Occupational health and safety is a critical aspect of any organisation, regardless of size or industry. Businesses need to ensure that their employees and visitors are safe and secure while in the workplace.
Organisations can implement occupational health and safety management systems (OH&SMS) that meet specific standards to achieve this goal. Two of the most widely recognised occupational health and safety standards are the British Standard OHSAS 18001, which has now been withdrawn and replaced by the international standard ISO 45001:2018.
This article will explore the differences between these two standards and why ISO 45001 replaced BS OHSAS 18001.
BS OHSAS 18001, also known as the Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series, was developed in response to a growing demand for a standardised approach to occupational health and safety management.
It provided organisations with a framework for establishing and implementing an effective occupational health and safety management system. Organisations that met the requirements of OHSAS 18001 demonstrated their commitment to providing a safe and healthy work environment and received certification from an accredited third-party certification body.
ISO 45001:2018 is the latest international standard for occupational health and safety management systems. It replaces OHSAS 18001 and provides organisations with a comprehensive approach to managing occupational health and safety risks.
ISO 45001 is designed to be integrated with other management systems, such as ISO 9001 quality management and ISO 14001 environmental management, making it a flexible and versatile option for organisations.
For a comprehensive deep dive into ISO 45001, read our article – What is ISO 45001.
While OHSAS 18001 and ISO 45001 are designed to help organisations achieve a safe and healthy work environment, the two standards have several key differences. Here are some of the most significant differences between OHSAS 18001 and ISO 45001:
The first significant difference between OHSAS 18001 and ISO 45001 is the scope of each standard. OHSAS 18001 focuses solely on occupational health and safety, whereas ISO 45001 takes a broader approach, including organisational context, leadership, and employee involvement.
This broader scope of ISO 45001 can help organisations achieve a more comprehensive health and safety management approach.
Another significant difference between OHSAS 18001 and ISO 45001 is the structure. OHSAS 18001 is based on the plan-do-check-act (PDCA) cycle. In contrast, ISO 45001, consisting of 10 clauses (also based on the plan-do-check-act (PDCA) cycle), follows the Annex SL High-Level Structure (HLS) format common to all other recent ISO management system standards.
The Annex SL HLS format provides a consistent approach to managing and implementing management systems, making it easier for organisations to integrate different systems into a cohesive design.
As well as identifying health and safety risks which is what OHSAS 18001 focused on, ISO 45001 takes a holistic approach that requires more comprehensive business risks and opportunities to be identified.
This approach enables the identification of opportunities that contribute to further improvement in occupational health and safety performance and improved employee safety. Organisations will enhance their ability to recognise and manage risks more effectively, making them more resilient as they grow.
Under OHSAS 18001, the operation of the occupational health and safety management system could be delegated by senior management to a management representative. ISO 45001 discourages the role of the management representative because top management should not distance themselves from the operation of the health and safety management system by simply delegating a representative.
ISO 45001 places a greater emphasis on the role of leadership and employee involvement. Organisations must involve employees in designing and implementing the occupational health and safety management system and provide ongoing training and communication to maintain an effective system.
On the other hand, OHSAS 18001 focuses more on developing and implementing the management system but only requires a slight emphasis on employee involvement.
In conclusion, while OHSAS 18001 and ISO 45001 are designed to help organisations achieve a safe and healthy work environment, these standards have several key differences.
ISO 45001:2018 is the most up-to-date and comprehensive standard for occupational health and safety management systems, providing a holistic approach to risk and opportunity management, a greater emphasis on leadership and employee involvement, and the introduction of the Annex SL high-level structure.
Understanding the differences between OHSAS 18001 and ISO 45001 is critical for organisations looking to implement an effective occupational health and safety management system and ensure their employees’ and visitors’ health and safety.
If you are interested in learning more about ISO 45001 and gaining advice on how it can be implemented into your business, then why not book a free consultation with us today?
