What are the benefits of ISO 45001 certification?

ISO 45001 and the benefits

In this article, we explore the benefits of ISO 45001 certification and explain why clients are partnering with Compliant for ISO.

We understand the numerous challenges that businesses face when it comes to ensuring the health and safety of their employees. Workplace accidents, injuries, and illnesses not only cause human suffering but also have a significant impact on a company’s productivity, reputation, and bottom line.

This is where ISO 45001 certification comes into play. ISO 45001 is an internationally recognised standard for occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMS)

The major goal of ISO 45001 is to give businesses a systematic method for identifying and managing occupational health and safety hazards, lowering the number of workplace accidents and injuries, and fostering a safe and healthy working environment for all stakeholders, including employees. In addition to being compatible with other commonly used management systems standards like ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 14001 (environmental management), ISO 45001 was created to replace the previous standard, OHSAS 18001.

This blog explains the benefits of ISO 45001 certification and highlights why businesses should invest in this framework to protect their employees and enhance their overall performance.

What ISO 45001 involves:

When getting started with ISO 45001 understanding the internal and external elements that may have an impact on the occupational health and safety performance of the organisation is necessary. It entails identifying pertinent legal requirements, stakeholders, and other elements that could affect the occupational health and safety management system’s effectiveness. Below we have listed some of the components of the ISO 45001 standard:

1. Leadership: Top management and employee involvement is essential to the development of a successful occupational health and safety management system. Top management is in charge of setting roles and responsibilities, guaranteeing worker engagement and consultation, and displaying leadership and dedication to occupational health and safety. Employees are responsible for understanding their role in contributing to the occupational health and safety management system and ensuring that the actions put in place are followed. Leadership falls under clause 5 of the standard and to ensure that clients meet the requirements of this clause Compliant provides a range of templates as evidence. These templates include a SWOT analysis, a PESTLER, a Stakeholder Analysis, a RACI, a Communications Matrix and a Legal Register.
2. Planning: This section entails completing risk assessments, defining procedures to manage hazards and control risks, and setting goals and targets to enhance occupational health and safety performance. As part of clause 6 evidence Compliant supplies a ‘Risks, Opportunities and Objectives Tracker’ and templates to support and manage change.
3. Support and resources: In order to adopt and maintain the occupational health and safety management system, organisations must provide the appropriate resources, such as qualified employees, training, infrastructure, and equipment. Compliant guides companies through this section including how to demonstrate a company’s recruitment process, what documents are required as evidence and how to show staff competencies. We supply a proven training matrix and a range of HR templates where needed.
4. Operational: Establishing controls and procedures to manage identified risks and hazards, putting emergency preparedness and response plans into action, and maintaining compliance with relevant legal and other requirements are all part of operational planning and control. We supply clients with a detailed list of what evidence is needed as part of clause 8 of the ISO 45001 standard. We all guide clients on how this evidence can be recorded and presented.
5. Performance assessment: To discover opportunities for improvement, organisations must monitor, measure, and assess their occupational health and safety performance. This includes conducting internal audits and management reviews. As part of our ongoing payments option, we offer clients internal audit support and update their SWOT analysis, PESTLER, Stakeholder Analysis, RACI, Communications Matrix and Legal Register. We also supply an up to date management review and audit programme which all acts as evidence towards clause 9 of the standard.
6. Improvement: A key part of ISO 45001 is continuous improvement. Corrective action should be taken by organisations to deal with non-conformities and boost the efficiency of the occupational health and safety management system. In order to prevent repetition, they should also take lessons from accidents and put them into practice. We supply an extensive, up to date non-conformity log to record issues arising and show business improvements for clients. This document supports continuous improvement and acts as evidence for clause 10 of the standard on audit days.

Companies invest in a health and safety management system for several important reasons:

In looking at the benefits of ISO 45001 certification we thought it best to showcase why some of our clients have decided to invest in a health and safety management system:

1. Employee wellbeing: First and foremost, we have found that clients want to create an environment that is safe and healthy to enhance employee welfare. A health and safety management system enables businesses to recognise and address workplace risks, lower the chance of mishaps or injuries, and makes the physical and emotional wellbeing of their employees top priority. Employee morale, work satisfaction, and productivity may all be improved as a result.
2. Respect for rules: There is a huge array of laws and regulations in relation to occupational health and safety. These laws and regulations require businesses to provide workers with a safe and healthy workplace. By making an investment in a health and safety management system, businesses may ensure they satisfy the requirements of the law, comply with penalties, and stay out of trouble. We supply clients with an extensive legal register that ensures businesses have a list of all of the legislation that they are required to adhere to.
3. Risk mitigation: Setting up a health and safety management system aids businesses in identifying potential risks and hazards in their operations. Companies can prevent accidents, injuries, or occupational illnesses by completing risk assessments and putting in place the proper management mechanisms. This not only safeguards workers but also lessens monetary losses brought on by workplace accidents, such as medical expenditures, insurance claims, legal fees, and damage to property or equipment. We provide a proven opportunities, risks and objectives matrix that also lists appropriate mitigating actions for risks and shows improvements via RAG system once those mitigating risks are implemented. This is also one of the documents that is reviewed as part of our internal audit offering.
4. Improved efficiency: Better operational efficiency and productivity are possible with a well-designed health and safety management system. Businesses may lower interruptions, absenteeism, and employee turnover by detecting and removing dangers, streamlining procedures, and maintaining a safe working environment. Employees are more likely to concentrate on their task and give it their best effort when they feel protected and supported, which increases output quality and productivity.
5. Improved reputation: Businesses that place a high priority on health and safety show that they care about the welfare of their staff, which can help them with stakeholders. Companies that prioritise safety and responsible practises are frequently valued by clients, investors, and business partners. Additionally, talented workers can be attracted and retained if a company has a good reputation for safety.
6. Cost savings: Companies can save money over the long term by investing in health and safety. Companies can avoid the financial burden of medical costs, workers’ compensation claims, legal fees, and lost productivity by preventing accidents, injuries, and diseases. A proactive approach to safety can also save insurance costs and enhance the organisation’s overall financial stability.

If your business needs templates to implement any of the recommendations above Compliant can help. Our thorough and professional management systems have a wide range of templates and a proven track record.

We have found that companies that invest in a health and safety management systems to satisfy regulatory obligations, safeguard employee welfare, lower risks, improve reputation, increase efficiency, and save money. In an earlier article we explore ISO 45001 principles which may prove a helpful guide when choosing whether or not to invest in the standard.

Benefits of ISO 45001; why we recommend getting started with ISO 45001

Implementing ISO 45001 enables businesses and senior management to enhance their health and safety operations. Businesses with an ISO 45001 certification, show proactive measures in attempting and reducing the possibility of significant risks. We have helped a range of businesses to achieve ISO 45001 including Atom Water Treatment, whose full case study can be viewed here.

Here are some of the reasons we recommend getting started with ISO 45001 with Compliant:

1. Legal Compliance and Risk Reduction: By aligning their practices with ISO 45001, companies can reduce legal risks, avoid penalties, and demonstrate a commitment to maintaining a safe workplace. This certification serves as evidence that a company is actively working towards reducing occupational health and safety hazards, thereby mitigating potential liabilities.
2. Enhanced Occupational Health and Safety Management: ISO 45001 provides a proven systematic framework for businesses to identify, control, and mitigate risks related to occupational health and safety. Compliant provides robust policies and procedures that prioritise the well-being of employees. The certification requires the development of an effective management system, which includes setting clear objectives, conducting regular audits, and continuously improving safety protocols all of which Compliant can help with.
3. Competitive Advantage and Market Reputation: ISO 45001 certification is increasingly becoming essential for supplier selection, especially in industries where safety is of paramount importance, such as construction, manufacturing, and healthcare. By investing in ISO 45001, businesses gain a competitive edge over their non-certified counterparts. Clients, customers, and business partners perceive ISO 45001 certification as a testament to a company’s commitment to occupational health and safety. The certification enhances a company’s market reputation, attracts potential clients, and improves its chances of securing lucrative contracts.
4. Improved Employee Morale and Reduced Absenteeism: Investing in ISO 45001 certification sends a powerful message to employees that their well-being is a top priority. Involving employees in risk assessments, incident reporting, and decision-making processes enhances their sense of ownership, empowering them to contribute to a safer working environment. Employees are less likely to experience work-related health problems, fostering a healthier workforce and reducing turnover rates.
5. Operational Efficiency: Having ISO 45001 certification in place can result in long-term cost savings for businesses. By preventing accidents, injuries, and illnesses, organisations reduce the financial burden associated with medical expenses, worker compensation claims, and legal fees. Additionally, ISO 45001 promotes operational efficiency by streamlining processes, identifying areas for improvement, and minimizing downtime caused by accidents or incidents. A safer work environment also leads to fewer disruptions, allowing businesses to maintain continuous operations and meet customer demands effectively.

One of the major reasons clients are discouraged from pursuing ISO 45001 is the complexities of the standard and concerns around maintaining the management system. We manage the entire process on behalf of our clients including the maintenance and updating of management systems, preparation for audit days and support on audit days. We ensure that clients understand their responsibilities and have documented evidence that acts as compliance. To understand further understand ISO 45001 compliance view an earlier article of ours here.

Why invest in ISO 45001 with Compliant

Organisations demonstrate their dedication to occupational health and safety, improve their reputation, and make their workplaces safer for their workers by implementing ISO 45001. This popular ISO standard encourages a culture of continuous development while assisting organisations in adhering to legal and regulatory standards relating to occupational health and safety.

Implementing ISO 45001 certification with Compliant offers numerous benefits for businesses striving to create safer workplaces and improve their overall performance. From enhancing occupational health and safety management to reducing legal risks and improving employee morale, ISO 45001 with Compliant provides a comprehensive framework that drives positive change.

If you would like more information on how to implement an effective occupational health and safety management system and become ISO 45001 certified, we’d be happy to arrange a call to talk about your options. Alternatively, if you would like a quotation at any point just fill in our FREE quote calculator.