The formal commenting period for the full draft of ISO 45001 Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use started on 19 May 2017.
The yet-to-be launched international standard specifies requirements for an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system, with guidance for its use, to enable an organization to provide safe and healthy working conditions for the prevention of work-related injury and ill health.
ISO 45001 includes the development and implementation of an OH&S policy and objectives which take into account applicable legal requirements and other requirements to which the organization subscribes.
The international standard will aim to provide a single, clear framework for organizations of all types and sizes who wish to improve their OH&S performance and protect those working on their behalf or who may be affected by the organization’s activities. This includes any organization beyond that of sole trader – and those organizations working with multiple contractors, multiple sites, volunteers or temporary staff, etc.
According to the BSI, benefits of ISO 45001 include:
ISO 45001 has been developed using a collaborative, consensus-based approach, taking into account the views of large and small organizations, government bodies, trades unions and worker representative organizations. It will eventually replace OHSAS 18001.
This latest draft has been issued to allow comments from interested parties, to assist in the preparation of the final standard. Comments submitted will be reviewed by the relevant BSI committee before sending the consensus UK vote and comments to the international secretariat, which will then decide appropriate action on the draft and the comments received.
The last date for receipt of comments is 18 June 2017.
