ISO 45000 family of occupational health and safety management standards
 

An organization is only as healthy as the people working in it. Work-related injury and illness is responsible for millions of lost work days. Considering early retirements, insurance premiums and the costs associated with hiring and training replacement workers, the impact of workplace injuries and illness is significant for both employers and the wider economy. More than livelihoods, however, lives are at stake. Some 3 million people die annually from work-related diseases and injuries. More still suffer chronic debilitating conditions. The ISO 45000 family of occupational health and safety standards guide organizations toward improving workers lives by identifying and reducing risks in the workplace and beyond. ISO 45001:2018 takes a proactive approach to safety and moves beyond mere compliance. Very often, regulations are put in place only after an incident has occurred. As such, regulation often is slower than innovation. In many sectors, such as construction, for example, new materials and building techniques are introduced before regulators have had a chance to figure out the inherent dangers. Particularly with ISO 45001:2018’s overarching approach, operations for which the immediate occupational risks are less apparent will benefit. Taking a holistic approach of what an organization does and the people it impacts, ISO 45001:2018 can improve the wellbeing of workers as well as the wider community.
ISO 45001:2018 was developed by a committee of the world’s leading occupational health and safety experts, and follows the design of other management system approaches such as ISO 14001 and ISO 9001. Therefore, it is easy to integrate into existing ISO management systems. ISO 45001:2018 is built on earlier international standards such as OHSAS 18001 the International Labor Organization’s ILO-OSH Guidelines and other international standards.