A recent ballot of the ISO/PC283 committee has failed to reach the required number of votes for approval, and therefore publication of ISO45001, the new international occupational health and safety standard, may be delayed until June 2017.
The ballot on whether to approve the standard required less than a quarter of the participating members to vote against its approval, however 28 per cent of people voted against (one per cent abstained).
Following the conclusion of a review of all of the feedback comments received, a revised version will now be developed for approval.
According to sources close to the committee, the revised draft standard, which will provide a new worldwide standard for health and safety management systems designed to reduce workplace injuries, ill health and enhance workplace environments is expected to be developed during a plenary meeting in October later this year, with issue and consultation period likely to commence early 2017. Subject to the subsequent approval ballot then determining whether a final draft stage is required or not, then the standard is anticipated to be published in either June (no FDIS required) or November (FDIS required) 2017, the British Safety Council said.
Dave Parr, head of audit at the British Safety Council, commented: “Although the delay in publication of the new standard is a little disappointing, it is essential that unilateral consensus on the content is reached.
“The opportunity to consider specific issues raised through the consultation process should allow for an even more contemporary standard to be developed. The delay in publication should not deter organisations from preparing for transition to the new standard however, as the general framework and much of the content from the current DIS version will remain”.
IOSH head of policy and public affairs Richard Jones said: “While we cannot go into detail, there are a variety of reasons why participating members have voted against this, and these will need to be resolved at a meeting next month.
“Once concerns about the standard have been addressed, a revised version (DIS2) will be produced for further consultation and ballot.”
