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Introduction to ISO 45001 Consulting

In today’s business climate, shareholders, customers and potential workers are looking closer at an organization’s social responsibility, above all their position on the environment, worker safety, and the impact that they have on the communities in which they operate. The role of an effective Occupational Health and Safety management system is quickly becoming a more important measure of corporate sustainability.  The good news is that in March of 2018 the new ISO 45001 international standard for Occupational Health and Safety was published.  Many organizations currently certified under the British OHSAS 18001 or ISO 9001 standards are preparing to add ISO 45001 certification. Implementing a new Occupational Health and Safety management system or upgrading your current system to conform to the ISO 45001 standard will require significant time and resources. The benefits realized through reduced hazards, fewer incidents or lost time, and lower insurance costs makes ISO 45001 certification a sound investment for your organization.

Benefits of ISO 45001 Consulting

Having a strategic development and implementation plan, along with a clearly charted course towards certification can considerably reduce the time and resources required to reach your goal. A strategic plan is not unlike the rudder on a ship. Without a rudder, the ship may wander off course increasing the time required to reach its intended destination or in some cases not reach it at all. In the same manner, an ISO 45001 certification initiative without a robust strategic plan usually results in increased time, cost and less than optimal results.

At Quality-One, we understand that each organization’s circumstances and needs are unique and call for a particular knowledge base and technical expertise.  Our ISO 45001 Consulting Services are tailored to your organization’s specific needs. Our subject matter experts (SME) will provide you expert guidance in developing and implementing your strategic plan for ISO 45001 certification.  Our consultants will also provide effective coaching of your teams and mentoring for your management staff throughout the implementation and certification process, based on knowledge gained through years of experience in ISO certification across many industries.  Benefits of ISO 45001 Consulting include:

  • Reduced OH&S development and implementation time
  • Improved effectiveness of the OH&S management system
  • Fulfillment of legal and other regulatory requirements
  • Greater understanding of and ability to identify hazards
  • Application of effective risk assessment tools
  • Ability to develop more effective countermeasures
  • Greater ability to set and achieve OH&S objectives
  • Continual improvement plan for your OH&S management

Application of best practices by highly qualified and knowledgeable SMEs with extensive industry experience can significantly improve the effectiveness of the OH&S management system and its ability to meet the organization’s objectives.

Methodology for ISO 45001 Consulting

At Quality-One, we utilize a project management-based approach for development and implementation of an ISO 45001 compliant OH&S Management System. A structured approach is used to define project scope, planning activities, assignment of responsibilities and evaluation of results. The end product is an effective and efficient plan for development and implementation targeted for first time compliance or registration to the ISO 45001 requirements. Achieving ISO 45001 compliance can be accomplished through the following seven phases:

  1. Executive and Management Overview / Planning
  2. Current OH&S Gap Assessment and Planning
  3. Development of Processes and Documentation
  4. Training and Implementation
  5. Internal Audit and Management Review
  6. 3rd Party Registration Assessment
  7. Sustain and Continual Improvement

The Quality-One Seven-Phase Approach:

  1. Executive and Management Overview / Planning
    • Planning
      • Define Context of Organization
      • Define Needs and Expectations of Workers and other Interested Parties
      • Define OH&S Management System Scope
      • Define Leadership and Worker Participation
      • Define System Support and Operation Requirements
      • Define High Level Processes and System Map
      • Define High Level Project Plan Description
      • Define High Level Risks to OH&S System Success
      • Define Organizations Objectives and Targets
    • Communication and Training Plan
      • Define Internal and External Communication Plans
      • Define Training Plans
    • Executive and Management Overviews
      • Executive and Management Overviews
      • Requirements of the ISO 45001 Standard
      • Process Approach to OH&S Management Systems
      • Managing the Interaction of Processes and Systems
      • Description of the Organization’s Project Plan
  1. Gap Assessment and Planning
    • Gap Assessment
      • Perform a Gap Assessment of current OH&S Management System against requirements of the ISO 45001 Standard
      • Use OH&S Management System process map as a guide
      • Perform Assessments with Process Owners
      • Document Results and Use Results as inputs into Process Development
    • Planning
      • Re-assess planning performed in Phase 1
      • From Gap Assessment Findings Revise / Update
        • Project Plans
        • Communications Plans
        • Training Plans
  2. Management System Development and Documentation
    • OH&S Policy Development
      • Create Level 1 Policy Document
      • Involve Leadership in Policy Development
      • Include OH&S Management System Process Map
      • Use as a guide in Policy Development
      • Include OH&S references versus the ISO 45001 Requirements
    • Management System and Process Development
      • Define Organizational Roles, Responsibilities, and Authorities
        • Management / OH&S System Owners / Workers / etc.
      • Define method for Consultation and Participation of Workers
      • Develop Actions to Address Risks and Opportunities
        • Hazard Identification and Assessment of Risks and Opportunities
      • Determine Legal Requirements and other Requirements
      • Determine OH&S Objectives and Plans to achieve them
      • Define Support Requirements
        • Determine Resources required
        • Evaluate required worker competence to support OH&S Management System
        • Establish Training Plans as required
        • Establish plan to ensure adequate awareness of OH&S Management system at all levels of organization
    • Create OH&S Management System processes using the process approach
      • Operational Planning and Control Processes
      • Elimination of Hazards and reducing Risk
      • Change Management Process
      • Procurement of Products and Services
      • Emergency Preparedness and Response
    • Define Performance Evaluation Requirements
      • Monitoring, measurement, analysis and performance evaluation
      • Internal Audits
      • Management Reviews
    • Define Improvement Requirements
      • Incidents, Nonconformity and corrective actions reporting
      • Continual Improvement
    • Determine Document Control and Retention Requirements
    • Review / Approvals / Document Nomenclature
    • Review ISO 45001 Requirements with Process Owner/Teams
  1. Implementation and Training
    • Implementation
      • Develop Implementation Plans
        • Purpose: describes the implementation requirements for the defined process in order to support the OH&S Requirements
        • Scope: Define the scope the plan covers (processes)
        • Activity: Define required Activity Steps
        • Who is Involved: Define Who needs to be Involved
        • Timing: Define Timing Requirements
        • Deliverables: Define Plan Deliverables
        • Responsibility: Define Responsibilities
        • Other as appropriate
    • OH&S Management System Training
      • All Employee Training
        • Use communications process developed in phase 1 to cover general requirements
        • Communicate OH&S Management System plan and Objectives
        • Communicate plan for Consultation and Participation of Workers
        • Hazard Identification training
        • RCA – Root Cause Analysis training
        • Risk Assessment Tools Training
        • Audit process and Auditor training
        • Leadership / Process Owner / Manager / Internal Assessors
        • Review new Quality Management System
        • High Level Processes (Procedures)
      • Management Training
        • Review OH&S Management System
        • Review Management System Processes
        • Review Roles, Responsibilities and Authorities
        • Review Resource commitments for Support and Operation of OH&S system
        • Review OH&S Objectives and Plan for Achieving them
        • Review Documentation Process
        • Review legal and other requirements
      • Functional Area Requirements
        • As per Implementation Plans for those areas
      •  Other
        • As appropriate for the unique needs of the organization
      • Internal Auditor Training
        • Current Auditors
          • ISO 45001 Overview
          • Process Auditing Methodology
        • New Auditors
          • ISO 45001 Overview
          • Internal Auditing Basics
          • Process Auditing Methodology
  2. Internal Audit and Management Review
    • Internal Audit
      • Internal Audit Planning
      • Based on OH&S Management System Map and Defined Processes
      • Audits by Core and Support Functional Areas
      • Internal Audits (Validate OH&S Implementation)
      • Define Who Will Perform Audits
      • Define Audit Schedules
      • Communicate Audit Schedules to Process Owners / Auditees
      • Perform Audits and Initiate Corrective Actions as Required
      • Prepare Internal Audit Reports for Management Review
    • Management Review
      • Plan Management Review Meeting
      • Attain all process output and Analyze Data
      • Summarize Analyzed Data for Review Input
        • Results of Internal Audits
        • Process Performance (Suitability, Adequacy and Effectiveness)
        • Hazards Identified and Opportunities
        • Status of Corrective and Preventive Actions
        • Follow-up Actions from previous Meetings
        • Changes that could affect the OH&S, and Recommendations for Improvements
      • Prepare and Summarize Man. Review Output Decisions or Actions Required to
        • Improve the Effectiveness of the OH&S and its Processes
        • Improve worker Health and Safety
        • Foster a Continual Improvement Culture
  3. Compliance / 3rd Party Registration Assessment
    • Close any Open Items / Corrective Actions from Internal Assessment or Management Reviews
    • Complete Cross-Reference of OH&S versus ISO 45001 Requirements
    • Where to find Documentation
    • Prepare Registrar Assessment Plan with Registrar / Select Guides (Process Owners)
    • Schedule Assessment and Communicate to Process Owners and Auditees
  4. Sustain and Continual Improvement
    • Summarize Continual Improvement Activities by Process and Align to
      • Business Goals
      • OH&S Objectives
      • OH&S Planning Activities
      • Measures of Effectiveness
    • Continued Internal Assessment and Management Review to Assure Process and System Continual Improvement

Learn More About ISO 45001 Consulting

Quality-One offers Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems Development through Consulting, Training and Project Support. Quality-One provides Knowledge, Guidance and Direction in OH&S Management Systems development activities, tailored to your unique wants, needs and desires.  Let us help you Discover the Value of ISO 45001 Consulting, ISO 45001 Training or ISO 45001 Project Support.

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