ISO 45001:2018 - Occupational Health & Safety

ISO 45001 Certification

ISO 45001 is the international standard for Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) management systems, replacing OHSAS 18001. It provides a framework for organizations to prevent work-related injury and illness, provide safe workplaces, and proactively improve OH&S performance. ISO 45001 certification demonstrates commitment to worker safety and is often required by customers and regulators.

Protect your workforce with ISO 45001 certification—the global standard for occupational health and safety management systems.

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What is ISO 45001?

ISO 45001 provides a framework for organizations to prevent work-related injury and illness, provide safe workplaces, and continually improve OH&S performance.

ISO 45001:2018 replaced OHSAS 18001, using the Annex SL structure for easy integration with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. It emphasizes worker participation, leadership commitment, and proactive hazard identification. The standard applies to any organization regardless of size, industry, or location, supporting legal compliance and demonstrating safety commitment to stakeholders.

Reduced workplace injuries and illnesses
Improved regulatory compliance
Enhanced worker morale and engagement
Reduced insurance and compensation costs

Typical Timeline

4-8 weeks

Pass Rate

100%

Controls

10+

Clients Certified

50+

Deep Dive

ISO 45001 Control Requirements

Click each control to see implementation guidance and required evidence

ISO 45001 for Your Industry

How ISO 45001 applies to different business sectors

Manufacturing

High-risk environment with machinery, chemicals, and physical hazards. ISO 45001 systematically manages workplace safety.

Key Requirements

✓Machine guarding
✓Chemical safety
✓Ergonomics
✓Lock-out/tag-out

Example Use Case

A manufacturer achieves ISO 45001, reducing recordable incidents by 50% and meeting customer safety requirements.

Construction

High-hazard industry with significant safety risks. ISO 45001 increasingly required for major projects.

Key Requirements

✓Fall protection
✓Excavation safety
✓Heavy equipment
✓Subcontractor management

Example Use Case

A construction company achieves ISO 45001, improving safety performance and winning contracts requiring certified safety systems.

Healthcare

Healthcare workers face unique hazards including biological, ergonomic, and workplace violence risks.

Key Requirements

✓Biological safety
✓Patient handling
✓Workplace violence
✓Sharps safety

Example Use Case

A hospital implements ISO 45001, reducing staff injuries and demonstrating safety culture to accreditation bodies.

Transparent Pricing

ISO 45001 Certification Costs

What to budget for your ISO 45001 certification journey

📊 Typical Investment Ranges — These are industry-standard ranges based on company size (50-500 employees). Your actual investment depends on scope, existing controls, and compliance maturity.

Cost Component	Starting From	Up To	Notes
Gap Analysis	$6,000	$20,000	Current state assessment
System Development	$15,000	$45,000	Policies, procedures, risk assessments
Implementation	$10,000	$35,000	Training and deployment
Certification Audit	$10,000	$30,000	Stage 1 & Stage 2
Annual Surveillance	$5,000	$15,000	Required maintenance

💡 Get your personalized quote: Costs vary significantly based on organization size, infrastructure complexity, and existing security controls. Our ISO 45001 readiness assessment provides a tailored cost estimate within 48 hours.

Get a Personalized Quote

Framework Comparison

ISO 45001 vs Other Frameworks

How ISO 45001 compares to related compliance standards

Aspect	ISO 45001	ISO 14001	ISO 9001
Focus	Occupational health & safety	Environmental management	Quality management
Replaces	OHSAS 18001	ISO 14001:2004	ISO 9001:2008

Avoid These Pitfalls

Common ISO 45001 Mistakes

Learn from others' mistakes so you don't repeat them

Insufficient worker participation

Consequence

Missing critical hazard knowledge. Worker disengagement. Audit non-conformities.

Prevention

Actively involve workers in hazard identification and safety decisions. Remove barriers to participation.

Reactive rather than proactive approach

Consequence

Incidents occur that could have been prevented. Focus on lagging rather than leading indicators.

Prevention

Implement proactive hazard identification. Track leading indicators. Learn from near-misses.

Incomplete hazard identification

Consequence

Significant risks uncontrolled. Potential for serious incidents.

Prevention

Systematic hazard identification covering all activities. Include non-routine work. Update regularly.

Multi-Framework Efficiency

ISO 45001 Control Overlap

Leverage shared controls when pursuing multiple certifications

ISO 45001 ↔ ISO 9001

70%

Shared control areas:

Management systemDocumentationImprovementCompetence

ISO 45001 ↔ ISO 14001

75%

Shared control areas:

Management systemRisk assessmentEmergency responseImprovement

Your Path to Certification

Our proven process gets you certified faster

Gap Analysis

1-2 weeks

Assess current safety practices against requirements.

System Development

3-5 weeks

Develop OH&S policies, procedures, and risk assessments.

Implementation

4-8 weeks

Deploy system with training and controls.

Internal Audit

1-2 weeks

Verify compliance before certification.

Certification Audit

1-2 weeks

External audit and certification.

Expert Insights

What compliance experts say about ISO 45001

"ISO 45001 pays for itself through reduced incidents, lower insurance costs, and improved productivity. Organizations with mature safety systems also tend to have better quality and overall operational excellence. We often implement it alongside ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 for a comprehensive management system."
H
Heena Sharma
Privacy & Compliance Lead at isauditr

Frequently Asked Questions

Who needs ISO 45001?

Any organization seeking to improve worker safety benefits from ISO 45001. It's particularly relevant for manufacturing, construction, healthcare, and other industries with significant safety hazards.

What's the difference from OHSAS 18001?

ISO 45001 replaced OHSAS 18001 with key differences: Annex SL structure for integration, greater emphasis on leadership, worker participation requirements, and proactive risk-based thinking.

Can ISO 45001 integrate with other standards?

Yes, ISO 45001 uses Annex SL structure, integrating easily with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and other standards. Many organizations implement integrated Quality, Environmental, and Safety (QEHS) systems.

How does ISO 45001 help with legal compliance?

ISO 45001 requires identifying and tracking OH&S legal requirements, establishing compliance processes, and maintaining compliance records. This systematic approach supports regulatory compliance.