What is ISO 45001 and why is it important?

If you're asking, "what is ISO 45001," you're not alone. ISO 45001:2018 – occupational health and safety management systems is the world's first international standard that specifies requirements for an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system. It provides a robust framework for organizations to proactively improve worker safety, reduce workplace risks and create safer working conditions. Replacing the previous OHSAS 18001 standard, ISO 45001 offers organizations of all sizes and industries a single, clear framework for managing occupational health and safety risks. 

The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that just short of 3 million people die annually from work-related causes and close to 400 million suffer non-fatal worker and workplace injuries. WHO/ILO analysis also estimates that this costs the global economy around 5%-6% of GDP. As a result, understanding what is ISO 45001 and why is it important has become critical for business leaders.  

ISO 45001 represents a significant evolution in workplace safety, moving from reactive incident management to proactive risk prevention through its integration with the plan-do-check-act (PDCA) methodology and alignment with other ISO management system standards. 

Is ISO 45001 a requirement for organizations? 

While ISO 45001 certification isn't legally mandated, it's increasingly becoming a business necessity. Many organizations require their suppliers and contractors to hold ISO 45001 certification as a prerequisite for collaboration, particularly in high-risk industries like construction, manufacturing and oil and gas. But while it is not a requirement in itself, compliance with ISO 45001 means you are likely to be compliant with any applicable laws and regulations.  

For example, the standard helps demonstrate compliance with national safety regulations such as OSHA requirements in the United States and HSE regulations in the United Kingdom. In global supply chains, especially within Asian manufacturing sectors, ISO 45001 is approaching "ticket to trade" status. Organizations previously certified to OHSAS 18001 were required to migrate to ISO 45001 by September 2021 to maintain valid certification. 

For companies pursuing ESG goals or participating in international tenders, ISO 45001 provides essential credibility. The question isn't whether you need ISO 45001, but rather: can your organization afford to operate without this globally recognized safety credential in today's risk-conscious business environment? Understanding what ISO 45001 is becomes the first step toward building a competitive advantage through superior safety management. 

What is ISO 45001 designed to achieve? 

Understanding what ISO 45001 is starts with recognizing its core purpose: preventing work-related injury and ill health while providing safe and healthy workplaces. The standard enables organizations to eliminate hazards and minimize OH&S risks through effective preventive and protective measures. 

What are the benefits of ISO 45001 certification? 

Organizations implementing ISO 45001 report significant measurable improvements across multiple dimensions. The tangible benefits of certification include: 

• 25% average reduction in workplace accidents with some organizations achieving up to 40% improvement. 
• Lower insurance premiums through demonstrated systematic risk management. 
• Reduced legal liability and decreased risk of prosecution for safety violations. 
• Enhanced employee morale and retention through visible commitment to worker safety. 
• Improved productivity with certified companies showing better performance metrics than non-certified peers. 
• Access to new markets where ISO 45001 is a tender requirement (or preference). 
• Streamlined regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions. 
• Better supply chain management through standardized safety requirements. 
• Reduced operational downtime from fewer incidents and injuries. 
• Cost savings from decreased workers' compensation claims and recruitment costs. 
• Enhanced reputation and demonstration of corporate social responsibility. 
• Integration capability with other management systems like ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. 
• Continuous improvement culture embedded throughout the organization. 
• Stronger worker participation in safety decision-making processes. 

A reliable, effective safety management software solution is the best way to reap these benefits while maintaining ongoing compliance with minimal administrative burden. 

How to attain ISO 45001 certification 

The journey to ISO 45001 certification typically takes 6-12 months, depending on your organization's size, complexity and existing safety management maturity. The process follows a structured approach: 

Begin with leadership commitment and gap analysis, evaluating your current safety practices against ISO 45001 requirements. Form an implementation team with representatives from various departments, ensuring adequate resources and time allocation. This foundation phase typically requires 1-2 months. 

Next, conduct comprehensive risk assessments identifying workplace hazards and establishing appropriate controls. Develop your OH&S policy aligned with organizational strategy, create necessary procedures and work instructions and establish document control processes. This documentation phase generally takes 2-3 months. 

The implementation and training phase involves rolling out new processes, conducting employee awareness programs and establishing communication channels for worker consultation and participation. This is the stage at which you might realize you need to significantly overhaul your existing approach by using powerful safety management software to streamline compliance activities. Allow 3-4 months for full implementation. 

Before certification, conduct internal audits to verify system effectiveness, address any non-conformities and perform management reviews. The system must operate for at least three months before the certification audit. 

Finally, engage an accredited certification body for the two-stage certification audit. Stage 1 reviews your documentation and readiness, while Stage 2 assesses implementation effectiveness. Following successful completion, you'll receive your ISO 45001 certificate valid for three years. 

Maintaining ISO 45001 certification 

For organizations that have discovered what ISO 45001 is and why is it important, maintaining certification requires ongoing commitment and systematic management. Certification bodies conduct “surveillance” audits annually or bi-annually to verify continued compliance and improvement. Organizations must demonstrate not just maintenance, but enhancement of their OH&S performance over time. 

By far the easiest way to maintain compliance and ensure successful surveillance audits is to use powerful, tried and tested safety management software. Digital platforms automate documentation, track corrective actions, manage training records and provide real-time performance dashboards essential for demonstrating continuous improvement. 

Regular internal audits, management reviews and performance monitoring ensure your system remains effective. Legal compliance updates, incident investigations and worker feedback mechanisms must continue operating effectively. Organizations should also stay current with any ISO 45001 amendments, such as the 2024 climate action changes. 

Many organizations find that initial certification is just the beginning. The real value comes from embedding safety excellence into daily operations. Time will be saved by automating many tedious, time-consuming tasks such as incident reporting, risk assessments and audit management through integrated software solutions. This allows safety professionals to focus on proactive improvement rather than administrative tasks. 

Transforming workplace safety with Ideagen solutions 

Ideagen's comprehensive safety management platform helps organizations achieve and maintain ISO 45001 certification while driving genuine safety improvements through groundbreaking AI capabilities. Our software enables you to operate using a single source of truth for all safety data, proactively managing the risks inherent in your operations while streamlining compliance activities. 

What sets Ideagen EHS apart is our AI-powered intelligence that transforms raw safety data into actionable insights. Generate ISO 45001 compliance checks instantly with AI-powered form builders, predict potential safety issues before they occur through real-time data analysis and leverage intelligent automation that converts your organization from reactive safety management to proactive risk prevention. Our AI doesn't just collect data – it analyzes patterns, identifies opportunities and recommends actions that drive genuine safety improvements and business value. 

Whether you're beginning your ISO 45001 journey or seeking to enhance an existing certified system, the right technology foundation powered by artificial intelligence makes the difference between mere compliance and safety excellence. Discover how leading organizations across industries have transformed their safety performance with Ideagen's proven OH&S management solutions that harness the full potential of data transparency and insight.