New Standard for Modern Occupational Health and Safety

The new ISO 45001 standard for occupational health and safety management systems has recently been released. This standard includes many measures for more modern occupational health and safety, which also covers complex project structures. DEKRA is auditing the new standard with immediate effect.

• Informative evidence for customers and suppliers
• External companies and outsourced processes will also be covered
• Three year transitional period for BS OHSAS 18001

Companies that implement an occupational health and safety management system can prove to interested parties, customers and suppliers that they have reliably identified occupational health and safety risks and opportunities and implemented measures effectively.

For the first time, the new ISO standard combines traditional occupational health and safety with operational health management. The management system looks at the entire value-added chain. For example, it also takes the working conditions of external companies and outsourced processes into account. Another advantage is that ISO 45001 can be integrated into an existing quality and environmental management system more easily than the existing BS OHSAS 18001 due to the HLS (High-Level Structure) framework, which is followed by all international management system standards.

ISO 45001 demands more of top management than was previously the case. Corporate management must take on leadership responsibility for occupational health and safety and demonstrate and further develop its commitment. Hazards also need to be identified. Companies must assess potential risks and create a hierarchy of measures for reducing health and safety risks. Opportunities for improvement must now be identified in a separate process.

After a transitional period of three years following the release of ISO 45001, certificates under the previous BS OHSAS 18001 standard will become invalid. Anyone who is already certified to BS OHSAS can either rectify the differences step by step and convert the system to ISO 45001 or seek initial certification according to the new standard.

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