Draft international standard for occupational health and safety

Occupational health and safety continues to be a priority across the world with the International Labour Organization (ILO) citing 6300 people dying every day as a result of occupational accidents or work-related diseases.

Although OHSAS 18001 is widely used both in the UK and internationally it is not a full international standard. By working with a far wider range of countries and also the ILO, it is hoped that greater harmony will be achieved globally allowing further confidence down the supply chain and ultimately saving lives.

The international committee which developed ISO 45001 includes experts from over 50 countries and 20 liaison bodies, all with knowledge and practical experience of occupational health and safety issues and the challenges faced. The new standard is based on the core structure and common text developed by ISO for all of its management system standards (MSS), taking into account the requirements of the current OHSAS 18001, other national standards (including those from the US, China and Canada) and the ILO instruments - OH&S guidelines adopted by hundreds of countries across the world.

ISO 45001 will help provide a single, clear framework for organisations of all types and sizes who wish to improve their OH&S performance and protect those working on their behalf or who may be affected by the organization’s activities. This includes any organization beyond that of sole trader – and those organisations working with multiple contractors, multiple sites, volunteers or temporary staff, etc.

Anne Hayes, head of market development for governance & risk at BSI said: “Occupational health and safety is a serious matter for all businesses worldwide, regardless of their size or sector. BSI is very proud to be involved with developing a clear framework for businesses wishing to maintain or improve safety within their workplaces. It was important to us that ISO 45001 should work in alignment with any other management system standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, which may already be in use. Therefore the common text and structure in which it is written will ensure these management system standards are broadly aligned to each other.”

Some of the benefits of ISO 45001 include:

• A single internationally-agreed standard suitable for all organisations worldwide
• Alignment with other key management system standards
• Less prescriptive requirements which direct organisations to design a management system uniquely suited to each organisation’s occupational health and safety needs

ISO 45001 has been developed using a collaborative, consensus-based approach taking into account the views of large and small organisations, government bodies, trades unions and worker representative organisations.

It is available now for comment at the following link: https://drafts.bsigroup.com/Home/Details/55801, until April 15. Publication of the final standard is anticipated towards the end of 2016.