BSI seeking comments on ISO 45001

BSI has published the draft international standard of ISO 45001 Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements and is seeking comments until April 15. This is an occupational health and safety management system standard written with the ultimate aim of replacing OHSAS 18001.  
Occupational health and safety continues to be a priority across the world with the International Labour Organization (ILO) citing 6,300 people dying every day as a result of occupational accidents or work-related diseases. This equates to estimated losses of four per cent of global gross domestic product each year.
 
Although OHSAS 18001 is widely used internationally, it is not a full international standard, said BSI.

"By working with a far wider range of countries and also the ILO, it is hoped that greater harmony will be achieved globally allowing further confidence down the supply chain and ultimately saving lives," BSI said.

The international committee which developed ISO 45001 includes experts from over 50 countries and 20 liaison bodies, all with knowledge and practical experience of occupational health and safety issues and the challenges faced. The new standard is based on the core structure and common text developed by ISO for all of its management system standards , taking into account the requirements of the current OHSAS 18001, other national standards (including those from the United States, China and Canada) and the ILO instruments — OHS guidelines adopted by hundreds of countries across the world.
 
ISO 45001 will help provide a single, clear framework for organizations of all types and sizes that wish to improve their OHS performance and protect those working on their behalf or who may be affected by the organization’s activities, said BSI. This includes any organization beyond that of sole trader — and those organizations working with multiple contractors, multiple sites and volunteers or temporary staff.
 
“Occupational health and safety is a serious matter for all businesses worldwide, regardless of their size or sector," said Gary Robinson, commercial director of BSI Group Canada. "It was important to us that ISO 45001 should work in alignment with any other management system standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, which may already be in use. Therefore the common text and structure in which it is written will ensure these management system standards are broadly aligned to each other.”
 
According to BSI, some of the benefits of ISO 45001 include:
•a single internationally-agreed standard suitable for all organizations worldwide
•alignment with other key management system standards
•less prescriptive requirements which direct organizations to design a management system uniquely suited to each organization’s occupational health and safety needs.
 
ISO 45001 has been developed using a collaborative, consensus-based approach taking into account the views of large and small organizations, government bodies, trades unions and worker representative organizations.
 
Following the three month ballot, and a comments resolution period, publication of the final standard is anticipated towards the end of 2016.
 
The draft of the standard is available here https://drafts.bsigroup.com/Home/Details/55801.