The ISO 45001:2018 was one of the world’s most anticipated standards that outlines the requirements for an occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS) within an organisation. Since its publication in March 2021, ISO 45001:2018 has effectively replaced OHSAS 18001.
The goal of an OHSMS is to help organisations improve their occupational healthy and safety standards to protect their employees by preventing injuries and illnesses. It is considered a significant step forward and helps organisations demonstrate their commitment to the wellbeing of their workers. Organisations that are currently OHSAS 18001 certified had until March 2021 to officially migrate to ISO 45001:2018, however not everyone has completed the migration.
How ISO 45001:2018 Will Benefit Your Organisation
Globally, there are 340 million occupational accidents a year and thousands of lives are lost daily due to workplace accidents. an OHSMS provides a framework to prevent such incidents and ensure an overall safe and healthy work environment.
Because the standard provides an organisation with a single, clear framework for all their occupational health and safety requirements and enables the implementation of a system that works.
Here are just a few of the benefits your organisation can expect from ISO 45001:2018:
- Organisations that implement the standard will garner a reputation as an industry leader and an overall safe place to work.
- This will lead to a boost in employee morale which builds healthy relationships between management and their workers.
- By proving workplace safety and that the appropriate measures are in place, insurance premiums will ultimately be reduced.
- Because top management shares the responsibility of ensuring a safe workplace, workers are assured that management cares about their wellbeing.
- Employee productivity will increase as workplace injuries are decreased and ultimately eradicated. By identifying risks and therefore preventing accidents, workers will require less sick leave.
- New and existing clients will develop a sense of trust in the company.
Major Differences Between OHSAS 18001 and ISO 45001:2018
While the overall goal of the two standards remains the same, an OHSMS is considered a major improvement over the OHSAS 18001 standard.
Aside from this, the main differences between ISO 45001:2018 and OHSAS 18001 include:
- an OHSMS requires employees to be trained to identify potential hazards in the workplace.
- A successful health and safety culture and management system is to be established with ISO 45001:2018 within the organisation.
- OHSAS 18001 focuses on hazard control whereas an OHSMS places emphasis on the evaluation, reduction, and prevention of risks.
- ISO 45001:2018 focuses on leadership and requires top management to be more proactive when it comes to OH&S matters. Previously, with OHSAS 18001, only safety management personnel handled health and safety matters.
- The standard’s structure is based on Annex SL, the framework used in other ISO management system standards. This makes implementation easier and more efficient.
- ISO 45001:2018 is not seen as an upgrade to OHSAS 18001, it is the world’s first international standard for organisational health and safety whereas OHSAS 18001 is solely a British standard.
Should Your Organisation Align with ISO 45001:2018?
An OHSMS has been designed to be suitable for all organisations regardless of size, industry, or location.
Ask the following questions to determine if the international standard is suitable for your business:
- Is it important for your organisation to be fully compliant with international standards?
- Do you want to improve your organisations overall performance and productivity?
- Do you want to ensure the health and safety of all your staff?
- Do you want to decrease your monthly insurance premiums?
Being ISO 45001:2018 certified will greatly benefit your organisation on a local and international scale.
The Migration Process from OHSAS 18001 to ISO 45001:2018
The migration process from one international standard to another may be challenging at first, but with planning and commitment, everyone within the organisation will benefit.
The following steps will help your organisation to smoothly migrate from OHSAS 18001 to ISO 45001:2018:
- Staff needs to be trained in ISO 45001:2018 to fully implement changes.
- Obtain the latest copy of ISO 45001:2018.
- Perform a GAP assessment.
- Identify the gaps in the current organisational health and safety management system (OHSMS) which need to be addressed to meet any new requirements.
- Develop an implementation plan.
- Ensure that the new international standard needs are met in terms of competence.
- Update the existing OHSMS to meet the new requirements of the OHSMS and provide verification of its effectiveness.
The process can be time consuming, but the results are worth the time and effort it takes to become fully complaint with local and international standards.
How WWISE Can Help You Comply with ISO 45001:2018
Our online eLearning hub provides a range of courses to ensure your staff has full awareness of ISO 45001:2018, understand the requirements, and can implement standards successfully. We also offer in-person training for your staff to ensure everyone is on the same level and that the training gets done within a certain amount of time.
We furthermore assist organisations with transitioning from OHSAS 18001 to ISO 45001:2018, perform a GAP analysis, help with integration of the ISMS with your organisation’s existing management systems, conduct audits, and help with preparation for the certification.
Speak to one of our sales consultants today at 012 644 0142 or send us an email at admin@wwise.co.za. Or browse our range of eLearning courses and choose the best training for your organisation.