ISO 45001 contains requirements for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems with guidance for use that is recognized and implemented worldwide. This standard was published is the year 2018 and it supersedes OHSAS 18001:2007.
The adoption of an OH&S management system is intended to enable an organization to provide safe and healthy workplaces, prevent work-related injury and ill health, and to continually improve its performance on Occupational Health and Safety
Aim of an OH&S management system:
The purpose of an Occupational Health and Safety management system is to provide a framework for managing Occupational Health and Safety risks and opportunities. The aim and intended outcomes of the Occupational Health and Safety management system are to prevent work-related injury and ill health to workers and to provide safe and healthy workplaces; consequently, it is critically important for the organization to eliminate hazards and minimize OH&S risks by taking effective preventive and protective measures.
When these measures are applied by the organization through its OH&S management system, they improve its OH&S performance. An OH&S management system can be more effective and efficient when taking early action to address opportunities for improvement of OH&S performance. Implementing an OH&S management system conforming to this document enables an organization to manage its OH&S risks and improve its OH&S performance. An OH&S management system can assist an organization to fulfil its legal requirements and other requirements.
Differences between ISO 45001 and OHSAS 18001
Management Commitment: ISO 45001 requires the incorporation of health and safety into the overall management system of the organization, requiring management to take a stronger leadership role in OH&S which is different from OHSAS 18001.
Worker Involvement: ISO 45001 requires employee training and education to identify risks and help create a successful safety program, allowing broader employee participation which is different from OHSAS 18001.
Risk v. Hazard: ISO 45001 follows a preventative process, requiring hazard risks to be evaluated and remedied before they cause accidents and injuries, unlike OHSAS 18001, which focused only on hazard control which is different from OHSAS 18001.
