So you have OHSAS 18001 Certification and you need to Migrate to the new ISO 45001 standard, here are some facts on OHSAS 18001 to ISO 45001 Migration: –
How long do I have to migrate to ISO 45001?
ISO 45001:2018 was released in March 2018 after much anticipation and organisations who currently hold OHSAS 18001:2007 have until 11thMarch 2021 (Extended to 11th September 2021 due to COVID-19) to complete a successful Migration.
Can I just stick with OHSAS 18001?
On Publication of ISO 45001, OHSAS 18001 was withdrawn so at the end of the transitional period (11th September 2021) this standard will no longer be recognised.
Can I Integrate ISO 45001 with my existing ISO certifications?
Yes, the new ISO 45001 adopts the same Annex SL structure as other ISO standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 27001. This means that the clauses are aligned so Clause 4 in one is the same as others apart from standard specific variations. if you already have a management system for one, some or all of these then you can integrate the new standard into your existing system, and you may find you have a reasonable amount of the workload completed already
What does ISO 45001 entail?
The goal of ISO 45001 is to provide guidance for the development of a framework where
injuries, property damage, and other loss causing incidents can be mitigated. Examples of
which are:
- Develop an OH&S policy
- Have leadership demonstrate their commitment to safety
- Establish systematic processes for safety management
- Conduct hazard identification efforts
- Create operational safety controls
- Increase awareness and knowledge for employees about safety
- Evaluate OH&S performance and develop plans to improve continuously
- Establish the necessary competencies
- Create and foster an OH&S culture within the organization
- Ensure employees participate fully and meaningfully in the safety process
- Meet all legal and regulatory requirements
What are the main changes from OHSAS 18001 to ISO 45001?
Depending on your existing OHSAS 18001 Management System it will dictate the amount of changes required but in the most part the main changes will be as follows: –
- Defining the context of the organisation in relation to Health and Safety – In a nutshell this involves looking at global health and safety positive and negative influences to your business.
- Understanding the needs and interests of Interested Parties and Workers – This is looking at Health and Safety and what they need and expect from your organisation and what you need and expect from them.
- Defining your Management System and its processes – This is best achieved through a process map defining all your H&S processes and responsibility
- There is a large piece on worker involvement, participation and communication – most organisations will be doing this already but may need some work on documenting this better
- Addressing Risk and Opportunities – Along with the usual day to day work based risk assessments, you are also required to determine business Health and Safety Risk, Failure of policies and procedures, etc… Objectives and Opportunities should also be drawn out of this to demonstrate continual improvement.
- Management of Change – Establishing a process to manage changes to ensure there is no impact on the OH&S of the Organisation
- Outsourcing Activities – As well as Supplier Vetting and Approval there is some work to do to ensure that any outsourced works are properly controlled and the OH&S risks are assessed and mitigated
- Emergency Preparedness and Response – The requirements of this have been firmed up to include better planning, communication and testing.
Where can I get a copy of ISO 45001:2018?
A copy of the new ISO 45001:2018 standard can be purchased here
If you would like to discuss how Functio can help with your Migration from OHSAS 18001 to ISO 45001 then please contact us
