ISO 45001 update August 2017

ISO 45001 update August 2017

As the development of ISO 45001 progresses ISO/DIS 45001.2 was published in May 2017.

It was subject to a ballot of 69 national standards bodies (NSBs) of whom 88% approved and only 11% disapproved. Because this was short of the 25% threshold required for rejection of the text the standard can now move towards the final stage.

ISO PC 283, the occupational health and safety management system project committee taxed with developing ISO 45001 will meet in September to discuss the final text of the standard.

If any technical changes arise from this meeting a final draft of the standard (FDIS) may be required, which will likely delay publication of the standard until 2018.

ISO 45001 will replace OHSAS 18001 with a three-year transition being  anticipated after the ISO standard is published.

A number of significant changes have been introduced by ISO 45001, not least of which is the introduction of the Annex SL format and terminology. Annex SL was developed in order to ensure that all future ISO management system standards (including the putative ISO 45001) share a common format irrespective of the specific discipline to which they relate.

Annex SL prescribes a high-level structure, identical core text, and common terms and core definitions. This common structure will greatly facilitate the integration of management systems including quality (ISO 9001), environment (ISO 14001), energy (ISO 50001) and health and safety (ISO 45001).

Submitted by our Health & Safety tutors, Antaris