ISO 45001: 2018 specifies the requirements for an occupational health and safety (OHS) management system, and provides guidelines for its use, to enable organizations to provide safe and healthy workplaces , by preventing work-related injuries and pathologies and by proactively improving their OHS performance.

ISO 45001: 2018 is applicable to any organization wishing to establish, implement and maintain an OH&S management system in order to improve occupational health and safety, eliminate hazards and minimize risks for OH&S (including system failures), to take advantage of OH&S opportunities and to remedy OH&S management system nonconformities related to its activities.

ISO 45001: 2018 aims to help an organization achieve the expected results of its OH&S management system. In accordance with the organization’s OH&S policy, the expected results of an OH&S management system include:

a) continuous improvement of OHS performance;

b) meeting legal and other requirements;

c) achievement of OH&S objectives.

ISO 45001: 2018 is applicable to any organization, regardless of its size, status and activities. It is applicable to OSH risks that are under the control of the organization, taking into account factors such as the context in which the organization operates as well as the needs and expectations of its workers and other interested parties.

ISO 45001: 2018 does not specify specific OHS performance criteria, nor specifications on how to design an OHS management system.

ISO 45001: 2018 allows an organization to integrate, through its OH&S management system, other health and safety aspects, such as well-being and quality of life at work.

ISO 45001: 2018 does not deal with product safety, property damage or environmental impacts, apart from risks to workers and other relevant interested parties.

ISO 45001: 2018 can be used in whole or in part to systematically improve the management of occupational health and safety. Statements of conformity with this document, however, are not acceptable unless all requirements are incorporated into an organization’s OH&S management system and are met, without exclusion.