAS 18001 to ISO 45001:
WHAT’S CHANGING?
Stress
WIDENING THE DEFINITION OF HAZARDS AND
TOUGHENING UP PLANNING
P
lanning requirements are more detailed
COSTS
than in the previous OHSAS 18001 standard.
The organization must identify risks and
opportunities that are OH&S focused - but also any
MONEY
other risks and opportunities that may have an
impact on the OH&S approach. Hazard identification
is better organized than in OHSAS 18001, and goes
much further.
Robust OH&S management has long been a hot- IN 2015-16 IN THE UK, WORK-RELATED
button issue in, for example, the construction, nuclear STRESS ACCOUNTED FOR:
and petrochemical industries, where it can be a
matter of life or death. However the new standard
covers in detail the hazards present in less obviously
dangerous jobs and workplaces such as offices
where, for instance, repetitive strain injury and back
pain from ill-adapted workstations are common OF ALL WORK-
problems. In the USA, work-related musculoskeletal RELATED ILL
disorders account for well over half of all reported HEALTH CASES
occupational illnesses, and according to the United
States Bureau of Labor Statistics, about one-
third of all occupational disorder cases are due to
overexertion or repetitive movements.
ISO 45001:2018 also widens the scope from purely
physical safety to acknowledge the importance of
workers’ psychological wellbeing - the dangers of OF ALL WORKING
burnout, harassment, bullying or stress-related DAYS LOST DUE TO
illness, for example. This clause makes a significant ILL HEALTH*
change to the standard by replacing preventive with
ongoing proactive action thus reducing the need for
corrective actions.
*Source: Deloitte
UNDERSTANDING
THE TRANSITION
5
TO ISO 45001
From OHSAS 18001 to ISO 45001:
WHAT’S CHANGING?
IMPLEMENTING A SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR
DEVELOPING COMPETENCIES
T
he standard’s clause on Support groups in the ability to identify hazards) on the basis of
together all the necessary requirements for the appropriate education, training or experience. It
creation and maintenance of an Occupational requires that action be taken, where necessary,
Health and Safety Management System, including to acquire and maintain competence through
resources, competence, awareness, communication the provision of training or mentoring, or indeed
and documented information. by reassigning employees or hiring competent
people. Crucially, the standard also stipulates
In particular, the standard specifies that organizations that the effectiveness of actions undertaken be
must determine the necessary competence of workers evaluated and that appropriate documented
that affects or can affect its OH&S performance information be kept as evidence of competence.
and ensure that workers are competent (including
HAZARD VS RISK
UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE
ISO 45001:2018 defines a hazard as The standard states that risk is “the
“a source with a potential to cause effect of uncertainty” and that “an
injury and ill health”, including “sources effect is a deviation from the expected
with the potential to cause harm or — positive or negative”.
hazardous situations, or circumstances
with the potential for exposure leading So, while a hazard is the part of your process
that could potentially affect your workers’
to injury and ill health.”
wellbeing, the risk is the likelihood that harm
will occur. As a result, if you are looking at
In other words, what features of your processes two situations that require the deployment of
have the ability to harm individuals? Are office a particularly hazardous piece of machinery,
workers in positions that could lead to repetitive for example, one of which occurs twice a day,
strain injury? Do you use machinery or the other twice a month, the more frequently
chemicals that could affect worker health? occurring hazard will carry the greater risk.
UNDERSTANDING
THE TRANSITION
6
TO ISO 45001
Implementing ISO 45001:2018
A GUIDE TO
MILESTONES
F
rom the moment of the publication of the
standard in March 2018, organizations already
certified to OHSAS 18001 have a three-year
window to transition to ISO 45001. It will probably
take most organizations around one year to
transition fully.
ISO 45001 requires senior management leadership 7
and employee consultation, both of which take time,
Apply to Bureau Veritas
so it is wise to begin as soon as possible.
for certification!
The first step in your transition is to carry out an
internal audit of your current Occupational Health 6
and Safety Management System to identify the
discrepancies between your existing structure and Conduct an internal audit and
the standard’s requirements. perform further corrective actions
where necessary
5
Once this is done, Communicate around these changes
a series of logical steps throughout your organization
can be followed to
ensure the rest of the 4
process is pain-free: Implement content and process changes
to the organization and to the Occupational
Health and Safety Management System
3
Put in place your consultation process,
creating a worker participation forum
and gathering input from all parties
2
Plan for all corrective modifications
needed to update to and comply
with the new requirements
1
Name a working committee and
train all members in ISO 45001
UNDERSTANDING
THE TRANSITION
7
TO ISO 45001
Bureau Veritas and ISO 45001:2018
TRAIN AND CERTIFY
WITH EASE
A
s a world leader in assessing and delivering
ISO certifications, with years of experience
supporting companies certifying to OHSAS
18001, Bureau Veritas is uniquely positioned to
support organizations who wish to transition from WHAT
OHSAS 18001 to ISO 45001:2018 with certification BUREAU VERITAS
and training. CAN DO FOR YOU
Building on the extensive training courses we have In certifying to ISO 45001:2018, you
long offered for Health and Safety and other ISO enhance your reputation by communicating
standards, Bureau Veritas offers a range of tools your organization’s ongoing commitment
and digital courses, including our popular Transition to the health and safety of your employees.
Packs, to support your smooth transition to ISO 45001. A certified OHSMS also demonstrates that
legal compliance is effectively managed
END-TO-END SUPPORT FOR YOUR TRANSITION and can contribute to a reduction in your
insurance premiums.
For organizations large and small, Bureau Veritas
By choosing Bureau Veritas for your
Transition Packs are bundles of information, training and certification, you prove your
e-training and services that can be bought online commitment to excellence by working with
offering a hassle-free way to make sure you update a world-leading company recognized and
on budget and on time. respected for its reliability, sustainability
and trustworthiness.
3 PACKS exist to offer light, medium or full support
depending on your needs. Fully customized packs are
also available for larger organizations.
BRONZE PA C K S I LV E R PA C K G O L D PA C K
Practical toolbox FAQ All the benefits of a All the benefits of a
Bronze Package Silver Package
Transition road-map
Online self-assessment Personalized audits by
Communications kit tool – a handy web our international experts
solution based on the to assess your level of
E-learning courses new requirements so you conformity to the new
designed by can assess your current standard requirements.
certification experts situation by yourself.
UNDERSTANDING
THE TRANSITION
8
TO ISO 45001
ABOUT BUREAU VERITAS
Bureau Veritas is a world leader in
testing, inspection and certification.
We help clients across all industries
address challenges in quality, health
& safety, environmental protection,
enterprise risk and social responsi-
bility. We support them in increasing
performance throughout the life of
their assets and products and via
continuous improvement in their
processes and management systems.
Our teams worldwide are driven by
a strong purpose: to preserve people,
assets and the environment by
identifying, preventing, managing
and reducing risks.
For more information,
contact Bureau Veritas:
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