Migrating to
ISO 45001: six months to go

Over the past year, against the backdrop of a global health crisis, the topic of occupational health and safety has both evolved and taken on particular importance. As we emerge from the pandemic, employers need to continue to demonstrate that they take their employees' health and safety seriously. Making sure you stay certified to a recognized health and safety standard sends a clear message to all stakeholders that your staff’s wellbeing has top priority.

You now have just six months left to migrate from OHSAS 18001 to ISO 45001. ISO 45001 goes further than OHSAS 18001 in several ways. It emphasizes the role of workers in identifying potential hazards, for example, and addresses modern workplace risks, including less obvious hazards like repetitive strain injury and burnout.

How should you prepare?

Companies that have not yet started developing their management system need to start now. It is important to involve all the right people from across the organization, allocating clearly defined roles and responsibilities.

ISO 45001 details new expectations of both leadership and workers. Top management is expected to be more involved in creating and reviewing procedures, and is in charge of integrating the Occupational Health and Safety Management System processes and requirements into business processes.

On the other hand, the standard requires that workers participate in, and are consulted on the management system, making them a crucial factor in its success. It places particular emphasis on the processes by which workers can help determine possible risks.

What practical steps should you take?

The first thing to do is book an audit.

With auditors on the ground in 140 countries, Bureau Veritas can address a multinational audit requirement with 100% local auditors. A single global certification body, with one audit team leader briefing local auditors for all your sites, provides high visibility on progress and results without extensive international travel.

Remote audits are another practical alternative to deliver certification services safely. An auditor conducts client interviews using videoconferencing tools and views documents using screen-sharing functionalities. By the end of 2020, one in five audits carried out by Bureau Veritas was remote.

How can you make your audit program as efficient as possible

Think holistically. Many businesses are certified to other ISO standards such as ISO 9001 for quality or ISO 14001 for environmental management. This is a major year for recertification, and it can be efficient to integrate your audit program. Bureau Veritas auditors are often able to conduct audits to multiple standards during the same visit. This makes your schedule easier to organize and reduces the total number of man days.

If you are not already working on migrating to ISO 45001, now is the time to start! Bureau Veritas and our expert auditors located across the globe are on hand to support the migration and help keep your commitment to your staff’s wellbeing as hassle-free as possible. 

To discover ISO 45001 in depth before developing your management system, read our helpful clause-by-clause guide. Ready to book an audit? Contact your local Bureau Veritas office