ISO 45001: Improving Workplace Health and Safety

ISO 45001 specifies requirements for an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system. Its purpose is to help organisations provide safe and healthy workplaces by preventing work-related injury and ill health and by proactively improving OH&S performance.

It suits any organisation, but is particularly valued in construction, manufacturing, mining, logistics, utilities, facilities management and healthcare — sectors where hazards are significant and where clients and tenders increasingly ask for it.

Current status of the standard

• The current edition is ISO 45001:2018, together with Amendment 1:2024, which added climate change considerations to the clauses on organisational context.
• ISO 45001 replaced OHSAS 18001, which has been withdrawn. Certificates to OHSAS 18001 are no longer valid.
• A revision is in progress. ISO lists it as a Draft International Standard (ISO/DIS 45001); voting on the draft closed in September 2026. ISO has not announced a publication date, so we will report on it only once it is officially published.

Until a new edition is published and transition rules are announced, certification continues against ISO 45001:2018 + Amd 1:2024.

Key requirements in plain language

ISO 45001 follows the Harmonized Structure shared with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 (clauses 4–10). Some requirements stand out:

Leadership and worker participation

Top management must take overall responsibility and accountability for preventing injury and ill health — this cannot be delegated to a safety officer alone. The standard places strong emphasis on consultation and participation of non-managerial workers: in identifying hazards, deciding controls, investigating incidents and determining training needs. It also requires removing obstacles to participation, such as fear of reprisal for reporting.

Hazard identification and risk assessment

The organisation needs ongoing, proactive processes to identify hazards — including routine and non-routine activities, contractors and visitors, the design of work areas and equipment, and human factors — and to assess OH&S risks and opportunities.

The hierarchy of controls

Controls must follow a recognised order of preference:

1. Eliminate the hazard
2. Substitute with less hazardous processes, materials or equipment
3. Use engineering controls and reorganise work
4. Use administrative controls, including training
5. Use adequate personal protective equipment (PPE)

PPE is the last line of defence, not the first.

Legal requirements

You must identify the OH&S legal requirements that apply to you, keep them up to date and evaluate compliance. In India, this typically involves the labour and safety laws and rules applicable to your sector and state. Professional legal advice is advisable when you are unsure what applies.

Contractors, procurement and change

The system must control the risks from procured products and services, from contractors working on your premises, and from planned changes — for example new equipment, processes or work locations.

Emergency preparedness and incident investigation

Plan and test responses to potential emergencies. Report and investigate incidents, including near misses, to find root causes and prevent recurrence.

Implementation steps

1. Gain leadership commitment and define the scope and OH&S policy
2. Set up a consultation and participation mechanism (for example a safety committee with worker representatives)
3. Identify hazards and assess risks for each activity and location
4. Determine legal requirements and evaluate compliance
5. Set objectives and implement controls following the hierarchy
6. Train people and verify competence, including contractors
7. Monitor performance — inspections, incident data, health surveillance where relevant
8. Conduct internal audits and a management review, then the certification audit

Benefits

• Fewer incidents and less lost time
• Better legal compliance and preparedness for inspections
• Stronger safety culture through worker involvement
• Competitive advantage in tenders that require OH&S certification

Key takeaways

• ISO 45001:2018 with Amd 1:2024 is the current basis for certification; a revision is in draft with no published date yet.
• Leadership accountability and genuine worker participation are central requirements.
• Controls must follow the hierarchy — elimination first, PPE last.