According to data from the International Labour Organization, more than 6,000 workers die every day due to workplace accidents or occupational diseases. The ISO 45001:2018 standard - "Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems – Requirements with Guidance for Use" is the new international standard for occupational health and safety management.
The new standard adopts a "top-down" approach to risk management and is applicable to all organizations, regardless of size, industry, or nature of activity. It is designed to be integrated into an organization's existing management processes.
It follows the same structure as other ISO management system standards, such as ISO 9001 for quality management and ISO 14001 for environmental management. ISO 45001 helps organizations not only to manage occupational health and safety risks but also to improve performance by supporting the development and implementation of effective policies and objectives that lead to reduced workplace incidents and lower insurance costs.
Additionally, it focuses on fostering a culture of health and safety, improving employee morale, and ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
By adopting these practices, organizations can also enhance their reputation, which is equally important. Although obtaining ISO 45001 certification is not a legal requirement, implementing this standard is highly recommended for companies as a valuable tool to demonstrate compliance with health and safety criteria in the workplace.
If you are considering implementing ISO 45001, here are some key tips to help you achieve this in the best possible way:
- Conduct a business context analysis to identify internal and external factors influencing the organization and relevant to health and safety.
- Understand the requirements of the standard before definitively setting your actual implementation goals and objectives.
- Identify any resource gaps to determine whether you have everything needed for an optimal standard implementation.
- Clearly define workplace health and safety policies and focus on achieving set objectives.
- Plan the necessary work effectively and communicate to employees the best approach to successfully implementing the standard.
All of this can be managed and guided through an occupational health and safety manual containing essential information, references to company health and safety policies, the standard’s objectives, and risk assessment strategies.
For years, ACSQ has been certifying organizations according to ISO 45001. Call us at +39 02.58320936 or email us at