ISO 45001 in Canada

About ISO 45001

ISO 45001 establishes the requirements for an Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) and provides implementation guidelines to enable enterprises to provide a safe and healthy working environment for workers and visitors. ISO 45001 is a collection of guidelines for preventing and reducing occupational fatalities and injuries. Obtaining ISO 45001 certification also aids in reducing operational waste and costs associated with unneeded expenditures. Furthermore, ISO 45001 assures the safety of personnel, which improves the productivity of firms’ processes.

ISO 45001 in Canada

How do we differentiate between ISO 45001 and OHSAS 18001?

In March 2018, the OHSAS 18001 standard was replaced by the ISO 45001 standard. ISO 45001 is neither a modification nor update of OHSAS 18001, but rather a new and unique standard. The most notable distinction is that ISO 45001 focuses on a company’s engagement with its business environment, whereas OHSAS 18001 was designed to address occupational health and safety hazards as well as other internal issues. The new ISO 45001 standard is designed to assist businesses in achieving long-term success.

ISO 45001 Certification

ISO 45001 certification is a procedure that verifies that ISO standards are being followed to manage occupational safety and health issues in the workplace, including risk assessment, accident investigation, safety information, worker training, and engagement with internal and external stakeholders. Obtaining ISO 45001 certification displays your commitment to the health and well-being of your employees, as well as a continuous safety improvement.

ISO 45001 Certification Requirements

Once you have an ISO 45001 occupational health and safety management system in place, ISO 45001 certification is relatively simple. The following are the steps that must be completed in order to obtain ISO 45001 certification:

  • Create and implement an ISO 45001-compliant management system.
  • Schedule a meeting with a reputable certification body.
  • An external auditor from the certification body will analyze your processes and implementation to guarantee ISO 45001 compliance.
  • If necessary, address any ISO 45001 compliance issues uncovered during the audit.
  • Once the non-conformities are resolved,
  • will be awarded by the certification body.

Who Can Apply for ISO 45001 Certification?

ISO 45001 certification requirements were created with all industries in mind. It does not take into account the size, type, or field of activity of the organization. ISO 45001 certification is suggested for all businesses, but especially for those looking to apply a global standard for workplace health and safety. In addition, when it comes to contracts, some RFPs or RFQs may require (or at least recommend) adherence to the standard. In that case, going the extra mile to achieve ISO 45001 certification could be beneficial to your organization.

Benefits of ISO 45001 Certification

ISO 45001 certification provides the following benefits to companies:

  • International recognition of ISO 45001 compliance, which helps companies expand their business into the global market. 
  • A benchmark for high standards in occupational health and safety management at a global level.
  • ISO 45001 certification is a proactive measure to reduce the likelihood of injurious workplace accidents.
  • ISO 45001 certification gives businesses the opportunity to enhance their reputation by following ISO guidelines for workplace safety.
  • ISO 45001 provides an unbiased, third-party audit of your company’s procedures and processes. In this way, ISO 45001 certification helps you to ensure that your company is following ISO standards.
  • ISO 45001 provides comprehensive documentation of occupational health and safety management systems in the workplace, increasing the value of business assets. 

ISO 45001 Training Programs

There are ISO 45001 training programs designed to prepare employees and managers for ISO 45001 certification. An ISO 45001-compliant company needs ISO 45001-compliant workers, so ISO training is an essential part of the ISO certification process. ISO 45001 training courses will provide you with all the information you need to become ISO 45001 certified. The following are some of the major types of ISO 45001 training courses: 

ISO 45001 Lead Auditor Training

The ISO 45001 Lead Auditor training program helps strengthen your auditing abilities and develop confidence in conducting a thorough audit of an Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OH&SMS) based on ISO 45001. This course improves your knowledge and skills in planning, conducting, and managing an OH&S audit according to ISO 45001. The ISO 45001 lead auditor course will teach you the skills necessary to conduct third-party audits.

ISO 45001 Internal Auditor Training

The ISO 45001 internal auditor training program provides instruction in auditing ISO 45001-compliant OH&S systems. ISO 45001-certified internal auditors learn how to conduct an ISO 45001 internal audit, including checklists and tools that will be used during the ISO 45001 certification process. Participants of ISO 45001 internal auditor training will learn ISO-compliant auditing techniques and how to measure OH&S management systems for ISO compliance.

ISO 45001 Awareness Training

ISO 45001 awareness training provides an introduction to ISO 45001 requirements to all employees of an organization. ISO 45001 awareness training provides instruction in ISO 45001 health and safety management principles, including the ISO 45001-compliant OH&S system requirements. ISO 45001 awareness training helps prepare employees for ISO certification by providing background knowledge on ISO compliant procedures and processes. 

Contact IAS today to learn more about ISO 45001 in Canada, or visit our ISO 45001 in Canada frequently asked questions page!