ISO 45001 to replace OHSAS 18001 in 2018

You may be more than familiar with OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health and Safety Standard (formerly BS OSHSA 18001).  Indeed most workplaces operate to this high standard on a daily basis, whether formally accredited or not.

What you may not be aware of is that OHSAS 18001 is migrating to ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems – Requirements standard in early 2018.

Why the change?

• ISO45001 will also incorporate
  • various national standards;
  • the International Labour Organisations’s ILO-OSH Guidelines
  • the ILO’s internaltional labour standards and conventions.

As such, it will be the first internationally recogised standard in Occupational Health and Safety, contributing to safer working conditions worldwide.

• It also provides consistency with other management system approaches such as 9001: Quality Management and 14001: Environmental Management systems.  This will allow a more streamlined approach to integrated management systems.

When is this effective from?

• The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) estimate that the new standard will be available in the first quarter of 2018.  Organisations are being encouraged to start the migration process early.
• Once the new standard is formalised, the old standard will be withdrawn and there will be a three year migration period.

What’s the value?

There were over 8,318 non fatal injuries reported to the HSA in 2016, 95% of which resulted in four or more days absence from work*.  Thus, the potential benefits of the new standard in increasing workplace safety and increasing cost avoidance is clear.

Acacia Health & Safety Department are on hand to support with transitioning to this new standard.

Contact us here and one of our team of  Health & Safety Advisors will get right back to you.

*HSA Stats Report 2016

Categories: Health & Safety