Going for ISO45001:2018 Certification

In this blog we’ll explore what ISO 45001:2018 certification is and why you should get accredited, plus how the OMS consultancy team can help you achieve this specific ISO standard.

Here’s what ISO say about this certification: “ISO 45001:2018 specifies requirements for an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system, and gives guidance for its use, to enable organisations to provide safe and healthy workplaces by preventing work-related injury and ill health, as well as by proactively improving its OH&S performance.

ISO 45001:2018 is applicable to any organisation that wishes to establish, implement, and maintain an OH&S management system to improve occupational health and safety, eliminate hazards and minimize OH&S risks (including system deficiencies), take advantage of OH&S opportunities, and strive for continual improvement of the systems standards.”

Put simply, to achieve this ISO certification, you’ll need ‘proportionate safety and health management systems throughout your workforce and supply chains.’ It’s a bit more than a standard health and safety management system because it also encompasses wellbeing and wellness initiatives.

Is ISO 45001 easy to obtain?

If you’ve got effective systems and processes in place already then starting this ISO implementation will be easier.

Many SMEs wonder if ISO45001:2018 accreditation is applicable to them….it is, regardless of size, industry or nature of business! It is designed to be integrated into your existing management processes and follows the same high-level structure as other ISO management system standards, such as ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 14001 (environmental management).

Health and safety in the workplace is the number one concern of most businesses, yet still deaths and injuries occur. ISO 45001 sets the minimum standard of practice to protect employees. Obtaining it will depend on your commitment to safety at your site(s) and, above all, will require and demonstrate leadership commitment to this.

What are the benefits of obtaining this standard?

What follows is in no particular order; the details of how you want to implement this are down to you (so not just an external audit box tick) and you will require the commitment of everyone within your business to achieve the standard effectively:

1. Legal Compliance: ISO 45001 helps businesses comply with UK regulations and legal requirements. By implementing the standard, a company can reduce the risk of non-compliance and associated fines or legal actions.
2. Improved Safety Culture: ISO 45001 can help promote a strong safety culture within your organisation. It encourages employees at all levels to actively participate in OHS processes, leading to a safer work environment and fewer accidents or incidents.
3. Supply Chain Management: ISO 45001 certification can be a preference or sometimes a requirement for partners and suppliers; demonstrating your commitment and responsible approach to these issues.
4. Reduced Workplace Accidents: The implementation of ISO 45001 helps continuously identify potential hazards and risks in the workplace, allowing your business to take proactive measures to prevent accidents and injuries. This can lead to a decrease in workplace accidents, downtime, and any related costs.
5. Cost Savings: Effective OHS management can result in cost savings related to reduced worker compensation claims, insurance premiums, and downtime due to accidents. It also helps the workforce to feel safe while working, making them happier and helping to avoid potential legal costs and fines associated with non-compliance.
6. Continuous Improvement: ISO45001:2018 certification follows a Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle, which promotes ongoing improvement in health and safety performance. This ensures that a UK organisation remains adaptable and responsive to changing safety risks and updated regulations.

How can OMS help with ISO45001:2018 certification?

OMS can support you through your external ISO 45001 assessment to successful certification, even if you have the most basic of systems.  We can continue this support, through updating and maintaining your systems in line with changes in legislation, whilst you maintain full document control.

Our process is as follows:
• Initial assessment of your SMS completed
• Gap analysis performed
• Improvement areas and action plan created
• Documentation review and production
• Implement continuous improvement plan
• Conduct internal audits
• Submission for certification.

With over 500 successful ISO Certification Audits, completed on the bespoke systems that we have implemented for clients, OMS consultants are experienced in bringing teams on board and achieving certification with minimal fuss. In short, we’re a guiding hand throughout the process; we can train your team to complete the work or we can undertake the work for you. Whichever suits your current situation and how you want to approach obtaining this certification.

And, don’t forget, OMS have ISO45001:2018 certification ourselves!

Contact our consultancy team today to discuss your support requirements to get certified. You can reach them us the office (telephone 01530 833 533) or drop us an email at:  consultants@oms.uk.com.