ISO 45001 Occupational Health And Safety Management System (OHSMS)
What is ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System?
An ISO 45001 Occupational Health & Safety Management System (OHSMS) protects employees and key stakeholders from harm by helping organisations identify, control, and reduce workplace health and safety risks. By implementing ISO 45001, organisations ensure a safer environment for their workers, contractors, and visitors.Â
Improving your OHSMS to the level required by ISO 45001 not only safeguards employees and key stakeholders but also helps you comply with legal requirements, reduce litigation risks, and improve productivity. Additionally, ISO 45001 enhances reputation, increasing stakeholders’ confidence in your business and supporting you in securing tenders with public and private sector customers.Â
A safe and supportive working environment is essential for employee engagement. By prioritising the physical and mental wellbeing of your team, you can set yourself apart from the competition. As a result, employees will also be happier, absenteeism will decrease, and productivity will rise.Â
Benefits of ISO 45001 certification
Achieving ISO 45001 certification provides a wide range of benefits that can significantly enhance your business:
Protects employees and key stakeholders from harm
Identifies and mitigates risks associated with daily business activities
Supports compliance with health and safety regulations
Encourages a proactive approach to workplace health and safety
Improves risk management and hazard control
Enhances employee engagement, morale and productivity
Enhances company reputation and stakeholder engagement
Provides a competitive advantage
Reduces costs associated with work-related accidents and illnesses
How can ISO 45001 protect my business?
Work-related accidents and injuries can have a profound financial impact on your business and severely damage your reputation. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) report published in November 2024, around 1.7 million workers reported suffering from work-related ill health in 2023/2024, leading to an estimated 33.7 million lost working days.  Â
ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety helps you take a proactive approach to managing health and safety risks. This approach reduces the likelihood of these risks occurring and their associated costs through:
- Identifying and addressing hard-to-spot risks
- Predicting potential hazards and consequences
- Improving accident registers to include near misses
- Ensuring key safety processes are well-documented
- Encouraging team engagement in health and safety initiatives
Our clients
have been with us for over 3 years
have been with us for over 5 years
have been with us for over 10 years
Can ISO 45001 prevent all health and safety incidents?
Although ISO 45001 cannot prevent all health and safety incidents, the standard significantly reduces their likelihood and any associated costs. The standard provides a framework for managing risks and legal requirements, including compliance management, implementing best practices and taking corrective action when necessary. Additionally, implementing ISO 45001 demonstrates that your organisation has well-established processes and procedures, which can support further actions if an employee fails to follow them.
Does ISO 45001 address mental health and wellbeing?
Yes, ISO 45001 addresses both physical and mental health risks, recognising that workplace health and safety goes beyond preventing physical injuries. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) report published in November 2024, found that nearly half of all reported ill-health cases in 2023/2024 were linked to work-related stress, depression or anxiety.  This report highlights the growing need for businesses to take a proactive approach to addressing their employees mental health and wellbeing. Â
ISO 45001 provides a structured approach to identifying and managing risks, helping you create a healthier and more supportive working environment. By implementing a comprehensive Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS), you can reduce workplace stress, prevent burnout, and promote employee wellbeing. This not only boosts morale and productivity but lowers absenteeism and long-term health issues too.Â
"Had our ISO 45001 Audit today, passed with flying colours and this is due to just how knowledgeable and helpful Graeme Silk is. Graeme really took the time on our initial meeting back in August to properly explain the clauses and requirements in a way that was clear and understandable."
Daniel Worrell, Estimator at MBM Scaffolding Limited
Who should implement ISO 45001?
Every organisation is responsible for maintaining health and safety in the workplace. This responsibility is shared among employers, employees and other stakeholders. This makes ISO 45001 suitable for all organisations, regardless of size or sector. However, ISO 45001 is particularly beneficial for businesses in high-risk industries such as construction and manufacturing. Â
Our clients
Here are just some of the industries we support with their ISO 45001 certification:
12%
are
manufacturers
10%
work in environmental services
9%
provide building facilities management
7%
areÂ
engineers
7%
are building contractors
7%
telecommunication
providers
How Linden Care Homes used ISO 45001 to set themselves apart?
While many care homes hold one ISO standard, typically ISO 9001 Quality Management, Linden Care Homes recognised that this one alone wouldn’t help them achieve their goal of becoming a market leader. To stand out in the competitive care industry, Linden Care Homes decided to go further by implementing ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety and ISO 14001 Environmental Management.Â
Adopting these additional standards meant Linden Care Comes could set itself apart by enhancing quality care, operational safety, and environmental responsibility. This commitment establishes Linden Care Homes as a trusted, responsible provider, offering residents and their families peace of mind that they are in a safe, caring environment.
What is the process to get my business certificated to the ISO 45001?
We offer a simple and flexible approach to implementing ISO certification that will take you from where you are today to running an ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management system in as little as eight weeks.Â
Our support doesn’t stop after you’ve achieved ISO 45001 certification. In addition to your annual re-certification audit, we also provide a flexible annual support visit which is tailored to your needs, ensuring they always add value to your organisation.Â
Step 1
Contact us
Speak to our ISO experts to get your bespoke quote.
Step 2
Kick off meeting
Meet with your new account manager and get an overview of the next steps and support provided.
Step 3
Initial Assessment
First meeting with your auditor who will identify works to be completed.
Step 4
Documentation preparation
We’ll compile your Overview Document which will act as your ISO manual.
Step 5
Certification audit
Once requirements of the Standard are met, we’ll present you with your certificate.
Step 6
Maintaining compliance
We’ll visit you twice yearly to support you with your ongoing compliance.
FAQs
ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety replaced the British standard OHSAS 18001 in 2018.  Businesses previously certificated to BS OHSAS 18001 were required to transition to ISO 45001 by 2021 to remain within certification.  Â
The costs vary depending on the size of your organisation and the level to which you’re currently operating regarding your processes and procedures. Due to our proposals being bespoke, we recommend getting in touch with a member of our team to discuss your requirements in more detail so we can provide a free, no-obligation quote.Â
Your ISO 45001 certificate will be valid for 12 months and subject to an annual re-certification audit throughout your contract.
We can provide training on the implementation of ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management, however do not run any public training days. Instead we offer bespoke onsite training which is tailored specifically to your business and management system, ensuring it aligns with your goals and processes.
To support your ongoing compliance with ISO 45001, we provide flexible annual support visits tailored to your needs. These are in addition to your annual re-certification audit, which is a mandatory part of the standard.Â
The support visit offers an opportunity to focus on key areas that will add value to your business, whether it’s assisting with your internal audits, Management Review Meetings (MRM) or discussing leadership buy-in. Before your support meeting our client care team will talk to you about an agenda for the day. Following this visit, you will receive an audit report and recommendations log, ensuring you stay on track and continually improve your OHSMS.Â
In addition to the support visits, our dedicated client care team will be on hand to assist you with the day-to-day running of your management system, offering guidance and support whenever you need it. Â
You will also have access to our exclusive client portal. The portal provides access to our standard documents and a knowledge base, giving you valuable resources to support your compliance and certification journey.
Whilst having a copy of the ISO 45001 standard isn’t mandatory, we strongly recommend it. Having a copy gives your team direct access to the full requirements for implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an OHSMS.
The standard provides detailed insights into the principles, processes, and frameworks necessary for certification, preparing for an audit, and maintaining compliance. It ensures your team can accurately interpret requirements and align your organisation with international best practices for quality management.Â
Owning a copy of ISO 45001 will support your team throughout your certification journey and enhance your ability to consistently deliver products and services that meet your customer needs and expectations.  Â
You can purchase a copy of ISO 45001 at a discounted rate here.Â
No, we do not provide UKAS Accreditation. We work in partnership with UKAS Accredited Bodies, and when UKAS is required, we can recommend a provider and support you through the process with our consultancy services.  In most cases, non-accredited certification is enough for most businesses. We therefore recommend reviewing whether you require UKAS or not.
Learn more about accredited vs non-accredited certificationÂ
Learn more about ISO consultancy services
The time required to implement ISO 45001 varies depending on factors such as your organisation’s size and complexity and existing management system practices.
During the initial implementation phase, organisations generally dedicate more time to building their management system. Once established, maintaining the system often requires only a few hours per week, though this can vary based on how fully the system is integrated into daily operations. A well-established and embedded system will naturally become more efficient over time, reducing ongoing maintenance needs.
Absolutely. The majority of ISO standards follow the same Annex SL structure. This framework consists of common clauses that cover the essential aspects of a management system. This ensures a uniform approach across all the different ISO standards, allowing organisations to align their processes more efficiently.Â
Implementing multiple ISO standards simultaneously can save time and reduce costs. However, additional ISO standards can be adopted at a later date if organisations prefer.Â
CTA: What is the Annex SL Structure: What is the Annex SL Structure? | ISO QSL