info@asbcert.comOrganizations need to address occupational health and safety practices more comprehensively and systematically in order to minimize material and moral damages caused by work accidents and occupational diseases. Along with the mandatory compliance with international standards and legal requirements, organizations want to see and measure the contributions of an effective occupational health and safety system to financial values, production, distribution, marketing, public relations, corporate image, and employees. The approach where systematic and scientific identification of hazards and risks is carried out, and measures are taken against these hazards and risks during the execution of work at workplaces is called the Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS).
The ISO 45001:2018 standard is a management system standard implemented with a focus on legal conditions determined by the relevant ministry regarding occupational health and safety. Therefore, practices vary sector by sector. The main goal of this standard is for companies to identify their occupational health and safety risks, take necessary measures to reduce these risks, and minimize work accidents and occupational diseases through periodic inspections and continuous improvements.
With ISO 45001:2018, a process-oriented approach has been introduced specifically to the occupational health and safety management system, and processes affecting occupational health and safety (OHS) constitute the processes of this system. Processes are monitored periodically from an occupational health and safety (OHS) perspective, and performance results are reported. Corrective and preventive actions should be implemented for significant risks, accidents-incidents, and weak points in performance results to ensure continuous improvement. A periodic health check system should be established to reduce occupational diseases. Periodic inspections should be carried out to monitor compliance with legal requirements and the continuity of practices.
The ISO 45001:2018 OHSMS can be implemented through the following steps:
- Defining processes and performance criteria related to OHS
- Establishing, announcing, and continuously improving the OHS policy
- Identifying hazards and analyzing risks
- Determining legal requirements and tracking updates
- Obtaining necessary legal permits and monitoring their validity
- Setting OHS objectives (including significant risks)
- Developing a management program to achieve objectives
- Defining OHS duties, authorities, and responsibilities
- Providing training (risks, legal requirements, safety instructions)
- Defining communication, reporting, and consultation systems
- Creating and distributing OHS documentation
- Controlling OHS documents and records
- Ensuring safety control of operations and processes
- Periodic inspection of equipment and machinery that pose risks
- Control of hazardous materials and raw materials
- Developing an emergency response plan and assigning teams
- Conducting emergency drills (including fire and first aid)
- Determining performance measurement and monitoring methods
- Identifying occupational diseases and monitoring health checks
- Establishing OHS committees and monitoring systems
- Periodically reviewing all OHS practices
- Defining the reporting system for accidents, incidents, and non-conformities
- Periodic review of compliance with legal requirements
- Forming an internal audit team
- Providing OHS Internal Auditor Training
- Planning, conducting, and reporting internal audits
- Implementing corrective and preventive actions
- Conducting management review meetings