ISO 45001 – Health & Safety
- Home
- ISO 45001 – Health & Safety
ISO 45001 - Occupational Health & Safety
ISO 45001 is an international standard that specifies requirements for an Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) management system. It provides a framework for organizations to manage risks and improve OH&S performance, aiming to prevent work-related injury and ill health.
- Enhanced Employee Safety: By proactively identifying and managing risks, organizations can reduce workplace incidents.
- Regulatory Compliance: Aligns organizational practices with legal requirements, minimizing the risk of non-compliance penalties.
- Improved Organizational Reputation: Demonstrates a commitment to employee well-being, enhancing stakeholder trust.
Components
Key Components of ISO 45001
01
Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment
Organizations must proactively identify workplace hazards, assess risks, and implement preventive measures to ensure a safer work environment.
02
Worker Participation & Leadership Commitment
Strong leadership and employee involvement are essential for building a culture of health and safety, ensuring compliance, and driving continuous improvement.
03
Emergency Preparedness & Response
Businesses must establish clear procedures for responding to workplace incidents, reducing risks, and ensuring business continuity during emergencies.
Process
Certification Process
Stage 1
Audit (Documentation Review)
The auditor reviews your documented management system, confirms the scope of certification and evaluates your readiness for the Stage 2 audit. Any areas of concern are reported so they can be addressed before Stage 2.
Stage 2
Audit (On-Site Assessment)
The auditor evaluates the implementation and effectiveness of your management system through interviews, observation and a review of records. Any nonconformities are reported for corrective action.
Final Step
Certification Decision
A qualified reviewer who was not part of the audit team reviews the results. Once any major nonconformities are resolved, your ISO 45001 certificate is issued, valid for three years.
After Certification
Maintaining Your Certification
Surveillance Audits
Surveillance audits are carried out at least once a year to confirm that your management system continues to conform to ISO 45001 and is maintained and improved.
Recertification
Before your certificate expires, a recertification audit reviews your full management system and renews your certification for another three years.
Certificate Transfers
Already certified by another accredited certification body? Your certificate can usually be transferred to us after a pre-transfer review, without restarting the certification cycle.
ISO 45001 Certification in Canada and the USA
Apex Systems Registrar provides ISO 45001 certification audits for organizations across Ontario, the rest of Canada and the United States. Apex is an affiliate of American Registration Inc., an ANAB-accredited certification body.
Who Needs ISO 45001 Certification?
ISO 45001 helps any organization manage occupational health and safety risks in a structured way. It is especially common in:
- Construction and skilled trades
- Manufacturing
- Transportation, trucking and warehousing
- Utilities, energy and resources
- Contractors that must meet customer safety prequalification requirements
What Affects the Cost and Length of Your Audit?
Audit time is set according to international accreditation requirements and depends mainly on:
- The number of people working under your management system, including part-time and contract workers
- The number of sites and shifts
- The health and safety risks of your activities, such as high-risk construction or industrial work
- Whether ISO 45001 is audited together with ISO 9001 or ISO 14001 as an integrated system
Share these details in a quote request and we will send you a detailed proposal.
Independent and Impartial
As a certification body, Apex Systems Registrar does not provide consulting or implementation services for the management systems we certify. Our role is to audit your system independently against ISO 45001. That independence is what gives your certificate its credibility with customers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is an ISO 45001 certificate valid?
Three years, as long as surveillance audits are completed at least once a year.
Which version of ISO 45001 do you certify to?
ISO 45001:2018, including Amendment 1:2024, which asks organizations to consider whether climate change is a relevant issue for their OH&S management system.
Has ISO 45001 replaced OHSAS 18001?
Yes. OHSAS 18001 has been withdrawn, and ISO 45001 is now the international standard for occupational health and safety management systems.
Does ISO 45001 certification mean we comply with health and safety law?
No certificate replaces your legal duties under occupational health and safety legislation, such as Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act. ISO 45001 does require you to identify your legal requirements and evaluate your compliance with them, and the audit verifies that this process is working.