The occupational health and safety (OH&S) management
system, ISO 45001, is a new international standard that provides a framework
for an organization to manage risks and opportunities to help prevent
work-related injury and ill health to workers. The intended outcome is to
improve and provide a safe and healthy workplace. In March of 2018, ISO (the
International Organization for Standardization) released the ISO 45001 standard
for occupational health and safety management systems. The International
Organization for Standardization has speculated that their new ISO 45001 will
replace OHSAS 18001 as the definitive occupational health and safety standard
within the next few years. ISO 45001 is intended to help organizations,
regardless of size or industry, in designing systems to proactively prevent
injury and ill health. ISO 45001 methodology utilizes the PDCA (Plan, Do,
Check, Act) process that has been used for decades to improve product and
process quality. All of its requirements are designed to be integrated into an
organization’s management and business processes. ISO 45001:2018 is applicable
to any organization that wishes to establish, implement and maintain an
OH&S management system to improve occupational health and safety, eliminate
hazards and minimize OH&S risks (including system deficiencies), take advantage
of OH&S opportunities, and address OH&S management system
nonconformities associated with its activities. An Occupational Health and
Safety Management System (OHSMS) is a fundamental part of an organization’s
risk management strategy. Implementing an OHSMS enables an organization to:
*Protect its workforce and others under its control
*Comply with legal requirements
*Facilitate continual improvement
ISO 45001:2018 enables an organization, through its
OH&S management system, to integrate other aspects of health and safety,
such as worker wellness/wellbeing.
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) have
kept their word once again and as committed have published a comprehensive
International Standard ISO 45001 in March 2018 which is a standard aimed at
creating a complete Organization’s Occupational Health and Safety Management
System (OH&S Management). The Organization shall determine, provide and
maintain the environment necessary for the operation of its processes and to
achieve conformity of products and services.†In the note c) of the same clause
it mentions that Physical Environment (e.g. Temperature, Heat, Humidity, Light,
Airflow, and Hygiene Noise) is important to ensure quality of products and
services. The standard also says that factors may vary depending on the
products and services. ISO 45001:2018 is an answer to this very clause. The
standard has been prepared by taking in to account recommendations of several
experts from the field of OH &S of industry and the resolutions passed by
International Labor.
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