International OHS standard available for public comment

BSI has published the second draft of ISO 45001 Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements. The yet-to-be launched international standard specifies requirements for an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system, with guidance for its use, to enable an organisation to provide safe and healthy working conditions for the prevention of work-related injury and ill health.

The latest draft is available on the BSI’s website, ahead of the formal commenting period which begins on 19 May. From this date the draft will be accessible, enabling those with an interest to submit comment.

Two million people die yearly from work-related incidents and the number of people suffering life altering health conditions caused by their work is exponentially higher.

The international standard will help provide a single, clear framework for organisations of all types and sizes who wish to improve their OH&S performance and protect those working on their behalf or who may be affected by the organisation’s activities. This includes any organisation beyond that of sole trader – and those organisations working with multiple contractors, multiple sites, volunteers or temporary staff.

Head of governance and resilience at BSI, Anne Hayes, has engaged with BSI’s core markets regarding ISO 45001. “Occupational health and safety is a serious matter for all businesses worldwide, regardless of their size or sector. BSI is proud to be involved with developing a clear framework for businesses wishing to maintain or improve safety within their workplaces," she said.

“It is important that ISO 45001 works in alignment with other management system standards, such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. Therefore the common text and structure in which ISO 45001 is written will ensure these management system standards are broadly aligned."

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 (MSS), taking into account the requirements of the current OHSAS 18001, other national standards (including those from the US, China and Canada) and the ILO instruments - OH&S guidelines adopted by hundreds of countries across the world.

Publication of the final standard is anticipated towards the end of 2017

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