Health and Safety Articles

ISO 45001 vs OHSAS 18001. Whats the difference?

April 19, 2017

There has been confusion among some Health and Safety professionals as to the difference between ISO 45001 and OHSAS 18001 since the emergence of information about an existence of this new Occupational Health and Safety standard (ISO 45001). This new standard is expected to replace the current standard (OHSAS 18001).

It is stated that ISO 45001 will aims at helping organizations provide a safe and healthy workplace for workers and other people, prevent deaths, work-related injury and ill-health as well as continually improve OH&S performance.

PROPOSED TIMELINE FOR THE ISO 45001 STANDARD

The process for the completion and implementation of the ISO 45001 standard is still on course.

Here is the current update on the progress of the standard. See Update

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has highlighted the benefit of the ISO 45001 standard thus:

“The proposed ISO 45001 Standard is potentially one of the most significant occupational safety and health voluntary national consensus to ever be promulgated. As an OSH Professional you work with safety management systems standard on an almost daily basis. This standard has the potential to move safety and health management forward on both a global level and in a country-by-country basis. As a professional it is imperative that you understand this standard, implementation, and implication for your company, colleagues, and clients. You will be in the position to advise and guide significant safety and health decisions in the near future.”