What is an Occupational Health & Safety Management System (OHSMS) and How Does it Relate to ISO 45001?
ISO 45001 is the internationally recognized standard for Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems. ISO 45001 provides a structured framework for organizations of all sizes and industries to establish, implement, and maintain an effective OHSMS. An Occupational Health & Safety Management System (OHSMS) is a framework for organizations to manage the safety and well-being of their employees. Creating a safe work environment for employees while complying with legal requirements and continuous improvement in health and safety performance is the goal of OHSMS.
According to: https://www.iso.org/iso-45001-occupational-health-and-safety.html they give the ISO 45001: The benefits of implementation below:
ISO 45001: The benefits of implementation
Fostering a secure and stable job climate
Reduced future injuries and increased workplace efficiency of the workforce
Improved procedures and other criteria
Demonstration of strong rates of workplace health and safety at foreign contracts or industrial growth to accommodate new companies
Improving the efficiency of the business processes to fulfill consumer demands and improved output
Your staff’s engagement and awareness of their obligations to maintain health and safety in the workplace
Why is ISO 45001 important?
ISO 45001’s main objective is the overall safety of the company’s employees and managing their risks. More on why 45001 is important According to www.iso.org below:
Implementing ISO 45001 provides significant value to organizations looking to reduce workplace incidents and demonstrate OH&S commitment. Benefits include:
ISO 45001 provides an internationally-recognized framework for managing occupational health and safety risks. It enables organizations to systematically assess hazards and implement risk control measures, leading to reduced workplace injuries, illnesses and incidents.
Adopting the standard shows employees and external stakeholders that the organization is committed to worker health, safety and wellbeing. This boosts reputation, morale and retention.
The standard requires complying with OH&S regulations, ensuring legal conformity. It also promotes proactive risk management, potentially lowering insurance premiums.
By requiring emergency preparedness and response protocols, ISO 45001 strengthens organizational resilience against safety threats and crises.
The framework of plan, do, check act means the OH&S system can continually improve and evolve, enhancing long-term worker health and safety performance.
In summary, ISO 45001 enables organizations to better protect their workers and manage OH&S risks, making it an essential standard worldwide.
Challenges of an OHSMS: Cost, Time and Knowledge
Some challenges do come with the implementation of 45001 such as the Cost, the time it can take to get certified and do we as a small business lack the knowledge?
Cost of the project, it can be pricy but a worthwhile investment to not just save lives by preventing injuries but also saving money. Gaining the ISO 45001 will also open up more business opportunities and larger contracts.
As for Time it can to complete a project from start to finish it can be months because implementing the OHSMS takes time and won’t be rushed. The prevention of injury or illness of your employees though will be well worth the time investment.
Knowledge is important internally in the matter but it’s understandable for smaller companies to be less knowledgeable about ISO 45001. Assigning a project manager to better understand and familiarize themselves with the standard is important. While also having the guidance of a consulting and auditing team such as Wilkshire Consulting will make it a smooth process.
If you are interested in getting the ISO 45001 standard and implementing an Occupational Health & Safety Management System (OHSMS) or just wanting further details, contact us below!
Wilkshire Consulting Contact Information
(248) 890-9283
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