The 2015 versions of ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 was a milestone for these management systems. The changes in content and structure due to the adoption of the Annex SL framework and introduction of risk-based thinking, among other changes have led organizations to rethink their prevailing knowledge of the context of the standards as well as endeavor to understand the implications of these revisions to their own management systems.

This change was bound to have big repercussions on other ISO management systems. The most popular Health and Safety Management Standard - OHSAS 18001 for instance was now developed by ISO into ISO 45001 and shall be ISOs version of the popular British standard for occupational health and safety.

The creation of ISO 45001 is timely as many organizations around the world have integrated already OHSAS 18001 in their mainstream management systems. An alignment of the Occupational Safety and Health Management System was the obvious next step. The development of ISO 45001 makes alignment even less painless. The change will make certain that despite the integration, we can be sure that the important elements of the reference standard are retained.

The creation of the ISO Project Committee 283 that was tasked to re-examine OHSAS 18001 and convert it into an ISO standard. This started in 2013. This secretariat was assigned to the BSI Group UKs national standards body that also provided the secretariat for OHSAS 18001.

Much of the original content of OHSAS 18001 shall be retained such as having a proactive attitude towards the prevention of injury and ill-health, the setting of OHS policy and objectives, internal audits and management reviews and following a hierarchy of controls (OTPs) in reducing OHS risks.

There was new content and enhanced requirements added to ISO 45001 to further align with ISO 9001 and 14001. This was done to adopt the framework described in Annex SL.

The changes included the determination of external and internal issues as relevant to the organizations OHS management system such as: political, sociocultural, environmental, legal, technological and economic issues (i.e. external); and organizational culture, governance, and structure (i.e. internal), the references to preventive action was removed and replaced with other clauses that serve to manage the organizations risks.

Continual improvement in OHSAS 18001 was a result of interaction of OHS elements. In ISO 45001 it was given a specific clause to make it more relevant. Contents of the clause, however, are more or less the same as in OHSAS 18001.

In understanding the needs and expectations of workers and other interested parties, ISO 45001 includes a subclause where the organization shall determine which of these needs and expectations are to become obligatory requirements and which are to be mere voluntary commitments.

ISO 45001 also requires that outsourced processes affecting the OHSMS are controlled and that performance indicators are used to monitor performance. This further expands the OHSAS 18001 requirements for contracted services that focus mainly on communication of OHS policies and procedures, fulfillment of OHS obligations, competency and awareness, etc.

Commitment to the OHSMS by top management is given more emphasis in ISO 45001 such that direct participation (meaning it cannot be delegated) is required of them in taking overall responsibility in the workers health and safety, ensuring that OHS policies and objectives are aligned with the organizations strategies, integrating the OHS in the organizations processes and ensuring attainment of OHSMS intended outcomes

ISO 45001 also made use of the term documented information to include electronic data such as those processed and stored on electronic equipment and devices (e.g. smartphones and tablets).

Change, as they say, can be wrought with dread and anxiety but organizations can heave a collective sigh of relief with ISOs decision to create its own standard for occupational health and safety.

Now that the standard is out and is transisiton is ongoing, organizations can rest assured that they shall be managing their organizations OHS risks better upon their adoption of the new standard.