ISO/DIS 45001 is released

Recently, the standard development for ISO 45001 has entered the public review stage. This draft standard version basically outlines all the necessary requirements for an occupational health and safety system. The review period for this draft standard is three months, during which member countries of the ISO organization will participate in the review and provide feedback. If the results are positive, the subsequent final draft version will be appropriately updated based on the existing requirements in this version, and the official standard is expected to be released in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Mr. David Smith, the chairman of the ISO 45001 standard development committee, publicly stated: In fact, OHSAS 18001 is already a widely applied and mature standard in occupational health and safety management. The development of this ISO standard aims, on one hand, to enable enterprises to conveniently integrate occupational health and safety tools into their existing management systems. On the other hand, we also hope that ISO's international recognition can bring further credibility to this standard, thereby promoting its wider application.

I. Background introduction:

Globally, over 6,300 people, or one person every 15 seconds, die from work-related accidents or diseases, and 153 people sustain work-related injuries every day. Every year, 2.3 million people die from work-related accidents, and over 300 million non-fatal accidents impose a heavy burden on organizations and society as a whole.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) aims to promote the implementation of occupational health and safety management standards on a global scale, assisting businesses and organizations worldwide in ensuring the health and safety of their employees. Consequently, it is in the process of transforming OHSAS 18001, a widely applied and mature standard, into ISO 45001, the world's first international standard for occupational health and safety.

In the new standards, an organization will not only focus on its direct health and safety issues, but will also take into account broader societal expectations. Organizations need to consider their subcontractors and suppliers, as well as the impact their own work may have on neighboring communities.

Due to the increasing globalization and global trade, relevant organizers hope that organizations can demonstrate ethical behavior in all aspects of their business, especially in the way they treat their employees. ISO45001 will provide these organizations with an internationally recognized occupational health and safety standard to follow. This standard not only provides formal system specifications for analyzing and managing risks, but also provides norms for managing regulatory compliance, enhancing workplace safety, and evaluating occupational health and safety performance. These systematic methods are beneficial for reducing the number of accidents and ultimately mitigating business threats.

In order to meet international demands and requirements, over 50 countries and organizations, including the International Labour Organization (ILO), have participated in the relevant work of ISO45001. Its goal is to provide a tool that can be used by any organization, in any industry, and worldwide.

II. Objectives and Implementation

1. What is the target audience?

ISO 45001 is designed to be applicable to any organization, regardless of its size or the nature of its work, and can be integrated into other health and safety programs, such as worker health. The standard also covers many legal requirements in related fields.

2. When can it be implemented?

Now ISO45001 has progressed to the DIS stage, and ISO's national member bodies have been invited to vote and comment on the standard text, entering a three-month voting period. After the consultation on the DIS draft is concluded and receives positive feedback, the corresponding revised document will be issued to ISO members as the final draft international standard (FDIS). If the final vote is in favor, ISO45001 may be published as a formal international standard by the end of 2016 or early 2017.

3. Main changes

As the first ISO standard for occupational health and safety management systems, ISO/DIS 45001 was built upon the existing specifications of OHSAS 18001, while also incorporating the needs of key stakeholders.