introduction:

An organization is responsible for ensuring that it minimizes the risk of harm to the people that may
Be affected by its activities (e.g. its workers, its managers, contractors, or visitors), and particularly
If they are engaged by the organization to perform those activities as part of their “
Occupation’’
ISO is developing an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system standard (ISO45001) which is intended to enable organizations to manage their OH&S risks and improve their OH&S performance. The implementation of an OH&S management system will be a strategic decision for an organization that can be used to support its sustainability initiatives, ensuring people are safer and healthier and increase profitability at the same time.

An ISO 45001 based OH&S management system will enable an organization to improve its OH&S performance by:

• Developing and implementing an OH&S policy and OH&S objectives.
• Establishing systematic processes which consider its “context” and which take into account its risks and opportunities, and its legal and other requirements.
• Determining the hazards and OH&S risks associated with its activities; seeking to eliminate them, or putting in controls to minimize their potential effects.
• Establishing operational controls to manage its OH&S risks and its legal and other requirements.
• Increasing awareness of its OH&S risks.
• Evaluating its OH&S performance and seeking to improve it, through taking appropriate actions.
• Ensuring workers take an active role in OH&S matters.
• In combination these measures will ensure that an organization’s reputation as a safe place to
• Work will be promoted, and can have more direct benefits, such as:
• Improving its ability to respond to regulatory compliance issues
• Reducing the overall costs of incidents
• Reducing downtime and the costs of disruption to operations
• Reducing the cost of insurance premiums
• Reducing absenteeism and employee turnover rates
• Recognition for having achieved an international benchmark (which may in turn influence
• Customers who are concerned about their social responsibilities)