Implementing ISO 45001 And Risk Based Thinking Effectively
Introduction
ISO 45001:2018 is Occupational Health and Safety Management System which is also called OH&SMS. It is a framework provided to organization to take the utmost care of the health and safety of its employees, including contractors. The framework provides an amalgamation of requirements in the form of clauses with the aim to prevent OH&S hazards and minimize respective risks at workplace. Previously ISO 45001 was known as OHSAS 18001, it was not in line with high level structure i.e. 10 Clauses with plan do check act as the base principle. But it was revised recently in 2018 and now it is named as ISO 45001:2018 called the Occupational Health and safety Management Systems.
Understanding The Role Of Risk-Based Thinking In ISO 45001 Implementation
ISO 45001 clearly states to have a risk-based approach to create a proactive environment for OH&SMS (Occupational Health and Safety management system). Organizations must follow a process of identification, assessment and timely address the identified risks and opportunities that impact OH&S performance. Organization must also consider its context, involved interested parties, integration of risk management in operational processes to avoid accidents, performance improvement and create a safe working environment.
Risk Based thinking is the main essence of ISO 45001. It is a strategic step that stirs organizations to move away from traditional and conventional reactive way of fixing problems to proactive way where focus is on problem prevention. It helps integrate the risks and opportunities identified for the organization in all aspects of the management systems. This helps address any potential issues as well as address it prior to any escalation.
How Risk-Based Thinking Supports A Proactive Approach In ISO 45001?
1. Identification of potential risk and opportunities – when an organization assesses internal and external factors, it can help an organization to foresee and address operational as well as strategic challenges beforehand
2. Integration of risk management strategy in operational processes – it helps organization in the longer run to achieve objectives and ensure resources are properly allocated
3. Stakeholder management – A proactive approach to risks that an organization might be facing helps in building customer trust, build relation with suppliers and also regulatory bodies.
Key Objectives Of Risk-Based Thinking In ISO 45001 Implementation
The main goal of having a Risk Based Thinking (RBT) approach is:
1. Increase organization resilience: timely anticipation of potential risk can help organization have proper contingency plans
2. Promote continual improvement: Periodic review of the risk assessment can help enhance the operational processes of the organization.
3. Alignment of risk management and operational strategic objectives: Ensure that risk management is integrated into business objectives and goals.
4. Building Culture: Employees are encouraged across all levels of organization that takes into consideration risk in routine operations. Employees can contribute when Clause 7.3 on awareness in executed.
Key Aspects Of Risk-Based Thinking In ISO 45001 Compliance
1. Context of the organization – Clause 4.1 states that organistions must clearly understand what are the internal and external issues and at the same time identify potential risks and opportunities which can affect it ability to achive the desired OH&S performance.
2. Interested parties – Clause 4.2 states the identification of needs and expectations of all relevant interested parties that are crucial part of OH&SMS
3. Risks and Opportunities – Clause 6.1.1 requires organization to determine which risks and opportunities are to be addressed in the OH&SMS
4. Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment – There must be a system or a process in place that helps identify hazards as well as assess any risks which are needed to implement as part of risk management strategy.
5. Planning – Clause 6.1 states that post identification of risks and opportunities, organizations must have a plan in place to initiate action, address it while at the same time integrate into the OH&S processes.
6. Continual Improvement – Clause 10.3 states that by ensuring a risk-based thinking approach consistently will help organizations in the long run where opportunities of improvement are identified, implemented, checked for effectiveness and it’s a repetitive process that continues. This helps in improving the OH&S performance of the organization.
Tools Supporting Risk Based Thinking In Implementing ISO 45001
1. SWOT (Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) Analysis – SWOT helps in evaluation of organization’s strengths and weaknesses along with opportunities and threats. It is a strategic tools used in planning, while launching new products or even entering a new marketing zone.
2. FMEA (Failure Mode and Effect Analysis) – it is method to identify failure points in processes, product or a system and eventually rank by severity, detection and occurrence. This method is used in healthcare, manufacturing and aerospace industries.
3. Risk Assessment – it is a live document that helps identify risks, assess likelihood and impact, it also has the provision to mitigate risk by formulating action and assigning responsibilities. It helps in transparency as well as traceability to manage risks. It is usually used in industrial sectors such as construction, IT, Logistics, etc.
4. Root Cause Analysis – RCA helps to identify the main causes that are underlying of non-conformities or failure and main objective is to prevent it from recurring than just correct it. It is usually used in incident investigations, non-conformities arising from audits, assessments, etc
5. Risk Assessment as per ISO 31010 – this is a standard that provides various assessment tools for risk management such as fault tree analysis, checklists, bowtie analysis, etc. it is often structured to meet industry specific demands, if applied correctly, it can help organization build a culture of resilience, help in decision making, integrate operational topics and risk based approach properly which is much more than just a check box.
Benefits Of Risk Based Thinking Approach In ISO 45001
1. The main aim of the risk-based thinking approach and overall, ISO 45001 is to prevent accidents or ill health ensuring that hazards are proactively managed and risks are mitigated.
2. It helps create an environment of positive OH&S culture where encouragement is given to workers in identification as well as addressing risks.
3. It ensures that addressing compliance obligations is not a stand-alone task but a part of a management process and embedded.
4. It helps organizations have assurance over the business and its response plan to tackle risks and grab opportunities.
Conclusion
The risk-driven approach to the implementation of ISO 45001 would make the safety in the workplace a proactive management approach rather than a reactive one. It enables organizations to be more proactive in realizing the potential hazards before they can grow, incorporate safety in all business decisions, and keep on enhancing operational resilience.
