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Key Takeaways:
- ISO 45001 is a new standard for occupational health and safety (OH&S) that focuses on risk management, transparency, and integrating health and safety into the overall business structure.
- It replaces OHSAS 18001, offering a more dynamic, process-based approach that incorporates the views of interested parties and covers both risks and opportunities.
- Compliance with ISO 45001 can bring substantial benefits, including improved productivity, reduced insurance costs, and enhanced brand reputation.
ISO 45001: The Next Frontier in Workplace Safety
Startups often face an avalanche of tasks and responsibilities, from product development to marketing and fundraising. Amidst this chaos, workplace safety can sometimes take a backseat. However, the importance of occupational health and safety (OH&S) cannot be understated. Every day, thousands of lives are lost due to work-related accidents or diseases – tragic occurrences that can be prevented with proper safety protocols in place.
Enter ISO 45001, the new international standard for OH&S, a beacon of hope aiming to drastically improve levels of workplace safety. It represents a milestone as the first International Standard dealing with health and safety at work. It provides a clear, comprehensive framework for organizations wishing to improve their OH&S performance, targeting top management and emphasizing the importance of providing a safe and healthy workplace for employees and visitors.
The Shift from OHSAS 18001 to ISO 45001
While ISO 45001 is built upon the foundation laid by OHSAS 18001 – the erstwhile benchmark for OH&S – it brings to the table significant changes that businesses, especially startups, must understand.
Unlike the procedure-based OHSAS 18001, ISO 45001 adopts a process-based approach. It is dynamic in all clauses, takes into account the interaction between an organization and its business environment, and considers both risks and opportunities. Additionally, it includes the views of interested parties, a feature not present in OHSAS 18001.
For businesses already certified to OHSAS 18001, the migration to ISO 45001 requires thoughtful preparation and process overhaul. The transition includes analyzing the views of interested parties and internal and external factors that could impact the business, establishing the system’s scope, setting key performance indicators (KPIs), and adjusting the existing data to the tools of ISO 45001.
Decoding ISO 45001 for Startups: What You Need to Know
For startups new to ISO management systems, ISO 45001 might appear intimidating at first glance. It adopts the high-level structure (HLS), identical core text, and terms and definitions shared with other recently revised ISO management system standards such as ISO 9001:2015 (quality management) and ISO 14001:2015 (environmental management).
Understanding the standard’s interconnections and specifics might require additional resources such as training courses or consultancy services, especially if the organization isn’t already acquainted with the common framework of ISO management systems.
The Integration of ISO 45001 with Other Management Systems
ISO’s common framework for management system standards was intentionally developed to facilitate the integration of new management topics into an organization’s existing management systems. ISO 45001 closely aligns with ISO 14001, considering that many organizations combine their OH&S and environmental functions internally. For startups already certified to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, this alignment allows for easier integration of ISO 45001 into their existing systems.
Leveraging ISO 45001: Potential Uses and Benefits
Most organizations are expected to use ISO 45001 to establish an effective OH&S management system. While certification is not a requirement, it brings an added endorsement demonstrating to external parties the organization’s full compliance with the standard.
The benefits of correctly implementing ISO 45001 are endless. Apart from ensuring that OH&S risks are addressed and controlled, it also takes a risk-based approach to the OH&S management system, promoting its effectiveness and continuous improvement to meet the ever-changing “context” of an organization. Moreover, it ensures compliance with current legislation worldwide, establishing a business’s reputation as a “safe place to work”.
For startups, this can translate into a plethora of advantages including reducing insurance costs, improving employee morale, attracting talent, and bolstering the company’s image – all while achieving strategic targets.
Conclusion
In today’s dynamic business environment, startups need to understand the value of integrating health and safety into their core operations. The adoption of ISO 45001 signifies a commitment to create a safe and healthy workplace, ultimately driving growth, productivity, and business success. By making health and safety a priority, startups can not only save lives but also build a solid foundation for a prosperous future.
