FOCUS ARTICLE

The New ISO 45001 Standard: A Holistic
Approach to Occupational Health and Safety
Author: Eddie Mc Cullough

ISO 45001 is the world’s first international standard dealing with health and safety at work. It has been designed to offer a single,
clear framework for all organisations wishing to improve their OH&S performance. Directed at the top management of anorganisation, it aims to provide a safe and healthy workplace for employees and visitors. To achieve this, it is crucial to control allfactors that might result in illness, injury, and, in extreme cases, death, by mitigating adverse effects on individuals’ physical, mental
and cognitive condition – and ISO 45001 covers all of those aspects.
While ISO 45001 draws on OHSAS 18001 – the former benchmark for OH&S – it is a new and distinct standard, not a revisionor update. It is due to be phased in gradually over the next three years and will eventually replace up to 24 different standards
across the globe.

What Are the Major Differences Between OHSAS
18001 and ISO 45001?
The main change is that ISO 45001 concentrates on the interaction
between an organisation and its business environment whileOHSAS 18001 was focused on managing OH&S hazards and otherinternal issues. But the standards also differ in a number of otherbroad ways:>> ISO 45001 is process-based – OHSAS 18001 is procedurebased>> ISO 45001 considers both risk and opportunities – OHSAS
18001 deals exclusively with risk>> ISO 45001 includes the views of interested parties – OHSAS
18001 does not

The New ISO 45001 Standard

These points represent a significant shift in the way health andCommentators have also made reference to the interpretation ofsafety management is perceived. OH&S is no longer treated as a

the standard and how to apply it. David Parr again, commenting:“stand alone”, but must be viewed within the perspective of runninga sound and sustainable organisation. The intent of this aspect of“…we had three guys from the health and safety from an

the standard moves safety from a demarcated function to a cultural

emergency service. They provided a very different approach,dimension related to how an organisation conducts business.

because they come across situations most of us do not encounter.
Their interpretation of how to meet the standard was different toThere have been a number of significant commentaries on thesomeone working in an insurance office. It demonstrates that theintroduction of this standard that reflect the perspectives ofstandard can be adopted by any sector, which was its intention.” 2different interest groups. David Parr of the British Safety Council

This is a clear move away from a compliance approach to a goal

offered up some insights in a recent interview:setting approach, a proper framework mentality.

“If you are going to adopt the new standard then you have to beWhile the Plan-Do-Check-Act approach remains, a new model has

able to demonstrate top management involvement…There are 13

been designed for ISO 45001 (see below) 3 that shows leadership

explicit requirements in the ISO 45001 standard placed on

and workforce participation at the heart of the model. We aremanagement. It means that health and safety has to be integrated

pleased to see that this new approach is very much aligned with ouracross the business. It is no longer acceptable for it to be a stand-Culture of Care framework, where leadership engagement andalone function”. In essence, safety is no longer exclusively the job ofworkforce development are the key pillars of a successful culture.

the safety department.

The other important dimensions are control of work, learning and1

development, communication and the role of the HSE.

PLAN
t of the organisat
ionntexoC

Improvement

DOLeadershipand worker
participation

Support andoperation

ACTPlanning

Pe r f orm ance
eva l u a ti o nInte nd e d o u tc o m e s

C HEC K

1 https://www.shponline.co.uk/uncategorized/iso-45001-published/
2 https://www.shponline.co.uk/uncategorized/iso-45001-published/
3 http://www.system-concepts.com/insights/prepare-iso-45001/

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The New ISO 45001 Standard

Within the new standard there are a number of clearly defined

hand in hand with a more productive, efficient and sustainable“success factors” intended to demonstrate that implementation has

business…A testament to this is that OHS is seen as being at thebeen achieved. Over half of these are critical dimensions orvery heart of an organisation’s business strategy and ‘no longer

elements in the Culture of Care framework:

treated as a stand alone’…Considering that last year, occupational>> Top management leadership, commitment, responsibilities andaccountability;

injuries and ill-health cost UK employers £2.9 billion, givingorganisations a single, clear framework to improve their OHS
performance can really make the difference.” 4 This, too, suggests>> Top management developing, leading and promoting a culturethat safety will move from a function or departmental approachin the organisation that supports the intended outcomes of thetoward a “cultural” approach. It also points out that the standard

OH&S management system;

views good safety as good business.

>> Communication;>> Consultation and participation of workers, and, where they
exist, workers’ representatives;>> Effective process(es) for identifying hazards, controlling OH&Srisks and taking advantage of OH&S opportunities;>> Integration of the OH&S management system into theorganisation’s business processes;>> Directing and supporting individuals to contribute to theeffectiveness of the OH&S management system;>> Supporting other relevant management roles to demonstrate
their leadership as it applies to their areas of responsibility;>> Protecting workers from reprisals when reporting incidents,hazards, risks and opportunities.

Where is the Standard Taking Industry?

Interestingly, Gene Vena goes on to say: “The publication of ISO
45001 comes at a time when the Internet of Things and data
automation are already shifting the approach to risk-managementfrom one of pure compliance to a process that is becoming more
information-based…Whereas, traditionally, the process of OHS
management has been a manual one, real-time data capture meansthat evidence of compliance can now be gathered automatically,
thus avoiding errors. Additionally, the transformation of personal
protective equipment (PPE) into smart, edge devices that collectand transmit data on occupational exposures can play a key role inpreventing long-term illnesses…This connected approach is likely
to open up unprecedented opportunities for companies to enhancetheir OHS in line with the new ISO 45001 standard”. 5
The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) itself
states that, “The main change is that ISO 45001 concentrates on theinteraction between an organisation and its business environment

The vice president of engineering and chief technology officer atwhile OHSAS 18001 was focused on managing OH&S hazards andHoneywell Industrial, Gene Vena said in an interview with theother internal issues”. 6 This is a move away from traditional

Safety and Health Practitioner, that the launch of ISO 45001 marks

inspection and auditing of systems, processes and procedures to aa “…fundamental and welcome shift in the role of Occupational

more holistic view of how an organisation does its business. It is

Health and Safety (OHS) within industrial organisations…It is thealso a method of verifying that the culture supports thefirst time that an international OHS standard formallyestablishment and maintenance of a safe and healthy workplace for

acknowledges that creating a safer and healthier workplace goesall employees and visitors.

4 https://www.shponline.co.uk/uncategorized/iso-45001-published/
5 https://www.shponline.co.uk/uncategorized/iso-45001-published/
6 https://www.shponline.co.uk/uncategorized/iso-45001-published/

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The New ISO 45001 Standard

Until now, ISO standards were interested in “products of safety”

ISO 45001 introduces a far more powerful strategy for ensuring

which would sit within policies, processes and procedures. Audits

safety but gives rise, as well, to some questions for us to answer

and inspections would assess these “products” and their use toabout how to achieve these goals in a meaningful way. The world ofprovide assurance of compliance against the standard. Our

audit and inspection will need to measure leadership and workforce

experience has shown that in certain sectors or industries, thisparticipation in organisational assessments , measurements thatapproach does not keep people or assets safe. The new approach is

DEKRA has developed over many years and for which we have

not only interested in the “products of safety” but the people whoamassed a global database. As stated by ISO, one of the key

turn their intent into action. It is also interested in “opportunities”,differences between the old and new standards is in “the approach”.

or the potential for action beyond what is spelled out in thestandard.

DEKRA Organisational Reliability
DEKRA Organisational Reliability is a behavioural change consultancy. Working in collaboration with our clients, our approachis to influence the safety culture with the aim of ‘making a difference´. We deliver the skills, methods, and motivation
to change leadership attitudes, behaviours and decision-making among employees. Measurable sustainable improvement of safety
outcomes is our goal. We are a service unit of DEKRA SE, a global leader in safety since 1925 with over 39,000 employees in
50 countries.

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