ISO 45001

Your system should meet the minimum requirements of ISO 45001 before it can be certified. Here, we outline the steps for developing your safety management system to be ready for certification. Our company IMS can provide support to you in any of the following steps.

1) Read through the ISO 45001 standard or use our ISO 45001 PDF Gap Analysis Checklist to become familiar with the terms used, the intent and the requirements set out in ISO 45001.

2) Perform a gap analysis using the checklist to determine the shortcomings of existing company management systems that you may have. This will highlight the areas that need further development.

3) Develop your management system according to the standard. IMS can help you integrate ISO 45001 into your business processes and systems ready for external certification.

4) To undergo external certification to ISO 45001 you will need to contact an external certification body. IMS can assist with the process of obtaining quotations from several reputable certification bodies.

IMS remains independent of the external certification process to avoid any conflict of interest.

If an organisation attempts to obtain a management system certification without assistance from a specialised consultant, typically the following steps are required.

1. Develop your management system: Develop your management system based on your understanding of ISO 45001. Our ISO 45001 Gap Analysis Checklist may assist.

2. Gap Analysis (optional): To see if you are on the right track, an optional gap analysis can be conducted by an external certification body to evaluate your management system against all requirements of ISO 45001:2015. Note that external auditors are not consultants and can only advise whether the standard has been met or not.

3. Stage One Audit: This is a desktop assessment to evaluate the adequacy and suitability of your documented systems including OHSMS scope and processes such as the treatment of opportunities and risks.

4. Stage Two Audit: The final step of the initial certification process is to ensure that your management system is compliant and fully implemented in line with ISO 45001 requirements. This involves a visit by external auditor/s to your offices and premises and discussions with relevant individuals in your business.

5. Certification: Arrange for your management system to be assessed by an external auditor. External audit involves a visit by an external auditor to your site to assess if your system meets ISO 45001 requirements. If successful a ‘Statement of Certification’ is issued by the external certification body confirming compliance with the relevant standard which is valid for three years from date of issue. Surveillance audits are also required by the certification body usually on an annual basis to maintain your certification.

Simplified IMS approach: IMS offers a more direct path to certification. IMS specialises in developing management systems that are tailored to your exact business requirements, compatible with your existing systems, simple to use and compliant with ISO 45001. Having dealt with a great variety of companies and certification bodies we have the experience to know the best approach. Systems developed by IMS in consultation with the company’s representatives achieve certification in a time and cost effective manner.

ISO 45001:2018 is the first version of ISO 45001 and replaces AS 4801:2001. The new international OHS standard provides a framework to maintain and continually improve OHS performance and is a significant advance in meeting the requirements of today’s business world.

Upgrades to management system standards occur at least once in a decade as global business requirements change over time.

ISO 45001:2018 is the most recognised safety management system standard. It is an international standard and is the same as ISO AS/NZS 45001:2018.

There are two sources of cost in obtaining certification to ISO 45001. These are:

1) Setting up or changing your system to be compliant with ISO 45001.

2) Having your management system externally audited against the requirements of ISO 45001.

IMS can assist you set up your safety management system and we can also assist you to find the most suitable external auditor that will conduct the assessment and provide the certification.

The cost of setting up a management system for up to about six employees with no further services is about $5,000. The cost of external certification is typically less than that.

We need to gain a thorough understanding of your company’s size, scope of operation before we can provide you with a firm quotation and for that reason we prefer to conduct a free initial face to face, virtual or phone consultation.
Our quotations rates are all inclusive and transparent with no hidden fees. Please contact us to find out more information.

ISO 45001:2018 is the safety management system standard that defines the requirements that must be met by a company to achieve certification. These requirements are contained in clauses that provide the framework for your management system.

ISO 45001:2018 follows the new 10 clause structure of ISO management system standards which can be further grouped into 4 sections:

Plan: Scope of the OHSMS (clause 4), Leadership and Worker Participation (clause 5), Planning (clause 6), Support (clause 7),

Do: Operation (clause 8),

Check: Performance Evaluation (clause 9) and

Act: Improvement (clause 10).

The new structure is a significant departure and improvement from previous OHSMS standards with a stronger focus on a process approach and business risk. The new structure makes it more clear what ISO 45001 is all about.

ISO 45001 is the benchmark that shows to customers and stakeholders that you are able to reliably ensure worker safety and OHS legal compliance.

To become certified to ISO 45001, your management system needs to be externally audited against the requirements of the standard.

Ongoing surveillance audits and three yearly recertification audits are required to ensure ongoing compliance and maintain certification.

Note that external auditors must maintain their independence of the outcome to avoid conflict of interest. They are not consultants and therefore should not give advice. IMS, as consultants, are not constrained in this way. Our experience and advice fast tracks the improvement of your operations and becoming ready for certification.

Some companies need their new safety management system (OHSMS) to be fully developed in consultation with busy staff efficiently and simply handed over. Other possibly larger companies with available personnel resources want to be significantly involved in the OHSMS development and need OHSMS training.
Various organisations offer ISO 45001 training. Face to face or online group training cannot be specific to your organisation’s particular circumstances. On the other hand, there is quite a lot of suitable generic information on ISO 45001 available online.

What is needed, and what IMS can provide, is specific training that meets your organisation’s exact training needs and circumstances. This approach can be discussed and included in the quotation process achieving a better and more cost effective outcome.

ISO 45001:2018 allows organisations to provide evidence that they can reliably ensure worker safety and OHS legal compliance. Certification to ISO 45001 provides numerous benefits and opportunities, including:

1. Tender for work – Declare conformance with the standard and tender for additional work, including government contracts and large corporate jobs.
2. Provide evidence for stakeholders – Enhance your reputation by providing formal recognition of your OHS management system processes to customers and interested stakeholders.
3. Legal compliance – Provide evidence that your organisation meets regulatory requirements, as ISO 45001 mandates your organisation must meet legal obligations.
4. Improve processes – Create efficiencies and ensure continuous OHS performance improvement.
5. Create your marketing advantage – Create a competitive advantage and marketing opportunity as certification can be a key differentiator in today’s challenging marketplace. Place ISO certification logos on letterheads, email footers and marketing materials.

After you become ISO 45001 certified, your certification expires three years after your certification has been granted. To maintain your certification regular annual external surveillance audits are conducted by the certification body. IMS can assist you in the ongoing tasks required to prepare for future external audits to maintain external certification.

It is not difficult to transfer an existing management system certification. There are many reasons to consider changing your management system certifier. Sometimes a certification body can significantly underperform, such as failing to provide a suitably qualified external auditor, excessive fees or poor communication making it hard for you to maintain certification.

Transfers of certification can be done seamlessly without changing your external audit schedule which can result in better service and potentially significant cost savings.

IMS can help you transfer your ISO 45001 certification by recommending certification bodies to you that are better in our experience. IMS is unbiased in this matter as it is not financially involved with any external certification bodies.