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Organisations that are quite serious regarding their workers’ safety or wellbeing and seek to minimise risks to ensure safer workplaces need the ISO 45001 certification.

It is the world’s first global standard dedicated to occupational a health and safety management system. It specifies a set of regulations or requirements for the organisation’s OHS management system that helps in protecting their employees from safety risks, hazards, or incidents.

While you can safeguard your most valued assets with implementation of this ISO standard, the process of implementation may not be as plain sailing as it seems. It is highly recommended you get some professional and industry-experienced ISO 45001 consultants who can guide you. They can effortlessly explain the process or steps involved in preparing your OHS management framework for the certification.

However, before you begin the process, there are some basic questions you should know the answers to. Asking them to your chosen consultants can help you know why you need the ISO 45001 standard for your OHS management system.

Questions to Ask ISO Consultants Regarding ISO 45001 Certification

1. Why the ISO 45001 Standard is a Necessity?

Workplace safety is and always should be a serious matter of interest for organisations, irrespective of its business sector. Workplace injuries and even deaths have been accounted worldwide due to harsh or unsafe conditions. Use of toxic chemicals, working at heights, handling risky equipment, extreme atmospheric conditions, etc. are some of the reasons for injuries and fatalities.

The ISO 45001 standard is necessary to prevent the rate of accidents, illnesses, or deaths in workers, despite every unusual working condition. It makes the OHS management oriented towards risks management across all work processes or workplaces of an organisation.

2. What Tangible Benefits You Can Get with ISO 45001?

While improvement in workers’ safety and quality of life is the first concrete benefit provided by the ISO 45001 certification to your organisation, there are more potential benefits to consider including:

• Enhanced relationships with employees, supplier partners, and even customers
• Reduced downtime in production and that lowers operational costs
• Increased productivity due to motivation and performance improvement in workers
• Increased reputation and trust in customers
• Potential cost savings due to reduction in workers’ health insurance claims, premiums, etc.

3. Which Organisations Need to Get ISO 45001?

While most organisations need this certification for their OHS management system, some of the business sectors should consider it more seriously including:

• Oil and gas
• Construction
• Chemical manufacturing
• Mining
• Agriculture
• Pharmaceuticals

4. How to Get Your Company Ready for the ISO 45001 Certification?

To make your business ready for the ISO 45001 certification, your organisation needs to implement an OHS management system fulfilling the requirements of the standard. Following that, you need to go through an auditing process where professionals or assessment officials (i.e. internal auditors) can evaluate your OHS management system in detail and assure that it is compliant with the ISO 45001 regulations.

5. What are the Most Crucial Factors Needed to Get ISO 45001 Certified?

Most crucial factors to get certified are:

• A strong and concrete health and safety management system
• Health and safety policy and objectives
• Determined workers who are willing to accept all health and safety practices
• A committed team who takes care of the OHS management system, review it periodically and make ongoing improvements

6. Who Need to Be Involved in Your ISO Certification Process and What is the Timeline?

While consultants will be very involved in your process of ISO certification, directing at each step and providing necessary guidelines and resources, your top management executives should be involved too. Together with consultants, they should help with:

• Deciding OHS objectives and policies
• Planning the structure of the OHS management system
• Ensuring compliance with all ISO 45001 requirements with frequent reviewing and audits
• Ongoing support and maintenance for ISO compliance

7. What Big Changes Can You See In Your Business After Getting Certified?

On achieving the certification, one big change that your organisation can experience is recognition in the industry and an increase in confidence of workers. There can be higher retention rate and even talented workers from the unemployed workforce can show interest in joining your organisation. In short, your employee satisfaction can potentially increase a lot which leaves a competitive advantage for your business.

8. What Costs are Involved in Certification?

There are no fixed costs for the certification process as it varies greatly with the nature of your workplace and risks prevalent in your work conditions. An integral cost is the price of the ISO 45001 registration. There are three ways you can opt for registration and the cost depends on the way you choose.

• DIY (Do it yourself) approach where your management officials do all documentation and implementation of the standard by well understanding it
• Getting documentation templates and online training programs, which is partially a DIY method
• Hiring consultants who take all responsibility and lead the certification process by staying at the forefront

9. What are the Risks in Implementation of ISO 45001 Standard?

There are few risks or challenges involved in the implementation of the ISO 45001 standard. However, with proper planning and advisory from your consultants, you can avert risks and overcome any challenge.

Some to be aware of are:

• Noncompliance risks (due to lack of understanding of ISO 45001 requirements)
• Non-cooperation of employees in adopting the new ISO regulated OHS management system
• Non-fulfilment of local legislation or rules regarding workplace safety

Final Word

ISO 45001 certification is not just a desired certification for OHS management but a necessary improvement tool for organisations which seek to protect their workers. Considering the vast set of requirements or clauses that you need to fulfil with your OHS management system to become eligible for certification, it is best to get expert assistance. ISO 45001 consultants can help make your organisation’s OHS management system deeply committed to safety and health of your workers.

At Compliancehelp, we have a team of skilled ISO consultants with specialisation in the ISO 45001 standard. We promise to educate you about what each standard requires, answer any questions regarding OHS management systems, and make your organisation ready to be certified. Feel free to contact us.