The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a global non-governmental organization with a membership of 165 national standards bodies. ISO’s mandate is to gather experts to develop International Standards designed to ensure quality. Some of the best-known ISO standards relating to Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) programs are:
- ISO 14001 specifies the framework for an Environmental Management System (EMS) that minimizes environmental impact while meeting regulatory requirements.
- ISO 45001 specifies the framework for an Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) standard to help organizations improve employee safety, reduce workplace risks, and create safer working conditions.
Why are ISO Standards Important?
Adopting an ISO standards based EHS program ensures that policies and procedures will meet internationally recognized standards for quality, safety, transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.
The five key elements of ISO 14001 are:
- Development of an Environmental Policy
- Planning how the policy will be fully integrated with the business operations
- Implementation and Operation of the day to day of the policies
- Checking the effectiveness of the policies and identifying opportunities for improvement
- Management Review to ensure adherence to the policy at all levels in the organization
ISO 45001 is global standard for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS), published in March 2018 by the International Organization of Standards. The standard provides a framework for organizations to manage the risks to worker illnesses and injuries.
ISO 45001 builds on the old OHSAS 18001 standard, but there are also two fundamental differences. First, IS0 45001 is founded on a top-down commitment to safety, holding C-suite executives accountable for worker wellness. Second, the standard emphasizes a risk management approach, by requiring organizations to proactively identify sources or situations that have the potential to cause harm.
The key elements include:
- Development of an Occupational Health and Safety Policy
- Planning how the policy will be fully integrated with the business operations
- Implementation and Operation of the day to day of the policies
- Checking the effectiveness of the policies and identifying opportunities for improvement
- Management Review to ensure adherence to the policy at all levels in the organization
Spencer-SHE has been providing Safety, Health, and Environmental Compliance Guidance since 1980, offering clients cost-effective, turn-key solutions. Contact us here to help you to develop and maintain a safe and healthy workforce.
Sources: