ISO 45001 vs OHSAS 18001: Key Differences and Transition Guide

Introduction

Occupational health and safety (OH&S) are vital for any organization seeking to protect its workforce and maintain a safe working environment. OHSAS 18001 and ISO 45001 both provide frameworks for effective safety management systems. While OHSAS 18001 has been widely used for years, ISO 45001 has now replaced it as the international standard for occupational health and safety management. This blog post aims to demonstrate organizations through this transition by highlighting the key differences between OHSAS 18001 and ISO 45001, enabling them to understand the changes necessary to comply with the updated standard.

Key Differences Between OHSAS 18001 And ISO 45001

• Process Orientation: ISO 45001 is process-based rather than procedure-based.
  
  
• Organizational Context: ISO 45001 considers the context of the organization, including internal and external factors affecting it.
  
  
• Risk and Opportunity: OHSAS 18001 focused exclusively on risk, while ISO 45001 addresses both risk and opportunity.
  
  
• Scope of Coverage: ISO 45001 covers everyone who works with an organization, including suppliers and contractors, not just employees.

Terminology

ISO 45001 introduces several terms that were not included in OHSAS 18001:

• Employer: Anyone who performs work-related activities under the organization's supervision, whether paid or unpaid, regular or temporary, including those from external suppliers such as contractors.
  
  
• Workplace: A location that is controlled by the organization where individuals are required to remain or go for employment.
  
  
• Contractor: An external organization providing services in accordance with established conditions, conditions, and specifications.
  
  
• Interested Party: An individual or entity impacted by a decision or action, or perceiving they are affected.
  
  
• Participation: Involvement of workers in decision-making.
  
  
• Consultation: Obtaining opinions from workers before making decisions.
  
  
• Injury and Ill Health: Adverse effects on a person's physical, mental, or cognitive disorder.  

Risk

The management of risk is a major distinction between the two standards:

• Occupational Health and Safety: The occurrence of work-related incidents and exposures with the severity of resulting injuries and health issues.

Approaches:

• OHSAS 18001: Reactive, focusing mainly on controlling current risks and preventing future accidents.
  
  
• ISO 45001: Proactive, emphasizing risk-based methods and identifying opportunities to prevent harm before it occurs.

Scope:

• OHSAS 18001: Limited, focused on internal hazards.
  
  
• ISO 45001: Broader, considering both risks and opportunities and how the organization interacts with the wider business environment.

Structure:

• OHSAS 18001: Procedure-based.
  
  
• ISO 45001: Process-based, aligned with the ISO Annex SL structure common to other ISO management system standards.

Leadership and Worker Engagement:

• OHSAS 18001: Less emphasis on employee involvement and leadership commitment.
  
  
• ISO 45001: Greater focus on active leadership, employee participation, and consultation.

Interested Parties:

• OHSAS 18001: Did not specifically include the opinions of interested parties.
  
  
• ISO 45001: Requires organizations to consider and incorporate the requirements and expectations of all relevant parties.

Why The Transition Matters

The transition to ISO 45001 encourages organizations to adopt a more proactive safety environment and integrate occupational health and safety into the core business strategy. This results in improved risk management, increased employee engagement, and enhanced compliance with international standards.

Conclusion

OHSAS 18001 has been replaced by ISO 45001, a more comprehensive, strategic, and modern standard. Organizations must adopt ISO 45001 to maintain compliance and enhance workplace safety standards, safeguarding their workforce and enhancing operational resilience. Using ISO 45001 does not only ensure compliance with international standards, but also enhances workplace safety, reduces incidents, and fosters a culture of continuous improvement.