The new Australian standard AS/NZS ISO 45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use (45001) is the first international occupational health and safety (H&S) management standard.
45001 provides a flexible framework for organisations of any size, type or activities to manage their H&S risks and improve their H&S performance in a systematic manner. It provides guidance on management processes for establishing, implementing and maintaining an effective H&S management system to assist an organisation to proactively prevent injury and ill-health, to meet legal and other requirements and to continually improve H&S performance.
The standard places a high focus on top management to demonstrate leadership, commitment and involvement without which a H&S management system is unlikely to be effective. Additionally, the standard emphasises the importance of worker participation in processes to ensure H&S risks are managed effectively.
45001 does not prescribe the design of a H&S management system. Rather, an organisation can use the standard to establish a H&S management system that is appropriate to the organisation and is effective.
An effective H&S management system aligned to 45001 has additional benefits to an organisation including reducing business disruption and losses through incidents; improving its legal and regulatory compliance; demonstrating to stakeholders and customers its commitment to workplace H&S; and establishing a H&S management system aligned to a global standard.
Many Australian companies, including those with global interests, have H&S management systems that align with standards such as the Australian Standard AS/NZS 4801 Occupational health and safety management systems – Specification with guidance for use or the British Standards Institution Standard BS OHSAS 18001 Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements. Many of those companies are currently reviewing their H&S management system and transitioning to 45001.
Furthermore, many companies are moving to integrate 45001 into other management systems that are similar in structure to 45001, namely AS/NZS ISO 9001 Quality management systems – Requirements, AS/NZS ISO 14001 Environmental management systems – Requirements with guidance for use and AS ISO 31000 Risk management – Guidelines.
Riskcom has the expertise and knowledge to assist organisations to transition to 45001 or establish and implement a H&S management system aligned to 45001. We can assist organisations to examine their H&S management system, H&S policies and procedures, and to manage the change process of alignment to 45001 as cost-effective and stress-free as possible.
Additionally, Riskcom can assist organisations to integrate 45001 into their other management systems such as 9001, 14001 and/or 31000.
For discuss how Riskcom can assist your organisation in transitioning to 45001 and/or integrate into other management systems, contact us today.
